South Haven Farm

10/23/2024

“You’re not just getting a horse, you’re getting an experience.” ✨
At South Haven Farm, we take great pride in celebrating the happiness found in the partnership between horse and rider! Whether it’s in the show ring or back at the barn, every moment reflects hard work, dedication, and a shared passion for excellence💛

10/18/2024

⭐️SHF Sales Graduate⭐️
Meet Primetime, also known as “Tony” and previously known as “Tino!” A proud SHF Sales Graduate, Primetime found his match with Caitlin Burns, an amateur at Hillcrest Farms. Caitlin shares with us her journey and achievements over the past few months with this special 6-year-old horse:

“I like to buy prospects to develop and [Primetime] had so many great qualities that I look for: great jump, canter and brain,” shares Caitlin. “He’s been so fun to have and in a short time, he has stepped up from the 3’ Greens and Adult divisions, to the 3’3” AO Hunters and National Derbies”

The pair already have many impressive ribbons under their belt, some including:
🏆High Score Amateur Owner at the 2024 USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championships
🏆Winner of the South Central Amateur National Derby Championships
🏆Champion & Reserve Champion in the AO 3’3” Hunters in Traverse City

We’re excited to see this partnership off to such an excellent start and we couldn’t be more proud of all this young horse has achieved at only 6 yrs old with Caitlin in the irons! The SHF & Eyckenhoeve teams look forward to watching their continued success!🖤💫

10/17/2024

⭐️SHF Staff Spotlight⭐️�Get to know Equine Sports Therapist, Shelby Barnett!

⭐️Shelby joined the SHF team in April 2023 and has been a key contributor to the health and happiness of our horses. As an equine sports therapist, she specializes in Acuscope/Myopulse/Chiropractic and osteopathic therapies, helping maintain soundness and performance, as well as rehabilitate when needed, in our SHF horses!

⭐️Born and raised on a ranch in the Pacific Northwest, Shelby has been immersed in the equine world her entire life. She started competing in rodeo at age 5 and hasn’t stopped since! Shelby shares, “As a lifelong competitor with a passion for keeping my horses performing their best, I was blessed to find a career where I could combine my love for competition with improving the performance of equine athletes.”

⭐️Shelby’s favorite part of being on the SHF team is "the overwhelming support and kindness from every single person." When she joined, she was balancing a full-time roster of clientele, finishing her Osteopathy education, and learning about the hunter/jumper industry. She says, “Through every step, they’ve been amazing.”

⭐️One of Shelby’s most cherished memories is her first show, when she helped a very special SHF horse, Glorieus, make his comeback to ultimately win the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show International Derby in 2023!

⭐️Thank you, Shelby, for all you do. We’re incredibly grateful for your knowledge, love, and dedication to our team and our horses!🖤

10/11/2024

Our SHF horses perform great and recover even better thanks to Platinum Performance💪🏼✨

With a variety of trustworthy, reliable and effective supplements, Platinum Performance has something to benefit every equine athlete in our barn. Their Vitamin E, Platinum Performance GI & Osteon are just a few of our favorites that are essential in keeping our horses happy and healthy at home and on the road!

Thank you to Platinum Performance for “fueling our champions with the power of nutrition!”

10/03/2024

⭐️SHF Staff Spotlight⭐️
Get to know South Haven Farm Office Manager, Ashley Aguilar!
Ashley joined the SHF team in May of 2020 and has been the organizational & back-end logistics mastermind ever since! She manages our show entries, billing, contracts, travel arrangements, horse records and sooooo much more! Located in the Bryan/College Station area, Ashley lives with her husband, their 2 kids, 3 dogs, horse + 2 ponies.
Her riding days began in her teenage years, starting off riding hunter/jumpers as a teenager in NJ. Over time, Ashley moved to a number of different states, which led her to trying various disciplines, including driving Morgans, polo, young cowhorse/reiners, and eventing! Ashley is now back in the hunter world and shows her homebred 8y/o Irish Sporthorse.
Ashley’s favorite part about working for SHF is getting to share in the excitement of such a successful team. Even if it is from afar, “Courtney, Scott and the rest of the team are such a great group to work with.”
Some of her favorite SHF memories are when she’s had the opportunity to support the team in person when they make the trip to Houston, and she looks forward to continuing cheering them on from afar & nearby every chance she gets!
Thank you for everything you do, Ashley! We are so grateful to have you as a part of our team, and your support of the SHF family never goes unnoticed!🖤✨

