 Matthew
Roberts
Owner - Trainer
matthew@whitestarstables.com
If actions speak louder than words, Matthew Roberts
is deafening. A naturally calm, thoughtful individual,
his success speaks volumes of his abilities as a trainer,
horseman and promoter of the American Saddlebred.
Roberts is the trainer of White Star Stables
LLC, located in Cave Creek, Arizona.
While he may be considered an up-and-coming individual
in the "next generation" of horse trainers, he's already
spent the greater portion of his life learning and honing
his skills.
Matthew's equine education began when he was a young
boy in Scottsdale, infatuated with horses, wanting to
take riding lessons. His parents fully supported his
love of horses and he began riding Arabians under the
direction of Mitzi Thude. He had instruction in both
Saddle Seat and Western Pleasure, a versatile quality
he still demonstrates today.
Matthew's very first horse was an Arabian gelding,
Scharif. He continued his lessons and training with
Scharif, garnering numerous Junior Exhibitor Championships
on the West Coast, and Nationals.
When Matthew was 15 he began training and apprenticing
under the direction of Kim Nelson at Windchase Farm,
which was owned by the Priesers. It was at Windchase
that Matthew was first introduced to the Saddlebred
and his interest was sparked.
Kim and Matthew eventually moved to KAABA, then located
in Scottsdale under the ownership of Misdee and Deedee
Wrigley. Misdee's passion for Saddlebreds and National
Show Horses expanded Matthew's interest in other "saddle
type" breeds.
After graduating from high school, Matthew stayed on
at KAABA, while studying the fields of Interior Design
and Cosmetology at Scottsdale Community College and
Carlos Valenzuela Academy. Matthew's equine education
continued when Jack and Brenda Nevitt moved to Emerald
Hills in Scottsdale. Not missing a beat, Matthew began
his tenure with Jack and worked for the Nevitts in Kentucky
the following summer.
After working a time with Brenda and Jack, Matthew
was offered the trainer's position at Tandy Ranch West
by Evelyn Scott. Accepting the postion, Matthew had
the opportunity to work with another set of gifted horses.
Following his time working at Tandy Ranch West, Matthew
explored his other talents and interests. Roberts accepted
a position with the Bombay Company in San Francisco
as the Visual Merchandise Manager. Subsequently, he
transferred to their flagship store in Manhattan under
the same title. Matthew was successful in this new direction,
but missed everything he had out west; his family, his
friends, and the horses. Returning to Scottsdale, Matthew
accepted a position with the renowned hair care company,
Sebastian, and was then able to work part time with
Jack and Brenda Nevitt.
Matthew's intuitive and thoughtful nature is exemplified
in his training techniques. Whether in the saddle, jog
cart, or behind the long lines, he communicates effortlessly
with his horses and they respond with electricity. Matthew
allows each horse to bring forth its innate talents
and then he has the pure ability to capitalize on those
talents.
The versatility Matthew Roberts learned at the start
of his riding career is still apparent today. In addition
to Saddlebreds, he has also trained Friesians, Morgans,
and Arabians. Matthew appreciates the best of each breed
and is intently captured by the stature, motion and
intelligence of the American Saddlebred.
Paul Newton
Owner
paul@whitestarstables.com
Paul D. Newton brings the facets of corporate and financial literacy to the White Star Stables organization. Originally from Arkansas,
Newton spent his childhood and high school years interfacing with and raising numerous types of livestock on the family farm. In 1983, Paul left behind this rural setting and set off for university life.
While attending the University of Arkansas and Arkansas Tech University, Paul pursued his interests of history and political science with an intent to study law at Washington University in St. Louis. During this time, he accepted a part-time position at a nearby brokerage firm and never looked back. Paul spent the next several years working in the financial services industry in St. Louis, with numerous assignments in Dallas, Texas. He was responsible for opening the first office of Edward Jones outside of the Dallas area.
When the financial services industry went through tumultuous changes following the downturn of 1987, many individuals left the profession. This vacuum offered young talent a unique opportunity to fashion a new model for the financial services arena. Newton and his industry peers were instrumental in the development of technology that changed this paper intensive industry forever.
Newton’s professional career spans more than 18 years of sales, management and operations experience in financial services. He has brought his expertise, enthusiasm and strategic skills to corporations such as Edward Jones, Charles Schwab, CIGNA, and currently to Pentegra. Throughout Newton’s 18 plus year run, he has received numerous commendations and was nationally ranked in the top 3 of Charles Schwab’s sales force.
During the spring of 1999, Paul met Matthew Roberts in Scottsdale, Arizona, and they began a dialogue with respect to the formation of a partnership titled White Star Stables. Newton had spent time during his childhood years in the horse industry and his discussions with Matthew ignited his interest level to a high degree, so much so, that Paul initiated his Saddlebred show career while living in Greenville, South Carolina. In June of 1999, following his attendance at the Del Mar Charity Horse Show, Paul relocated to Arizona to continue his show career in earnest, while simultaneously bringing strategic alliance skills to Arizona’s financial industry.
Newton’s corporate brilliance defines the necessity of opportunistic identification, implementation of development strategies, and relationship building for business prosperity. Additionally, Paul’s success formula of setting high goals and consistently exceeding them, allows White Star Stables to make its mark as a leader in the American Saddlebred industry.
