Mickey Hayden

Mickey Hayden has been training top hunter, jumper, and equitation horses and riders since 1979.  He has operated out of such prestigious California locations as the Will Rogers Polo and Hunt Club and the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. Mickey is currently based at the Nellie Gail Equestrian Center in Laguna Hills, California where he has been since 1992. 

Mickey has produced countless American Horse Show Association (AHSA), Pacific Coast Horse Show Association (PCHA), and International Equestrian Federation (FEI) champion horses and riders.  His students and their horses are inevitably at the top of their respective horsemanship divisions.

Mickey is a captivating instructor who often draws an audience at the barn. He is known for his ability to select quality horses, both for their physical and mental capabilities. He also has a great way of matching horses and riders for the best performance possible.

Mickey has a reputation within the industry for being very ethical and draws like people to work with him. He, along with his dedicated and responsible staff, runs a very well-organized and safe operation. Over the years, this has earned him the loyalty of his many clients.

Lane Clarke

Lane Clarke is an accomplished and active Grand Prix competitor, top rider, and coach. After winning his first Grand Prix at the age of seventeen in 2003, he has gone on to have a successful career as a professional. He is a fifth-generation horseman with a vast range of equine knowledge.

Lane has competed throughout the West Coast and Canada. He has won and placed in numerous Grand Prix’s in venues including Sacramento, Del Mar, Pebble Beach, Flintridge, Thermal, Indio, Las Vegas, and San Juan Capistrano.

With countless wins and top placings, Lane has made a name for himself as a premier rider. He brings his riding expertise and equine husbandry experience to the training arena–developing horses and riders into top competitors.

April Branson

April Branson is a professional equestrian show jumper and instructor. April started riding with Mickey Hayden when she was seven years old and has been with him ever since. After teaching Hayden clients and riding school students for many years, April now manages the Hayden & Clarke business administration side of the business remotely.

Her calm demeanour and insights into the business make her an asset to the team. She spent many years assisting students at "A" shows, county-level shows, and Interscholastic Equestrian League (IEL) shows. April demonstrates her high level of excellence, and when she rides, shows, and engages with clients.

April has multiple wins and championships in the Children’s division with her horse Canadian Snow. She has many wins and championships as a junior as well as a professional.

Estella Lindsey

Estella is the assistant trainer and open rider at Hayden Clarke Sport Horses. She has been at Hayden Clarke Spot Horses since 2015. Growing up in Georgia, Stella primarily rode in back yard barns. Thanks to Mickey and Lane she is a successful international competitor.

Natalie Banis

Natalie started her riding journey at 12 years old and she has only ever ridden with Mickey and Lane at Hayden Clarke, she just recently turned 20 years old. She just concluded her first year at a professional where she jumped her first set of Grand Prix’s with her very own mare, VDL E-Cecilia. She also has competed and Won multiple National Hunter Derby’s and hopes to continue her experience by competing in the International Hunter Derby’s. Her starting foundation at Hayden Clarke has made her dreams a reality by teaching, training and showing horses for the rest of her career.

Cara Chadwick

Cara is a rider/trainer/instructor at Hayden and Clarke. She has strong focus on the fundamentals, correct flatwork with a dressage influence. She has ridden since early childhood, beginning with a base in classical equitation, showing Hunters and Jumpers as a junior. Growing up surrounded by the green fields and forests of southern Vermont, riding her pony and then horse in nature. Cara further developed her skills working at a stable in Germany in her twenties, working with babies to Grand Prix horses. She has worked for several dressage trainers over the years to further hone her skills. She currently rides and teaches, learning support at the Stable whenever needed.