Morgan & Sophie, Staff Profile

Sitting together as if they were long-time friends, Morgan and Sophie, take a brief rest in the break room before they return to more barn work.

Morgan, fifteen and an experienced rider says, "I've been a working student since I joined Thorncroft in the winter, I work and ride every Thursday and Saturday." Morgan trained Sophie, a long-time member of Thorncroft, showing her the routine expected of a working-student.

Sophie with Cooper

"I've been riding at Thorncroft for two years but when I heard you can get extra lessons if you're a working-student I immediately changed. I really love being here at the barn, and as a working student, I get to spend a lot more time here with the horses and people," explains Sophie.

Morgan with Scotty

Thorncroft offers the program of the working-student so that riders, such as Morgan and Sophie, can spend more time at their "home away from home." Each rider pays for a single lesson then works for a total of six hours to earn a second lesson.

Sophie recalls her decision to become a working-student, "It was really when Cooper arrived that I officially made the switch. She's by far my favorite horse here. I also figured this would be the perfect place to spend my summer."


While Morgan agrees that she loves spending more time here, she differs from her fellow rider's fancy of Cooper, "Cooper's pretty, but Scotty is really my favorite by far."

Not to be deterred by the relentless summer heat, but motivated by their dedication to Thorncroft, Morgan and Sophie exemplify the supportive nature of Thorncroft Equestrian Center.

Jerusha, Staff Story

Jerusha Dyson started volunteering at Thorncroft just on Saturdays in 2005. Today, just seven years later, she’s the acting barn manager. “When I was 15, I was working at another barn, but I wanted to do more. I wanted to do therapeutic riding volunteering and as soon as I heard about Thorncroft, I quit and began coming here,” Dyson says as she reflects on her history at Thorncroft.

In October 2011, Jerusha’s experience and leadership earned her the position of barn manager, “as a barn manager, I really love when you can tell that the horses know who I am because they treat me differently, they’re better for me, better behaved.”

Jerusha with Grant

As affirming as the behavior of the horses is for Jersusha, her favorite part, she explains, is the opportunity for teaching lessons. “Last night, I taught my student to jump for the first time, she’s just this little eight-year-old, very small, and she was over the moon. The accomplishments of other riders, especially my students make me very happy.”

Jerusha attributes the significant improvement of her rider to the brand new Jimmy Moran Indoor Arena. The student had been taking classes for just about a year, making slow but steady progress; however, as soon as the Jimmy Moran Arena was opened, she moved the lesson to the more private location. Just in the first lesson in the new arena, Jerusha noticed a significant difference, “I wouldn’t have been able to comfortably teach her how to jump if it were for the smaller space.”

The arena was specifically built for a more personal and quiet setting that bolsters the calm atmosphere of the barn. “Normally, I take her to the indoor arena but that day, the indoor ring was so full, I took her to the Jimmy Moran Indoor and it was just the two of us. There was not one distraction for her. This was also one of the first times she cantered off the lounge line because usually she’s more tentative. The space offers more sense of security.”

Already, the Jimmy Moran Indoor Arena is transforming riders and students. The betterment of a person’s well-being is a value Thorncroft and its members hold dearly, including Jerusha.