Paul has served as a board member of the Pacific Saddlebred Association, the Desert Horse Show Association and the American Saddlebred Association of Arizona. Additionally, he served a three-year term as Show Committee Chair of the Arizona Saddlebred Futurity Horse Show.
Marcia Everett
Director of Lesson Programs and Trainer
marcia@whitestarstables.com
Marcia Everett has been involved in the Saddlebred
industry for over 35 years. Born in Glenview, Illinois,
her passion consistently embodied the animal world,
and at a young age, Marcia's skills as an assistant
professional dog handler and groomer set her apart.
During her high school years, her equine talents blossomed,
while working for Don Peebles Stables as an Assistant
Trainer and instructor in Morton Grove, Illinois. This
marked the beginning of Ms. Everett's stellar career
with the talented American Saddlebred. Marcia's employment
history spans over three decades, notably with J.P.
Wheeler's Tanglewood Farm as a Trainer, Chat Nichols
as an Assistant Trainer, Max Parkinson as an Assistant
Trainer, Chris Reardon at Pine Tree Farm in Illinois
as a Trainer, and with Kim Crumpler as an Assistant
Trainer. Marcia feels privileged to have worked with
such noted horsemen and to have had the opportunity
to observe and learn from others such as Dick Obenauf,
Fritz Jordan and Grant Hermon.
During her college years in Minnesota, Ms. Everett
spent time training horses in the disciplines of dressage
and hunt seat. Shortly thereafter, Marcia married and
began family life. Horses remained at the forefront
as a family interest, with Marcia successfully showing
Quarter Horses and breeding the American Saddlebred.
Additionally, she and her husband Ken, purchased and
managed an industrial supply business, W.D. Allen Incorporated,
in Chicago, Illinois. Marcia has two children, daughter
Crystal, 25, who continues the Saddlebred legacy her
mother began and is currently a trainer in northern
Maine and her son, Kyle, 23, who lives in the metro
Chicago area and lends his creative spirit to the graphic
design industry.
Marcia returned in 1986 to Kim Crumpler's Stables located
at Valley View Farm, on a full time basis in Barrington,
Illinois, bringing the American Saddlebred industry
back into her life. In 1987, Marcia founded Bridleway
Stables at this location when Mr. Crumpler took a position
with Royal Scot Stables. Bridleway became a household
name in the Saddlebred industry as Ms. Everett's talented
horses and clients showed their way across Illinois,
Indiana, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.
Marcia's unique ability to communicate with riders of
all ages, coupled with her innate knowledge of their
equine counterparts, was evident in her lesson program
at Bridleway reaching a peak of 150 lessons per week.
Ms. Everett's phenomenal success is exemplified by the
list of World and Reserve World Champion horses her
program developed for equestrians including Abby Reising,
Lindsey Bade, Crystal Everett, Ashley Alden, Kristen
Gilbert, Kristen LaSota, Sharon Vuinovich and Alexis
Fojo. Marcia's extensive western and hunt seat background
was also evidenced by the first dual wins of the Juvenile
Shatner Finals and the Hunt Seat Finals in St. Louis
in the same year.
Upon Mrs. Young husband's death in 1999, and the subsequent
purchase of Valley View Farm by the Cook County Forest
Preserve District, Marcia purchased a 30-acre farm in
Woodstock, Illinois and moved her business there. At
the time, there were between 25 and 35 horses in training
and a strong lesson program had been established. In
2002, Marcia underwent bilateral knee replacement surgery,
which forced the sale of the farm. During her extensive
rehabilitation program, Marcia's father's health was
declining and she relocated to Phoenix, Arizona to care
for him. As his health improved and her time became
more flexible, she was approached by White Star Stables.
Ms. Everett is extremely pleased to be a part of the
White Star organization, once again sharing her passion
to bring together horse and rider, allowing each to
discover for the first time shared talents, creating
a world-class partnership.
Jolene Galvin
Riding Instructor
jolene@whitestarstables.com
Jolene Galvin, White Star's riding instructor, is 25
years old and hails from Scottsdale, Arizona. Jolene
grew up in western Massachusetts, and started riding
when she was two years old. She began showing Morgans
at three, and through the years competed successfully
on the New England Morgan show circuit in Saddle Seat
Equitation and Pleasure Divisions.
Jolene attended the University of Massachusetts and
earned an Associates Degree from the Stockbridge School
of Agriculture in Equine Management, and a Bachelors
from the Isenburge School of Management in Sports Management.
Jolene successfully rode for the University of Massachusetts
Equestrian Team both over fences and on the flat. While
attending college, Miss Galvin earned her Instructor's
License and began teaching for the University. During
the summer of 2002 she started the first Equine Clinic
for the University of Massachusetts designed for both
children and adults.
Jolene has worked for some of the top Morgan and Saddlebred show stables in
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Indiana, and Arizona. During
the 2005 show season she competed in the Morgan Roadster
Under Saddle Division with Dial Wild. Jolene placed
in the top three at the Morgan World Championship Horse
Show. Currently she is the riding instructor for White
Star Stables where she has started many of the stable's
top junior academy students. Jolene enjoys working with
the beginner rider and watching their transformation
into successful equine competitors. Her goal as an instructor
is to teach equine enthusiasts of all ages the core
horsemanship skills both on and off the horse with an
element of fun as an integral part of the program.
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