10/03/2024

While half our team was at Capital Challenge, our riders had a strong finish to their time in Kentucky at Split Rock Fall I!👏

🏆Liliya Obaid & Symbolic were Champion in the Jr/AO 3’3” Hunters with a clean sweep over fences! They also won the Jr/AO Combined 3’3”/3’6” Classic and were top-5 in the USHJA National Hunter Derby!🏅In the jumper ring, Liliya & Helmig-K had a top-5 finish in the 1.20m Jr/Am Power & Speed class.

🏆Lori Mathews & Allegretto were Reserve Champion in the Jr/AO 3’3” Hunters with a win in the Under Saddle!
🏆Earlier in the week, Allegretto was Champion in the Performance 3’3” Hunters with Scott Lenkart in the irons!

🏆Evan Werner & CC Contador DWB were Reserve Champion in the Jr/AO 3’6” Hunters, and placed 2nd in the Jr/AO Combined 3’3”/3’6” Classic. In the Equitation ring, Evan & “Ozzy” had 1-2 finishes in the 12-14 Equitation!

🏆Scott Lenkart & Mercedes Flett’s Chicoletto were Champion in the Green 3’3” Hunters, winning all 4 over fences rounds.

Congratulations all on a very successful trip to Kentucky! Now, time to head home for some well-deserved R&R! 💛🐴✨

09/27/2024

Wishing a very Happy Birthday to the woman that makes it all happen here at South Haven Farm, Courtney Lenkart!🎂🖤✨ We are so very grateful to have her at the helm of our operation, always guiding students, developing horses and ensuring the happiness, health & success of each and every member of SHF! Thank you for all you do, Courtney! Wishing you a very Happy Birthday🫶🏼🏆

09/12/2024

In honor of the Texas Super Series Green Hunter Championships coming up, here’s a to South Haven Farm’s past success in the 3’/3’3” finals!✨

🥇In 2020, Lori Mathews’s Captain America was piloted to the win by Courtney Lenkart
🥈In 2017, La Primera Hacienda’s Moonshot was ridden by Courtney to 2nd place honors
🥈In 2014, Jana and Patrick Rodes’ Harley was 2nd in the Pre-Green Final
🥈In 2022, Eyckenhoeve’s Casallini was 2nd with Courtney
🥉In 2023, Mercedes Flett’s Chicoletto finished 3rd with Courtney
🥉In 2019, Mercedes Flett’s Watch Hill was 3rd with Scott Lenkart
🥉In 2018, Lori Matthew’s Alisto was also 3rd with Courtney
🏆In 2019, Courtney earned the Series-Leading Rider title in the 3'/3'3 and Reserve Series-Leading Rider title in the 3’6/3’9

While we will certainly miss this years’ final, we are so grateful for all of these incredible memories. From all of SHF, good luck to everyone competing this year!🖤✨

08/01/2024

Team South Haven continued their success in Traverse City during GLEF IV! 👏⛵️

🏆Lori Mathews & Exclusive scored an 85 and 87 to win the Adult Hunter Classic and take home Champion in the Older Adult Hunters. With Allegretto, Lori placed 3rd in the Older Amateur 3’3” Hunters.

🏆 Evan Werner & CC Contador DWB won both over fences classes in the 12-14 Equitation to finish Champion!

