Meet The Team

Alicia Owens
Trainer/Instructor/Owner

Simply put, Alicia has been horse crazy entire life. As is the case with many young horsewomen, back yard riding quickly led to an interest in showing, and her show career on the “A” circuit began at the age of 6 in the Walk and Trot Equitation division. Alicia began showing on Arabian horses, but at the age of 11, Alicia began riding at a small local Saddlebred barn. As the oldest of 5, owning a top quality show horse was not in the financial cards for Alicia’s family, although you could always find “projects” of various breed in their backyard. Fortunately, Alicia was given many opportunities to show a number of wonderful Saddlebreds in divisions from Equitation, to Country Pleasure to Three Gaited Performance horses.

EKL Shakedown - The Morgan Horse March 2024Upon graduating high school, Alicia moved from home to be closer to her trainer and work towards a degree in Business Management. After two years as an assistant trainer, both teaching students and training Saddlebreds, an opportunity presented itself that was simply too good to pass up. Alicia ventured out on her own to open Scottfield Stables. It was by luck that she fell upon the Morgan breed as the farm she had rented had been a Morgan Farm prior to her arrival. Alicia found that the Morgan breed displayed a perfect temperament for Junior Exhibitors and Amateur riders, the very riders Alicia hoped to specialize in training. Within no time, Alicia was devoted to the wonderful Morgan breed. After two successful show seasons, and some remarkable growth in business, Alicia decided to venture out and purchase her own farm in the Spring of 2005. The move was a highly successful one, and Scottfield Stables grew with each passing year. In 2010, Scottfield expanded it’s training program and began to accept Saddlebreds into the training program.  Now Scottfield has about a 50/50 split of Morgans and Saddlebreds in training, with 26 Morgans and 25 Saddlebreds currently in the program at Scottfield.

In 2016, Scottfield Stables relocated to a larger facility two hours south of its original Montrose location. This new location in the Lehigh Valley has proven to be a great one with the program expanding once again with the new availability of training stalls.

Alicia Owens was voted the 2016 People’s Choice Instructor of the Year following a fantastic 2016 season that included a unanimous World Championship win at Louisville with Sarah Hecht and her Saddlebred mare, Novella, in the 13 & Under Five Gaited division. That win was followed up with Sarah and her Morgan, Dragonsmeade Varvatos, being crowned Reserve World Champions in the Junior Exhibitor Park Saddle World Championship and the 15 & Under Park Saddle Grand National Champions. Also bringing back a Grand National Championship was Maddie Sappenfield and her beloved MEM I’m Back in the 14-15 Hunter Pleasure Grand National class. This sporty team went back in the 14-17 Hunter Pleasure Championship where they earned the Reserve World Championship roses and tricolor. Making history by being the only rider in the history of the Morgan breed to win the Junior Saddle Seat Equitation World Championship three times (2014-2016), long time Scottfield student Audra Lee and her fabulous mare, CBMF Random Hearts GCH, were the unanimous winners of the Junior Saddle Seat Equitation World Championship again this year, closing out their Junior Equitation career having never lost a world title in the Morgan Junior Equitation division, including the UPHA Junior Challenge Cup Finals in 2014. Audra is the youngest rider to have ever won that title, as well, having won that National Finals at the age of 11. This is the second time Alicia has been honored by professionals and owners within the industry with a People’s Choice win, having been the Reserve Instructor of the Year in 2010.

In 2018, the United Professional Horseman’s Association honored Alicia with the prestigious Tony C. Ray Young Professional of the Year Award at their annual Conference held at the beautiful Amelia Island Resort in Florida. The Young Professional of the Year award is given to leading professionals under the age of 35; nominations are offered by way of consensus from fellow Young Professionals, with the ultimate winner being chosen by the UPHA executive board. Joining the ranks of such notable trainers as Smith Lily, Matt Shiflet and Tre and Emily Lee, Alicia is honored to be the first recipient to represent the Morgan breed.

In 2019, Alicia was selected to receive the AMHA Young Person of the Year Award, an EKL Shakedown & Alicia Owenshonor she accepted at the annual American Morgan Horse Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Since then, Alicia has gone on to have riders win World Championship titles in the Park Saddle, English Pleasure, Ladies English Pleasure, andClassic Saddle Seat Equitation divisions as well as another top 3 finish in the AMHA Saddle Seat Gold Medal Finals with Sophie Esarco and the homebred superstar Morgan, SFS Johnny Drama. On the Saddlebred side, Alicia has added the Open 5 Gaited Stake Championship at the historic Devon horse show with Queen Of Memphis and a Reserve World title in the 2 Year Old Fine Harness division with another fabulous mare, Take My Advice.

It was in 2021, however, that Alicia would reach the career defining milestone of winning her first “big blanket” title, winning the Park Harness World Championship with her beloved stallion, EKL Shakedown. Alicia selected “Seger” as a 6 month foal out of the field and her single minded devotion to make him the very best horse he could be marked the start of a decade long journey. Alicia and “Seger” would repeat the Park Harness win again in 2022 (this time unanimously!) and came back in 2023 under saddle to make history when EKL Shakedown became only the 7th horse in Morgan history to win both the Park Harness and Park Saddle World Championships, and the ONLY team in history to have won both titles with the same horse/rider

 

combination.EKL Shakedown - Saddle Horse Report Cover Nov 2023

Always propelling the business forward, Scottfield added a Stud division in 2021 with EKLShakedown as their premier stallion, and mademoves again when they added the many times World Champion Park Harness stallion, Leonardo’s Cry CH in 2023.  World Champions Ledgefield’s Jagged Edge and Graycliff Tony joined the stallion band for the 2026 season, making Scottfield the most prominent breeding station in the country, actively standing the most Open World Champions of any Morgan breeding program in the Morgan industry.

