Northern Run, one of California’s premiere show jumping stables, now has two locations: its well established Woodside barn and another in Santa Cruz. The Woodside facility, established by noted rider and trainer Cindy Brooks in 1999, has already produced several of the state’s top hunters.
Cindy’s full-service business has seen Omaha Beach, Aruba, Cartouche and Saturday Matinee become top West Coast champions and recently Touch My Heart, Lascaux, Keep The Change and Augustus have been added to Northern Run, LLC’s prestigious ranks.
Cindy shows no signs of slowing down. “I plan to continue what I am doing without spreading myself too thin operating out of two locations now,” she says. She also intends to continue raising the standards for her riders and subsequently the standards for their competitors, elevating West Coast riders nationally. “I am giving back to my industry by sharing a lifetime education and experiences to not only my clients, but to other professionals who seek advice, consults or help in preparing their horses and/or riders for competition.”
This could only be said about someone with Cindy’s show resume. She was raised in one of the most esteemed families in the equine business. Having three horses earn championships at all three Indoors circuit shows back East is the riding accomplishment Cindy cites as her greatest. In earning the hunter/jumper world’s “triple crown,” Cindy captured championships with Vested, Trinity and Just For Fun at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, the Washington International, and The National Horse Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City. She also rode Just For Fun to National Horse of the Year in 1994, and this horse was recently inducted into the hunter discipline’s Hall Of Fame.
Additional personal achievements include the Don Tipton Award for the PCHA’s professional high point rider for six consecutive years, placement in the International Hunter Futurity West Coast Regionals for eight consecutive years, and the International Hunter Futurity finals at Washington International.
Clients are still Cindy’s top priority. “My biggest motivation and inspiration to succeed is helping my clients to reach their specific goals and watching them and their horses improve in confidence, comprehension and performance. My biggest challenge at this point is finding balance in my life and time for me.”
Currently there are 23 horses in training at Northern Run’s two locations. They include top hunter prospects as well as Lights Out, an 11-year-old Hanoverian breeding stallion with dressage, hunter and jumping successes. “Keeping my operation smaller in numbers allows my staff and me to provide one-on-one service to my clients and their equine athletes,” Cindy explains.
To ensure that each horse in her program has a competitive edge, Cindy employs highly regarded care providers that include Peninsula Equine Veterinary, farrier Richard Brook, acupuncture and chiropractic therapist Nancy Elliott, and energy work and healer Tony Schiro. Cindy oversees the individual training of each horse in her care personally and maintains professionalism, teamwork and camaraderie as staples of her operation.
For more information, contact Cindy Brooks at northernrun@comcast.net or at 650-740-0123.