Tina Geoghegan
I was born into a horse family. I started riding when I was 3 years old. My parents had horses in our backyard and taught at a local farm. When I was 5 we bought our own farm where I grew up foxhunting, eventing and horse showing. As a young adult, I continued running the farm with my sister where we developed young riders, many of which are now professionals themselves. We competed at the local and national level and ran monthly rated horse shows at our farm. I have been teaching, training, and riding professionally for over 35 years. I have also trained riders for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association(IEA) through the national level. I truly enjoy working with horses, kids and adults of all ages.
Olivia Flanagan
Olivia grew up in Connecticut, and at a young age she developed a passion for the equine industry. During her childhood, she took weekly riding lessons, and was lucky enough to have a pony in her backyard. Once ready for a horse she was able to lease a variety of horses during her academic years and showed in the hunter/jumper ring where she learned the finesse of riding. In 2006, Olivia graduated from The University of Connecticut with a B.S. Degree in Animal Science and a concentration in Equine Science. During her undergraduate career, Olivia was captain of her school’s Western Riding Drill Team, played polo, learned to drive a horse and buggy, and taught daily lessons.
After spending a year in Tennessee grooming for a professional polo player, it is no surprise that with her passion for the equine industry Olivia spent her next 10 years as an equine professional, managing a local horse farm and teaching lessons.
With her horse Romeo, she focused on eventing and competed through Preliminary where they captured many wins and enjoyed cruising through the fields and sand rings throughout New England. In 2013 Olivia accepted a job at SmartPak and enjoyed many years of customer service and helping equestrians with everything they need. Now after some time out of the competition world she continues to enjoy riding at her home and teaching riders of all levels and abilities.
You can find Olivia in our office managing our day to day scheduling and enrollment. When she’s not here at the farm she enjoys Gardening, hiking with her family and dog, or riding her horses through the amazing trails in Western Ma.
Tracy Schneider
Tracy rode and showed locally in Massachusetts as a hunter/jumper as a child and teen. After working at a Manhattan law office for over a decade, she re-entered the world of horses when she introduced her four year old daughter to riding lessons. She then left the law behind to make horses her full time career. She has served as both office manager and show manager at very large and busy lesson and boarding barns in Massachusetts. Most recently she has been teaching lessons full time in Massachusetts where she is a licensed instructor. She enjoys eventing, fox hunting and trail riding. Recently, Tracy and her family moved to Rhode Island so that she and her now 16 year old daughter could realize their dream of having their personal horses at home in their backyard.
Ally Reynolds
I started riding when I was 8 years old at a local hunter- jumper barn on the North Shore. In addition to learning how to ride, my love of horses was fostered there. I continued to ride through college, picking up rides on other people’s horses and taking lessons whenever I could. After graduating, I moved to Tennessee to continue my education. While there I helped start young horses for the show- ring at a small barn in my spare time. I was introduced to different riding disciplines, and began teaching hunter lessons to beginner riders.
After returning to Massachusetts, my career took precedence over horses. Sweet Meadow has brought me back to the horse world, and I couldn’t be happier.
In addition to being a riding instructor, I am also a Certified Veterinary Technician and hold degrees in Veterinary Science and Psychology. My background working with animals and people has given me a unique perspective on teaching riders of all ages. I strive to foster love, respect and empathy for horses in my students, as well as teaching them to ride skillfully and safely.
Outside of Sweet Meadow, I like to hike, camp, and explore the National Parks. I also take lessons- riding is a sport where you never stop learning.
Hannah Copplestone
Hannah has always loved horses and grew up riding at Sweet Meadow Farm! In high school, she worked as a stable groom/working student for many farms in the area including Cutler Farm and October Farm where she learned important horse management and care. She also started riding and competing at Apple Knoll where she began leasing multiple horses (Henry, Tully, and Cabbie) and polishing her skills in show jumping and eventing. Hannah returned to Sweet Meadow Farm in 2019 working in animal science and as a riding instructor. Following high school, she pursued her passion for horses and got her Bachelor of Science in Equine Science and Management from the University of Kentucky. Since going to college she has immersed herself in the horse world, working with top-level sport horses and racehorses in Kentucky (including volunteering at the 5* Kentucky Three-Day Event). In the “horse capital of the world,” she took an internship with Spy Coast Farm working in their rehabilitation and fitness center. There she was able to learn more about equine biomechanics and training. Hannah also fell in love with veterinary sciences and interned with equine and small animal veterinarians in Kentucky and Colorado to gain more knowledge of equine medicine. Returning to Sweet Meadow Farm, Hannah loves to make riding fun for the horses and students!