Alicia is a licensed official with the USEF, carrying her large “R” judges cards for Morgans, Saddlebreds, Hackneys, and Equitation.

 

 

 


Tuffy Owens
AMP Horse Show Services

David “Tuffy” Owens has been involved in the horse business since childhood, having shown Saddlebreds as a junior exhibitor. Tuffy currently manages and announces nearly 20 shows annually. Also at the top of his field, Tuffy was recognized in 2018 as the UPHA Show Manager of the Year. Though he does not train or coach, Tuffy’s frequent travel and nationwide networking make him invaluable to the Scottfield operation in sales and promotion.

In 2021, Tuffy put his permanent stamp on the show horse industry when he created and managed, with six weeks notice, the Saugerties Summer Showcase. This show would ultimately go on to be named the United Professional Horseman Association’s 2021 National Honor Show. The highest honor any horse show can earn, this award has never been won by a horse show in it’s first year, until he repeated the feat in 2025 with the debut of his Spring Showcase Horse Show and won the Chapter 15 Honor Show Award.
Currently, Tuffy manages 10 shows annually, and announces countless others. In addition to his managing accolades, Tuffy has announced at both the Morgan Grand National and the Arabian National Championships as well as the Canadian Royal Winter Fair. He is also a mainstay at the UPHA Annual Convention, having emceed that important event for over ten years.


Cat Hester
Breeding Manager

From a young age, Cat Hester has had a deep passion for horses, and pursuing a professional career in the equine industry quickly became a natural path. After beginning her career at an Arabian Saddle Seat barn in Utah, she relocated to Scottfield in 2013, where she served as Alicia’s assistant trainer for five years.

In 2018, she returned to Utah to work at a farm known for its distinguished Percheron, Friesian, and Andalusian breeding program. It was there that she developed a strong interest in the science and artistry of equine reproduction. She gained extensive hands-on experience in reproductive management, including ultrasounding, stallion collection, artificial insemination, and foaling. Her practical experience was further enhanced through advanced reproductive courses at Colorado State University.

Bringing her expertise and passion back to Scottfield to establish Scottfield Stud has been a defining achievement in her equestrian career. She finds immense fulfillment in contributing to the development of healthy, well-bred foals and takes great pride in supporting each stage of the breeding process.

 


Beth Mitchell
Academy Director


Greysen Fors
Trainer, Scottfield West, New Castle, Pa

  Greysen Fors has been immersed in the horse world her entire life. Growing up on her family’s farm, she learned to ride almost as soon as she could walk. Her mother, a lifelong horsewoman, instilled in Greysen not only a strong foundation in horsemanship, but a deep appreciation for developing horses and riders with patience, discipline, and heart.

She spent her youth riding locally and competing in various shows, gaining experience in several divisions and learning firsthand the dedication it takes to bring out the best in every horse. That early start laid the groundwork for her calling.

At 18, Greysen joined Scottfield Stables as an apprentice under renowned trainer Alicia Owens while pursuing her college degree. The apprenticeship evolved into a full-time passion. Over seven years, she trained, taught, and developed junior riders, building the skill set, confidence, and competitive insight needed to thrive professionally.

During her time at Scottfield, Greysen discovered her love for bringing new riders into the sport. She guided numerous academy students through their first lessons, first shows, and major milestones. Her blend of youthful energy, technical knowledge, and calm, encouraging instruction has made her a trusted coach for beginners and advancing riders alike.

Now, after nearly a decade with Scottfield, Greysen is proud to open her own Scottfield Stables location, continuing the legacy of excellence while bringing her own passion to the next generation. Her barn emphasizes strong basics, confidence-building instruction, and a welcoming environment where riders of all ages can progress, compete, and fall in love with the sport.

Rooted in tradition, driven by passion, and built on years of experience, Greysen Fors is honored to carry the Scottfield name forward as she begins this exciting new chapter.


Brooklyn Avila
Caretaker

Hailing from Dallas, OR, Brooklyn came to Scottfield in September of 2025 for one of our three month internships. As her scheduled time came to an end, Brooklyn asked if she could stay on as a permanent staff member, and we could not be more thrilled to have answered her with an enthusiastic “yes!”

Prior to her arrival here at Scottfield, Brooklyn had worked primarily in the western disciplines, enjoying experiences ranging from gymkhana to working cows to western equitation. Brooklyn also has dabbled in Hunt Seat equation with some over fences work as well.

During her time at Scottfield, Brooklyn hopes to learn more about Saddle Seat as a discipline, and she is looking forward to learning more about the breeding aspect of the industry, and so she will be working on the Scottfield Stud side of the farm a bunch during the Spring of 2026.

Brooklyn, now 20 years old, would like to one day become a professional Horse Trainer with a focus in the western discipline and operate her own facility where she can train, board and homestead.


Venice Dixon
2026 Spring Intern

Venice Dixon, 19, arrived here at Scottfield from Yukon, OK, in January of 2026, just ahead of what would be a record breaking streak of cold temperatures and snowstorms. Despite the rocky start, Venice stuck it out and quickly proved that she is a hand to be counted on and a positive presence in the barn!

Venice has been riding for about ten years and she has a self described “huge love” for the Morgan horse. Venice has ridden mostly hunt seat and saddle seat, but applied for our Spring internship with the goal of learning more about the breeding side of the industry. She is excited to team up with breeding manager Cat Hester, to help with the foaling out process. With her strong interest in the genetics of breeding programs, Venice’s time at Scottfield working with some of the Morgan breed’s top stallions will certainly prove to be valuable.
Venice would like to one day have her own Morgan breeding operation, and we are happy to be able to be a stepping stone in that process for her.