Willow Hill Equestrian, Ltd

​

   Tommy Doyle, born in Dublin, Ireland started riding horses when he was ten years old. He began his riding career working at racing barns in Ireland and Holland. He served his apprenticeship with Neil McGraw, followed by Joanna Morgan, the leading female jockey in his country. Tommy also rode Northern Dancer offspring for Erik Bloom in Holland. During that time he also attended breeding courses at the National Stud in Kildare He then moved to the United States where he continued riding. He made frequent trips to NY to ride horses at Belmont for many different trainers on the east coast and he became less intrested in riding and more interested in the breeding industry. He worked and rode for Spencer Young of Sunnydale Farm where he started handling the stallions, Really Secret and Winbrook. Tommy finished his racing career in the early 90's and started stallion management, breeding and foaling full time. 

​

   Sarah Doyle started riding Morgans at age 8 in Jupiter, FL. In 1993 she moved to Newnan, GA where her parents bought her first show horse, HBF Makers Mark, a Polish Arabian son of Barbary. Sarah and Mark trained and showed on the Arabian circuit under the direction of Chapel Farms Arabians. She earned a Region XII Championship and a US National Top Ten in 1994, her first year in competition. She retired Mark in 2000 after he earned a USEF Horse of the Year Award. Her parents then bought Winsock, a 3 year old Hanoverian by Wallstreet Kid. Sarah began training with Grand Prix rider, Hokan Thorn. After graduating high school, Sarah began her working student position for Hokan in north east PA. She moved to Charlottesville in 2001 where she continued Dressage training with Hokan and competed Winsock. After 4 years working for Hokan, Sarah took a position at Fox Meadow Farm as head trainer. She trained and competed for FMF in Barboursville, VA over a year and realized she wanted to start her own business. She founded Willow Hill Equestrian, Ltd in 2005, the same year she married Tommy. In 2009, Sarah earned her USDF bronze medal, followed by a USDF silver medal in 2011. Both medals were achieved on horses she trained herself.

​

   In 2006, Tommy left his head position at November Hill Farm in Stony Point, VA to join Sarah and offer foaling, lay-up, and breeding management to the growing Dressage training business. The first foaling season brought over 70 mares from down the road and out of state. They quickly out grew their farm rental in Keswick and started leasing Springfield Farm in Gordonsville.  They stayed for 5 years while in search of a property to purchase. In the fall of 2010, Tommy & Sarah moved Willow Hill Equestrian, Ltd  to Orange, VA. Not far from Springfield Farm, their new property offers clients an all-inclusive breeding and Dressage training facility.

 

   

​