Emily Ambler
Emily has been riding since she was seven years old and has been working in barns in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Colorado since she was 13. She quickly decided that she always wanted horses to be a part of her day-to-day life. In high school, she competed in IEA and qualified for NEHC rated shows. Emily then went to further her education at Colorado State University, where she earned her B.S. in Equine Science. She studied everything from equine nutrition and disease to rehabilitation and training. She even assisted in delivering foals! During her college years, she completed her internship at a top-rated hunter-jumper barn, learning more about managing a large equine facility and growing her horsemanship skills. In addition, Emily has experience riding in both English and Western disciplines. Since joining the team at Sweet Meadow in June, Emily looks forward to continuing to contribute to the great programs provided at Sweet Meadow Farm!
Allegra Wilson
Allegra grew up in Massachusetts and right next to a horse barn! At a young age she developed a passion for horses even though it wasn’t until the age of 11 that she started with weekly riding lessons. Once she began high school, she became a working student at the barn she rode at to be able to take more than one lesson a week. It was at this same barn that she started showing with the barn’s Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team. Allegra continued to ride throughout college and during her undergraduate career Allegra competed on her school’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) team. In 2011 Allegra graduated from Endicott College with a B.A. degree in Fine Arts with a concentration in Creative Arts Therapy.
After graduating, she would volunteer at a therapeutic riding facility and worked in several barns to pick up rides on friend’s horses whenever she could. This eventually lead to her learning how to ride Western Disciplines as well as Dressage. With her passion for horses she then worked at a small dressage barn cleaning stalls and taking care of horses and realized she wanted to continue to stay in the equine industry. She then went on and for a period of time worked for Dover Saddlery and then eventually in 2017 with SmartPak. After spending 3 years with SmartPak she realized she missed working with horses daily and now most mornings she works at a private Dressage facility where she also gets to take care of a handful of horses including Thoroughbred broodmares and then she joins Sweet Meadow in the afternoons to pass on her experience and love for riding!
Addie Spalding
Ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to spend every minute at the barn around horses and the community. When I was at a very young age I took lessons at Sweet Meadow. They taught me all the basics I need and how to take such good care of horses like how grooming is very important for horses. I now use everything I have learned over the years on my show jumper. His name is Carl, he is my pride and joy! I wouldn’t have him if I never fell in love with this sport 14 years ago. I loved hanging out in the Animal Science barn after my lessons, which grew my passion of animals. My favorite horses at Sweet Meadow are Gus and King Cole because they are both so friendly, safe, and fun. Out of all of the disciplines I love jumping, eventing, and doing cross country. The thrill going over the big jumps gets me every time! My goals in the future are to own my own barn where I teach students how to ride and to be a big show jumper traveling the world with my horses and my barn family! I have met the best people being at barns. They all have supported me through the great parts of riding and the struggles because we have all been there at one point.
It’s such an amazing feeling when I learn something new and fun in my lessons, that’s what made me want to share the feeling with kids who love riding horses like I do!
Julie Tofte
Sweet Meadow Farm is my home away from home! I grew up here learning all about managing the day to day operations of the farm, how to take care of the animals, train and handle them. I have a passion for animals and couldn’t imagine life without them. My dog “Duke” comes to the office with me each day so make sure you stop by and say Hi to him!! I love to ride horses, I especially enjoy using my previous cheerleading skills to do vaulting on horses! I raised Ruah since she was a baby as well as so many other animals here at the farm. Make sure you ask me to tell you all about what it was like growing up here!
relaxing and reading.
Danielle Higginbottom
Danielle grew up in rural Massachusetts where her passion for animals was fostered from a very young age through the animals she grew up with. She was always excited to learn how to care for them and enrich their lives. She was often found befriending any dog, cow or pony she could and wanted to be surrounded by animals any chance she got. She loved visiting local farms and helping care for her neighbor’s horse named Angel.
Very quickly this love of animals led Danielle to a 10-year long career in small animal care. With a background in grooming, training, canine rehabilitation and behavior analysis, she has worked with animals in diverse settings which has allowed her to build strong connections with animals, and people in the community.
At Sweet Meadow Farm, Danielle combines her passion for animal care with a love for teaching and mentoring. She can be found in our office, managing the daily operations and looks forward to connecting with visitors on the farm. In her free time Danielle loves to hike with her dog Malcom, she enjoys the White Mountains Region of New Hampshire and going to the beach.
Hannah Kelley
Hannah grew up in Leicester, MA, and was an active member of the Worcester County 4-H program for ten years, working with mini horses, rabbits, goats, and dairy cattle. She has managed several farm camps and is passionate about agricultural education. Hannah earned an A.A.S in Animal Science in 2020 and a B.S in Agriculture and Resource Economics in 2022 from the University of Connecticut, where she cared for livestock and participated in local agriculture research. Known for her love of cow print and creating fun social media videos, Hannah continues to engage with the agricultural community.