TENDERFOOT STABLES CORP.
Lydia Keller
Barn Manager
Lydia has been riding on the farm since she was six months old and has studied many different disciplines under several talented trainers! She started out barrel racing, switch to cross country lessons, dabbled in a few dressage lessons, and then eventually landed in the hunter/jumper world. She competed on the Millersville Equestrian Team during college. She is a lifelong learner and knows that there is always something new to learn from other trainers and horses. Her passion is sharing her thirst for learning with other horse enthusiasts. When she is not around the horses you can either find her teaching at Central York Middle School or spending time with her husband and daughter.
Chelsea Wilkey
English Riding Instructor
Chelsea has been riding and competing since the age of 4 when she became hooked after her mom put her on her 16.2h thoroughbred mare, Mouse. She has since competed in many disciplines over the years but her main focus has been in the hunter and sport horse ring. She has trained under three incredible trainers (Judi and Christi Scott and Clyde Beam) that have mentored and formed her into the rider she is today. She competed on and was President of the Millersville Equestrian Team where she met Lydia. Chelsea currently owns five horses; Lucky, KG, Bentley, Daphre and Neville. Lucky, Bentley and Neville are Chelsea's hunter mounts, while KG is now retired from the sport horse ring. Daphre is more into jumpers! When she is not with her horses, Chelsea can be found at home with her husband Matt, her daughters Millie and Willow and her three fur babies, Dixie, Roxy, and Koda.
Odessa McCreesh
Western Riding Instructor
Odessa started taking lessons at Tenderfoot back in 2002 on her favorite horse, Patches. She even attended some fun shows on a lesson horse named, Patches where she competed in events like barrel racing and pole bending. Odessa went on to become a program director for the Junior Horsemanship Camp at River Valley Ranch where she became CHA certified for beginner lessons in November of 2011. She taught riding lessons there until she started her family with her husband, Brendon. She is the mother of three beautiful children, Rosella, Alenna and Hudson.
Hannah Harris
Beginner Rider Instructor
Hannah is an agricultural teacher that teaches classes such as Animal Care and Science, Equine Sciences, and Vet Sciences. She also is an FFA advisor, so she is not new to the farm life! She grew up riding mainly Western but has been taking English lessons for a few years now. Her main focus at the moment is learning dressage. She also is the owner of the pretty red roan mare, Ricochet and a bay gelding, Douglas.
Meisa Chase
Western Riding Instructor
Meisa began riding lessons at 6 years old and has been a working professional in the equine world since 2000. She has a diverse portfolio of working experience including: Driving single and teams for carriage tours in both Chicago and Lancaster, Wilderness and Trail wrangler in the Grand Canyon, Colorado, and now at Stone Gables in Elizabethtown, Equine Farm management, Mustang Training in New Mexico and Foundation Riding Lessons since 2020.
She is passionate about horses and is always seeking to learn more and to share what skills she has gathered in her time working with equines in a diversity of disciplines. Her experience in wilderness guiding allowed her to experience working horses on a daily basis and instructing riders on how to navigate those conditions. The importance of balance, proper equipment and a real life setting was beneficial in gaining a functional application of the art of western riding. Currently she has two of her driving horses in retirement that she has spent many years in partnership with. She has a Fine Arts degree and while the horses keep her busy, she also spends time at her art studio to paint, draw, sew and explore her newest passion; leatherwork.
Cindy Merrick
Accountant
Cindy is Tenderfoot's bookkeeper. She calls herself an occasional rider but enjoys riding. Her first horse was named Prettybabe. She is a very valuable asset to Tenderfoot with her accounting background and works hard to keep up with the book work so that Tenderfoot runs smoothly!
Scott Merrick
Property/Equipment Manager
Scott makes sure that everything is running smoothly and helps to keep our stable looking beautiful. Scott used to participate in the rodeos on a horse named Nevada, but now he mainly keeps to riding motorcycles and working on projects in his garage. You will also see other animals around Tenderfoot because he is currently raising chickens, steers, and lambs.
Angie Best
Barn Work Assistant
Angie has had horses for most of her life and currently has five horses of her own that she cares for at home. Angie is a busy lady as she not only works at Tenderfoot in the evenings, but she also works at another stable in the mornings. In her free time she enjoys competing in rodeos with her daughter, Teri.
Lori Hall
Barn Work Assistant
Lori has been a friend/boarder to Tenderfoot for many years and owns two horses. Lori enjoys trail riding and has even dabbled in fun shows. You will also know Lori around the barn as the person that brings the best homemade soup and ice cream to boarder events!
Sue Weitzel-Jones
Barn Assistant
Sue started at Tenderfoot because she fully retired and needed a way to get her horse fix! Sue had TWH horses back in the day, and finds that taking care of these four-legged buddies is very satisfying. Sue does disappear from the barn from time to time as she loves international travel, exploring and adventure travel. She has been to every continent!
Clara Bailor
Barn Assistant
Clara is a criminal justice student at York Tech. She has a strong passion for animals and loves the outdoors. In her spare time she likes to camp, play guitar, craft, run, and spend time with her family. She does not own a horse, but really enjoy taking care of and bonding with the horses at Tenderfoot.
Jesse Leta
Barn Assistant
Jesse rediscovered her passion for horses a few years ago and came to Tenderfoot to continue to learn and grow in horsemanship and riding. She enjoys trail rides with her bay gelding Pokey, hiking, reading, and anything involving music. Her free time is spent with her husband Brandon, step daughter, and fur babies Finn and Riley.
Machaela Kury
Barn Assistant
Machaela started riding at five years old and continued through high school. She took a few years off for college but now is back in the saddle! She did mostly trail riding and jumpers with a few occasional gaming shows but she is now trying out the hunter ring. When she is not at Tenderfoot, she enjoys art, reading, hiking, and spending time with loved ones.