Meet your trainers
Trainer Debbi Long
Debbi Long has been an avid equestrian since she was 4 years old, growing up in the Pasadena, California area with horses in the backyard. She rode under the umbrella of Jimmy Williams at Flintridge for a portion of her junior years. The college years include a degree in Early Childhood Education and an Elementary Teaching Certificate. Later equestrian opportunities include working three years for Rudy Leone and Dusty Blackwood in northern California where the focus was the importation and development of Dutch Warmbloods.
Patty Ball of Penryn CA put an equitation polish to her ride. Since moving to Idaho in 1992, she works with Bob McDonald, as well as nationally respected clinicians such as George Morris and Frank Selinger. As a mom of 3 grown sons and a grandmother of 6, Debbi values the importance of family and relationships. The Long family owns and operates Cascade Raft and Kayak in Idaho during the summer months, and conducts adventure travel trips to Chile in the winter.

Trainer Ashley Stannard
Long Farms is excited to add Ashley Stannard to the Tucson staff!
Ashley grew up riding and showing hunters and jumpers in the Midwest with Bill Nunn of Skyrock Farm as a working student. After a successful Junior career, Ashley continued her education at William Woods University (MO), graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Equestrian Studies. During her time at the University, she was able to intern with many top professionals such as Linda McClaren , Otis Brown and Patty Stovel. From her location in the Midwest, she was able to compete at the Kentucky Horse Park, American Royal, Lake St. Louis, and Tulsa GO. Upon graduation Ashley competed in the High A/O Jumpers in the Colorado and Arizona circuits with Kim and Andy Barone of Raven Ridge Farm. before turning professional..
Ashley comes to Long Farms with extensive equestrian experience including breaking young horses, teaching, and competing jumpers at the highest levels. We are very excited to have Ashley with her bright smile and cheery personality join the Long Farms team.
Trainer: Midori Bennet
Midori started showing at age 4 in Connecticut in the pony ring under the instruction of Emerson Burr. Her family moved to Boise for a brief time in the early eighties where she learned about Pony Club and the local circuits and then moved on to Seattle under the wings of Brad Laird and Mike Crooks. Midori then spent her last junior year back at the Fairfield County Hunt Club under the instruction of Bruce and Sari Burr and Brian and Leslie (Burr) Lenehan, where she qualified for Indoors and the medal finals.
After successfully teaching hunters, equitation and jumpers in the Seattle area for 6 years, she and her son moved to Boise to be closer to family. With all her experiences, Midori is confident and comfortable teaching beginners with their first pony up through Grand Prix.

Trainer: Matias Fernandez
Matias Fernández is a professional jumping rider from Chile. Since he was young, he always knew that he wanted to work with horses; which is why he travelled to Europe, as soon as he finished studying, in order to work and improve his riding skills. In Europe he worked, amongst others, at the famous Belgian stud “Zangersheide” from Leon Melchior and trained with John Whitaker in England.
When he returned to Chile, he continued his successful career as a show-jumper, winning several Grand Prix at the national and international level, including the famous international Grand Prix at the CSI “Sol the Mayo” in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For several years, he was part of the Chilean Equipe representing Chile at several international competitions, such as the Panamerican Games and the South American Championships.

Black Bird Productions © 2010 - updated 7/4/10