At the end of 2004, the four trainers of Beacon Hill–Frank and Stacia Madden, Krista Freundlich and Max Amaya–sat down over dinner to assess their year.

“We were saying ‘Wow, how could next year get any better?’ We’d had such a great year, and we were kind of preparing ourselves, because we thought there wasn’t a way that 2005 could be better,” said Freundlich. “But, somehow, 2005 managed to top it. It was very thrilling.”

With a bevy of equitation and junior hunter and jumper stars and winning amateur clients in their roster, the Beacon Hill team is on a roll. Brianne Goutal’s major equitation and jumper wins were just the biggest headlines of a season full of victories.

“I think I have my individual highlight for every person who rides with us,” said Stacia. “Yes, we had extraordinary things happen, but it was more the in-barn stuff that isn’t publicized that was so great. Everyone met their personal goals–it’s just that some peoples’ personal goals are a little bigger than others, and they get more press.”

It might seem clichéd to describe the Beacon Hill team’s approach as the ultimate in teamwork, but they insist it’s apt. All four of the trainers handle all tasks and train everyone.

“I think basically that all the key players wear multiple hats–any one of us can teach, pack equipment, work in the office, take people to shows–anything,” Stacia said. And they all sit down to dinner together several times a week to discuss each student’s progress and the goings-on of the barns.

Frank is definitely the most experienced trainer, with 32 years of equitation finals as either a rider or trainer under his belt. It’s his teaching that sets the tone. “He’s great at giving the kids confidence,” said Freundlich. “Frank never belittles them or makes them feel like they can’t do something. He’s always putting them in situations where they can be confident and learn, without being over their heads. There’s no favoritism–all the kids feel like they have a great chance at doing well.”

Amaya moved from Argentina in 2001 to work for Frank. He’s not only learned how to train at the top level, but he’s also ridden Church Road at the grand prix level for the past two years. Amaya credits Frank with taking his teaching to a new level.

“One thing in particular I learned from Frank was how to have patience. With a new student, you might not see results right away, but in the long run there’ll be real progress. It’s never a quick fix,” Amaya said.

Stacia’s years showing as a junior (under Frank’s tutelage) make her the perfect partner in his teaching. And Freundlich–another former student who joined the team five years ago–and Amaya are talented young professionals soaking up the knowledge right alongside the students. The Maddens are not only training a new generation of riders, but they’ve also given remarkable opportunities to two up-and-coming teachers.

“I think that everybody’s pretty much an equal on the team,” said Frank. “I respect everyone’s involvement equal to my own. It’s neat to me the ideas that people come up with, and I think everyone who rides with us is just as comfortable riding with me as they are with Stacia, Krista or Max. They know that the lines of communication are wide open.”

That camaraderie carries over to their students. “It’s everyone’s attitude; they’re all pitching in at the end of the day. When they get back to the barn, they all clean their tack and help feed. If they’re not showing or riding themselves, they’re at the ring, helping set jumps for each other, and cheering. I think they get pride out of being a team,” said Freundlich.

“I think the biggest thing that works for us is that we don’t work with everybody on such an individual basis that there’s no teamwork involved,” said Stacia. “If you’re at a horse show and having a bad day, you can still get some satisfaction from someone else doing well. That’s what keeps people going and positive and helps them not get frustrated.”

The logistics of an operation of this size are daunting, but these four have it down to a science. The main barn at Beacon Hill houses 41 horses, and Frank, Stacia and Freundlich operate out of there. Amaya runs and teaches at Synergy, a 30-stall facility just a few miles down the road. Amaya took particular pride in Goutal’s accomplishments this year, since she and her sister Clemintine’s horses live and train at Synergy with him. “I took it on as a little bit of a challenge. Frank would put the final touch on at the shows, and it worked,” said Amaya.

Traditionally, the final touches at the pressure-cooker atmosphere of the fall equitation finals include an increased lesson schedule and schooling sessions late into the night at the competition. But for the past few years, the Beacon Hill team has been developing a different approach. They’re letting their students rest and sleep, and they’re keeping schooling the horses to a minimum. The strategy paid off with fresh horses and mentally sharp riders.

“It was probably the first time in my life as a coach that I felt I had the maturity–along with my staff and the talent of the horses and riders–that I could truly really stick to a game plan and not get distracted by my own nerves and the excitement,” Frank said. “We said, ‘We know the horses, we know the riders. We’re not going to break away from our routine.’ That takes some discipline, and we probably ended up treating the finals as close to a normal horse show as we’ve ever done.”

Personal Profile
Frank Madden: age 48, Colts Neck, N.J.
Stacia Madden: age 36, Colts Neck, N.J.
Krista Freundlich: age 21, Freehold, N.J.
Max Amaya: age 31, Freehold, N.J.
Facilities: Beacon Hill Show Stables and Synergy, both in Colts Neck, N.J.
Support Staff: assistant trainer–Jennifer Griffiths; Beacon Hill barn manager–Mary Anne Minor; Synergy barn manager–Katie McBride; veterinarian–
Dr. John Steele & associates; farrier–Arnie Gervasio.
Students at the 2005 Equitation Finals: Brianne Goutal; Sloane Coles; Maria Schaub; Nikko Ritter; Katie Taylor; Jessica Springsteen; Alexandra Loprete; Amanda Groher; Elizabeth Lubrano; Jacqueline Lubrano; Carolyn Curcio; Chelsea Moss; Holly Lohmann; Nicole Lakin; Kate Stelmack.
Not Just Riders: Brianne Goutal won the sportsmanship award at the 2004 Winter Equestrian Festival; Sloane Coles won the same award in 2005. And Nicole Lakin won the sportsmanship award at the 2005 Pennsylvania National Horse Show. “I think that’s a nice indicator of how professional and nice our kids are,” said Freundlich.

2005 competitive highlights
Pessoa/USEF Medal Finals (Pa.)–1st–Brianne Goutal; 2nd–Sloane Coles; 4th–Maria Schaub
ASPCA Maclay Finals (N.Y.)-1st–Brianne Goutal; 8th–Sloane Coles
USET Show Jumping Talent Search Finals-East (N.J.)–2nd–Maria Schaub; 8th–Nikko Ritter
Tad Coffin Washington International Equitation Classic Finals (D.C.)–2nd–Sloane Coles
Monarch International Junior Equitation Championship (Md.)–1st–Brianne Goutal;
2nd–Sloane Coles
Ronnie Mutch Equitation Classic (Fla.)–1st–Sloane Coles; 2nd–Brianne Goutal
North American Young Riders Championships (Va.)–1st individually–Brianne Goutal/Onira
USEF Prix des States Junior Jumper Championships (Pa.)-1st individually–Brianne Goutal/Onira
USEF Pony Medal Finals (Ky.)–1st–Annie Davidson