Wakefield Barn: Our Staff

Thom Pollard: In October of 2004, the Schillings brought Thom Pollard to train at Wakefield. He has a long, proven record of success training, coaching, judging and showing at all levels of equestrian sport. Thom is a U.S.E.F. “R” rated judge who has 30 years of successful experience as a trainer, farm manager, rider and coach of hunters, jumpers and equitation riders on the “AA” show circuit.

Thom and/or his students have won Championships and/or Reserves at, among others, the Washington International, W.E.F. Wellington (entire circuit), Pennsylvania National, Biltmore Estate Summer Classics, Capital Challenge, Upperville, Ox Ridge, Commonwealth Park/Culpeper HITS (numerous times), Cosequin U.S.G.P.L. Finals, Atlanta Classics, Roanoke Valley, HITS Ocala Winter Circuit, N.C.H.J.A. Championship, Deep Run, Tryon Riding and Hunt Club, Fletcher Spring Classic, Biltmore Indoor Classic, Asheville Mountain Classic, Blowing Rock, Sedgefield, and Keswick Junior.

Thom has trained horses that were V.H.S.A., M.H.S.A. and N.C.H.J.A. Year-End Champions and Reserves, and has also placed several jumpers on the U.S.E.T. Show Jumping Squad, which competed in Europe.

He has judged notable shows such as Wellington, HITS Ocala, Gulfport and “AA” shows in fifteen other states. He has also judged International CSI World Cup Shows and the Canadian National Equitation Medal Finals.

Thom has also coached the Zone Junior Jumper Team at Pennsylvania National. While Director of Riding at Southern Sem College, he coached the Individual National Champion of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

Lisa Pollard: Thom’s wife, Lisa, works with him at Wakefield, specializing in bringing along green riders and horses. She is a top barn manager & show groom and has started the careers of several horses and ponies that have gone on to be Horse or Pony of the Year, National Champion. She has ridden and shown horses that won Championships or Reserves at “AA” shows and coached riders who have achieved at this level. Lisa helps out with the riding, instructing and training at home.

She started in the horse business in the late 1970’s running a riding camp where she received a Master Instructor certification from Camp Horsemanship Association. Lisa’s background in English Education helps facilitate communication between instructor and student, and between horse and rider.

Thom and Lisa live five minutes from the barn with their daughter.

Mary and Steve Schilling own Wakefield along with eleven acres of land. Mary is committed to preserving the barn and its rural setting. Her efforts were recognized with CAP’s Anthemion Award in 2001. The Wakefield Complex was designated a Wake County Historical Landmark in 2002, and was listed, thanks to Mary, on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.