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As a boarding customer, knowing your horse is well cared for provides peace of mind. The staff at Shady Dell Stables are experienced, dedicated and motivated to deliver quality in all we do, and you'll find we work hard as a team for the benefit of the owners, horses and students we serve.
Having plenty of knowledgable friendly staff always available to help, the horses are consistently monitored and provided the best care. We supply everything necessary to be sure that each horse and rider is able to enjoy and make the most of every minute spent at the stables. You may find the following introductions helpful in getting to know us better, but no substitue for meeting us in person! To learn more about our Instructors, and lesson program, please feel free to look under the "Lesson Program" section of this site.
Our team during the day is led by Joyce Dougherty. You can read about Joyce's experience below. Starting around 8:00 in the morning, Deb, Colleen, Bidget, or Tammy help Joyce with daily turn out, cleaning stalls, stocking hay, standing with horses, and care and up keep as needed. In the evening, Dave and Kim share evening feeding and turn in starting around 5:30 p.m. As the seasons change, the schedule will shift slightly to accommodate as much turn out time for the horses as possible, including night time turn out during the heat of the summer.
Most of our staff own horses, live in the area and have tons of experience to share. In this way we all understand the work involved and the importance of providing top notch care for horses and customers alike. The weekly schedule of care is consistant and our staff is mature, reliable and dependable with more combined years of experience than we care to admit!
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Joyce Dougherty - Daytime Barn Manager |
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 Joyce shares an extensive equestrian background, over 25+ years, beginning as a youth in 4-H and competing on the local hunter/jumper circuit, later with her children in Pony Club, and continuing today with her family farm under construction and her collection of show horses. After getting married and starting a family Joyce took every opportunity to ride whenever and wherever possible, and finally re-engaged with her passion for horses when her youngest child went into kindergarten. In 1998, Joyce bought Bay (pictured at left) and boarded her at a boarding/training facility. She and her husband Tom partnered with the trainer at the facility that specialized in Appaloosas, quarter horses and paints in Maryland. In addition to the responsibilities of managing the boarding part of the business, Joyce was involved in helping to start young horses by lunging, saddling, round pen work and exercising boarder horses as requested.
It was during this time that the Joyce and the Dougherty family purchased and started showing “Mikey” at quarter horse breed shows up and down the east coast. Doing very well riding and showing, the Dougherty herd grew, adding “Skip”, “Boomer”, “Jack”, “Hatter” and “Twister”, and so did the family accomplishments! Joyce earned multiple amateur all around championship titles (showing both English and Western) and year end high point awards in the Maryland State Quarter Horse Association and Southern Maryland Quarter Horse Association. Skip and Joyce earned Horse and Rider of the Year for Maryland and the same year earned the Justin Rookie of the Year award from the AQHA for Maryland State. Joyce’s children also did well in their respective youth divisions. A move from MD to PA landed Joyce at an Arabian training facility in Gettysburg working with horses of all ages from yearlings to stallions, and most recently to Shady Dell Stables where she’s been assisting and managing since 2008. Joyce and Tom’s eldest daughter, Elyse, has qualified and will be travelling to Ft. Worth, Texas, to show at the Appaloosa World Show the end of October. |
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Mark & Kim Pandola - Owners |
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 While Kim works closely together with Joyce to provide a constant schedule of care and upkeep, Mark is available to take care of regular maintenance and the facilities. We value the assistance and support of our dedicated staff, and our riding instructors, as well as the positive involvement of the community we foster here at the stables. You can meet many members of our community, past and present, under the "Our Community" section of the website.
Together we have dedicated the past 6 years building the Stables at Shady Dell. Through each phase of development we have focused our attention on the details necessary for consistent care, comfort and safety of the horses and enjoyment of our cusotmers. It is now with the finishing touches in place, and our continuing committment, that we offer our Stables for the pleasure and enjoyment of the sport.
In March of 2004, we "bought the farm", so to speak. We had plans in mind, although it is fair to say that the outcome has far exceeded any of our original expectations! With all of the best intentions the facility sprouted from a weekend hobby and a passion ignited by the love of horses. In so many ways we dedicate the Stables to my Mother, Judy, who passed January 2nd, 2008. It was through her loving inspiration that Shady Dell grew into what it is today. The facility started as a great place live with, and ride our horses, Duke & Roscoe. For my Mom getting our horses was a return to her childhood passion, and for me it was love at first sight! With and through the horses, we developed a relationship built on trust and respect far too deep to put into words. We started with riding the trails every chance we could get! Our favorite trails are right here in York County, at Codorus, Pinchot, Rail Trail, and the fields and woods here at our farm. In the recent years Mom and I rode together, we experienced the beauty of everything from the beach to the mountains from horseback. No matter if we camped out under the stars or stayed at the resort, when we were together with Duke & Roscoe we were always happy! Mom and I continued to ride together through her illness, and up until the very last moment, with absolutely no regrets. Today, Mark and I hope that those who come to connect with people and horses here at Shady Dell Stables are as blessed as we have been by the joy and experience of it all. We are dedicated to providing the best facilities and services so that all things are possible! |
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Shady Dell Stables
Chestnut Hill Pony Club is a part