🏆Mercedes Flett & Coear De Pirater Z finished Reserve Champion in the Low Adult Equitation with multiple top-2 finishes. With Caswell, Mercedes jumped to a win in the Low Adult Amateur Hunters.

🥇Addie Manson & Searchlight won the Junior 3’3” Hunter Classic, following it up closely with a 2nd place finish aboard Sinatra.

🥈Loretta-Jean Devening & Extra Minkus finished 2nd in the 1.10-1.15m Amateur Jumper Classic out of a competitive group.

🥈Liliya Obaid & Helmig-K raced to a 2nd in the 1.10-1.15m Jr Jumper Classic out of 20+ entries. With Symbolic, Liliya was 3rd over fences & 4th in the Classic for the Jr 3’3” Hunters.

🏅Lauren Bader & Dominus Z stepped up to the 3’ division and had good rounds in the Younger Children’s Hunter divison!

🏅Peyton Rathbun & Diamant Blue RBF Z went double-clear and were in the ribbons in the 1.25m Low Amateur Classic.

🏅Leighton Gregg & I’m Specialized Z were 6th out of a competitive group in the 1.0-1.05m Jr Jumper Classic.

🏅Jessica Bader & El Jefe put in solid rounds in the 3’ Adult Equitation.

🥇SHF trainer Courtney Lenkart & Chicoletto jumped to a 1st and 2nd in the Performance 3’3” Hunters.

🏅Last but not least, Evan Werener, Loretta-Jean Devening, Elizebeth Chapel and Liliya Obaid had the best time riding working together to earn a top-4 finish in the GLEF IV 1.10m Non-Pro Team Jumper Challenge out of 10+ teams!

Looking forward to our final week here in Traverse City! Thank you to our entire team for their continued efforts🖤✨GLEF V🔜!

07/26/2024

⭐️SHF Sales Spotlight⭐️
Congratulations to our recent Sales Program graduate, Azlan, who was awarded the Grand Hunter Championship at Kentucky Horse Park today! With Jennifer Jones in the irons for the first time, Azlan jumped to win 3 over fences classes as well as the under saddle for Champion in the Green 3’ Hunters.

“We’re really excited about his future. He’s a super jumper, a very good mover, he’s not spooky and he has a beautiful lead change,” said trainer Robin Brown following Azlan’s Grand Hunter Championship win.

Azlan was imported in February of this year in partnership with Eyckenhoeve, and was sold to Jamie Planck McRee in May to eventually be her Amateur Hunter. In his first month stateside at South Haven, the talented 7-year-old earned Champion in the Green 3’3” Hunters as well as the Neiman Marcus High Score of the Show Award, showing exponential potential to top the hunter ranks. We are so proud to see him continue his winning-ways under the ownership of Jamie and training of Otis Brown & Robin Rost Brown!

SHF & Eyckenhoeve wish the best of luck to Azlan and his team in the 2024 Platinum Performance/USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Championship next month, and look forward to cheering on him and Jamie in the Amateur Hunters in the future!

04/10/2024

Montesso Van Perscheroven Z 👑
This pair had beautiful rounds today in the 3’3 Performance at PPin Oak Charity Horse Show
Shown By: Courtney Lenkart
Owned by: Eyckenhoeve

04/05/2024

Allegretto ⭐️ Winner of the 3’3 Performance Texas Superstake!

Owner: Lori Matthews

04/03/2024

🇧🇪 ➡️🇺🇸
C’Est La Vie and Montesso Van Perscheroven Z making their American debut showing in the hunters with courtney!

03/31/2024

South Haven Farm rider Lilly Goldstein is killing it TCU Equestrian. She won Big 12 flat ride of the year. We’re so proud of you Lily!

03/13/2024

What a fun WEF 2024!!

