Prospect Hill Farm is on the 100 acre West Wind Farm located just off Routes 146 and 295. PHF is a top training facility, show barn, and riding school.
Our students have the opportunity to compete in horse shows and to learn the skills to ride and care for a horse or pony. We have the experience to teach and train the early beginner up to the advanced rider and horse. We offer boarding, training, riding lessons, camps, and clinics.
Alicia began riding horses at the early age of 6. What started out as a hobby, quickly evolved into a passion with the help of Kit Gustufson at Fleet Rum Farm. At the age of 10, Alicia’s parents bought her first horse, “Sunbeams Delight” and a second horse, an appaloosa named “RF Prince Phillipo”, two years later. The Prince and Alicia were together for the next 21 years.
Alicia rode and competed throughout her teen years and at 16, she qualified for Youth Nationals on the “A” Arabian Circuit under the guidance of Jennifer Minter.
Alicia graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Equine Business Management and Riding. At J&W she rode with Lou Denizard, Crystal Taylor, Shannon Dueck, and Mark Weissbecker. Alicia continued to ride under the guidance of Lou Denizard after his departure from the university.
In 2000, Alicia transitioned to the hunter jumpers at High View Farm. In 2003, she became a professional working at Pilot Point Farm and purchased her first AQHA, “Luken to The Future,” showing in the AQHA novice amateur classes. She stayed with Pilot Point Farm until she went on to open her own barn in 2005, Prospect Hill Farm.
Alicia is well recognized in the riding community. She held a position on the Board of Directors of Tristate Horsemen’s Association from 1999-2013; and named President from 2011-2013. Currently, Alicia is part of the IEA as a member, coach, and team. She has multiple year-end awards for TriState Horseman’s Association for not only herself; but also her students in the Open Shows, Dressage, and 2 Phase Shows. She works with TR Potts for training and is also a 4H carded judge.
Alicia has made Prospect Hill Farm a home for all; from beginners to highly-skilled riders, and she fosters a community that empowers riders to excel in an educational environment—building self-confidence, skills, and sportsmanship.
Born into a family of equestrians, Kiara's father and aunts all grew up owning, riding and showing horses. As a child, Kiara and her cousins enjoyed riding and spending time with the horses at her aunt's farm. As she grew older, she was introduced to the hunter/jumper world, and began competing on the hunter/jumper circuit. Along with riding hunter/jumper, Kiara also spent several years training and showing dressage, as she believes a proper flatwork foundation is important for both horse and rider. Having ridden with some of the top trainers in New England, Kiara is very grateful for all the knowledge she has been able to obtain over the years.
Although Kiara enjoyed competing, and competed heavily as a teen and young adult, she found her passion to be training green and problem horses and teaching riding lessons. In 2003 her parents purchased their own farm, The River's Edge Equestrian Center, to give Kiara the opportunity to pursue her dream of training, building a lesson program and having her own equestrian business. Housing up to 20 horses, Kiara was responsible for the daily care of all the horses, running the lesson and training program, as well as making sure the facility ran smoothly.
In 2006 Kiara graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Equine Studies/Equine Business Management. She spent the next several years working on growing her business and clientele. In 2010 she was offered a job at Pilot Point Farm as an assistant trainer. She continued to train at both Pilot Point and The River's Edge until 2012 when she outgrew her family farm and decided to go out on her own. She leased stalls at a large facility and continued to operate as The River's Edge Equestrian Center.
In December of 2017 Kiara was offered the opportunity to join our team at Prospect Hill Farm. She joined us along with her four horses, Willie, a Thoroughbred gelding, Hooch, a Thoroughbred gelding, JellyBean an Arabian/Welsh gelding, and Winnie an Oldenburg mare. While Willie, Hooch and JellyBean have become an important part of our lesson program, you can find Kiara and Winnie competing together in the Jumper ring. Kiara's students compete mainly in the hunter and equitation rings, having several riders who have qualified for finals over the years. Kiara brings her years of knowledge and experience to the table, along with a fun but firm teaching style that students love. She has become an important asset to our lesson program, and we are happy to have her aboard!