Owner and Trainer, Sarah VandenBerg has been a top level rider, competitor and instructor for nearly 20 years. She has competed through the Advanced Level of Three Day Eventing winning unprecedented back-to-back gold medals at the North American Young Riders Championship and has qualified for the prestigious Rolex Three Day Event.

Sarah holds the distinguished "A" Rating though the United States Pony Club and is one of only a handful of instructors certified at Level III for the United States Eventing Association. Believing that continuing education is vital to staying on top of her game, Sarah continues to study with top international trainers and educators for the benefit of her students and horses.

Sarah grew up in San Diego winning short stirrup hunter classes until pony club introduced her to eventing. Soon, she was zooming around Training Level cross country courses on her Connemara pony, Bluebeary. Ready for Preliminary Level at age 13, Sarah met Cattywampus, a Thoroughbred/Appaloosa mare on whom she won Open Preliminary their very first year together. Cat and Sarah were a special pairing that never had one jumping penalty their entire career!

Austral, originally imported from Argentina for her sister, became Sarah's most successful mount to date, winning gold at the North American Young Riders Championships an unprecedented two years in a row. They also competed nationally at the Advanced Level and qualified for the Rolex Three Day Event, long considered to be the United States top Event.

As of late, Sarah has been starting young rescued thoroughbreds in conjunction with her sister's rescue operation, Shiloh Horse Rescue. Five year old Pacific won the Open Training Division on his first time out and now has his eye on Preliminary. Diego won his first outing at Beginner Novice and is headed toward Novice later this year. Sarah is also giving other youngsters a second chance at success and enjoys seeing her client's horses from other disciplines thrive in the sport of eventing.

Briarwood's Barn Manager, Nancy Daniels is responsible for all of the scheduling and business activities for the school. She started riding with Briarwood as an adult beginner in 1990 and has been serving as Barn Manager since 1992. Nancy enjoys eventing at the lower levels and has been extremely fortunate to compete several outstanding horses, including Sarah's retired Intermediate horse, Cattywampus, during the 2002 - 2005 seasons. She currently rides Briarwood School Horse, Bubba at shows and events and is a project manager for a local real estate development company in her non-riding life.

Assistant Trainer, Alex Gould joined Briarwood in 1991 soon after beginning his riding career on a leased pony named Nikki Sue. He has successfully evented through Preliminary Level on his Thoroughbred mare, Stormy, and has served as an Assistant Trainer for the past several years. He is currently working with his Canadian Thoroughbred gelding, Oliver. Alex has recently earned a Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.