- 4 weeks showing in Florida
- 26 class wins
- 13 champion and reserves
- 1 High point award WCHR week

We are so proud of all of our riders and horses!! Thank you to everyone on our team for making it such a successful circuit!!🏆♥️

11/04/2023

08/18/2023

Incentive Green Hunter . day one was a hit for Courtney Lenkart‼️Chicoletto, owned by Mercedes Flett finished 9th in round 1 out of 144!

Swoon owned by Eyckenhoeve Sales, followed right behind to finish 11th!

We are so proud of these green beans and can’t wait to see them shine over these nest few days of competition 💚💚💚

08/18/2023

We are so proud of Sophia Street and her ponies for having an incredible first USEF Pony Finals♥️
Sophia and Masquerade had consistent results in the model and hack as well as a 8th place finish in the over fences to earn them 9th place overall out of 145 Large Ponies!!

She also jumped two great rounds and consistent scores aboard her Swan Song, and Rollingwoods California Cookie‼️❣️

07/28/2023

Congratulations to Courtney Lenkart and Casallini Capture USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stake 3’6”-3’9 !Photo © Andrew Ryback Photography

“Thursday morning got off to a great start for Courtney Lenkart, as she piloted Peyton Rathbun’s Casallini to a score of 88 in the 3’6” Green Hunter division and, as a result, took the victory in the USHJA Green Hunter Incentive Stake 3’6”-3’9”.

“It’s a first-year [green] horse that we bought last fall,” Lenkart, of Bartonville, TX, said of Casallini, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding by Casall. “We’ve been bringing him along all year. He shows with me in the Greens and with his owner in the Large Junior Hunters.”

When Lenkart first tried the horse, what initially stood out to her was his style and jumping ability. “He’s beautiful for one, and he’s so scopey and has a beautiful jump,” she continued. “I tried to really gallop on him today and I thought everything came up nicely out of stride. Sometimes I like to go too slow, so I was trying to gallop today and he was absolutely perfect.”

The USHJA Green Hunter Incentive program offers significant prize money to young hunters and is aptly named, appealing to owners with talented young hunters. “With my business and a lot of my peers, it’s been a huge incentive for the owners to have green horses for professionals to show,” Lenkart explained. “Besides the derby program, in the hunters, there’s not much prize money, especially compared to the jumpers. But this has given us as hunter riders, and the owners a chance to win some money.”

Lenkart spends the majority of her summer season in Northern Michigan, and there’s nowhere she would rather be. “We’ve had a blast,” she shared. “This is our favorite horse show of the year. My husband and my 18-month-old son are here and we stay for nine weeks before we head to Pony Finals and Green Incentive Finals. We just love every day of it. We feel so fortunate to be able to show here. It’s beautiful weather and great management, and our horses love it here. We’ve had a lot of success this year and can’t wait to come back next year.”

07/11/2023

We would like to say a special thank you to the talented ! We are so lucky to have you as a part of our team and greateful for all you do to keep our horses feeling their best and competing at the highest level possible. Having you’re intelligence and expertise in the barn has brought nothing but great success and we are so thankful!

07/11/2023

Sophia Street had another stellar weekend in Pony divisions. she won the large pony handy with Masquerade and brought home numerous top 3 placings aboard Swan Song and Rollingwoods California Cookie 🍪 🦢♥️

07/11/2023

Loretta-Jean Devening and Artico 2 had a successful move up to the 1.20 AO’s and brought home a top 5 finish in the high adult jumper classic🔥🚀

07/11/2023

Lori Mathews placed top 4 with all three of her horses in the Adult hunters last week with consistent great rounds! We love these 🦄 so much.

07/11/2023

This pair is always in the game 🎰♠️💵 Peyton Rathbun and Diamant Blue RBF Z jumped to a top 4 finish in the Low Jr speed and had a nice round in the classic!

07/11/2023

Leighton Gregg and I’m Specialized Z had beautiful rounds in the pre children’s jumpers including a double clear classic round on Sunday to finish 8th!

We are so proud of this new pair.🔥⭐️