Services
Additional Information
Our primary objective is to have happy, healthy horses, and for the owners to have a place to enjoy their horses and each other. Briar Patch Stables is located in Mills River, North Carolina. We are convenient for folks in Asheville, Hendersonville, and Brevard. The W.N.C. Agriculture Center is just 5 miles away, while Turkey Pen Trails are 3.5 miles. We are also a short drive to Mills River Trails, DuPont Forest and Biltmore trails.
FULL BOARD
* All stalls have rubber mats, and are cleaned every day
* Safe, daily turnout.
* High Quality hay and grain fed twice a day.
* Neat, clean environment.
* Knowledgeable caretakers and owner lives on property.
PASTURE BOARD
* Large pastures with safe fencing
* Run-in shelters
* Quality grazing - Limed, fertilized and mowed
* Free-choice hay in the winter
* Heated water in the winter
*Emergency stall available for pasture horses
About Us
Mary Beth Drake, Barn Manager
Briar Patch Stables would like to introduce Mary Beth Drake. Mary Beth is the Barn Manager and riding instructor. Mary Beth fell in love with horses as a little girl. Since then she has practiced a variety of riding disciplines, most recently pleasure and trail riding. She first worked for Briar Patch when she was 12 years old. She lives in Mills River with her husband of 19 years Dustin, 18 year old daughter Emilie and 10 year old son Kannon. She is an army veteran serving as a Medic while stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington. She holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Va. Mary Beth has a passion for teaching and sharing the love of horses with riders of all ages and skill levels. She especially enjoys working one on one with boarders and their horses and provides exercise riding when needed. She is happy to be back at Briar Patch and is committed to providing a healthy, happy environment for our horses.
Tara Skinner, assistant manager
What started as a group lesson in Michigan turned into a lifelong passion. I got my first horse at 14 and learned so much from him. I worked as a wrangler at a guest ranch in Michigan and later moved to Kentucky to finish college where I had the opportunity to work on thoroughbred farms. I joined the hunt seat team so i could ride, but my favorite thing has always been trail riding. I'm so grateful to have found Briar Patch Stables and to have horses back in my life.
Camille Riley, owner
Have loved horses with a passion that has grown with time, from the first horse I saw. Took lessons, and rode at Estaire Berkeley's riding academy in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where I got my first horse at 8. Spent all my summers in Hendersonville with my grandmother, and rode my uncles TWHs every day she would take me. Also caught a donkey on Davis Mountain and rode her every day. Learned a lot from"Jenny Pearl". About 35 years ago I decided to raise American Saddlebreds. Enjoyed raising and training the babies, but found it too heartbreaking to sell them. Decided to open the barn to a few boarders, and now enjoy them and a few of my own. Love to trail ride and camp with horses and friends!