Cheyenne Jones opens her own training center at the age of 23
Cheyenne Jones is a talented rider and horse trainer. At only 23, she is a graduate of the Stephens College equestrian program, owns her own business, employs an assistant and actively competes in a variety of equestrian disciplines. She is also entering the world of stock horse breeding.
Cheyenne is the granddaughter of Stephen and Patricia Ayers, who bred, trained, and showed champion Tennessee Walking Horses when Cheyenne was a child.
“I cannot remember a time that I was not around horses,” Cheyenne said with a smile. “My grandparents encouraged me to ride and show. My parents were very supportive of both softball and showing. I competed against adults in open classes and won many trophies. I enjoyed the attention but really preferred Western disciplines.”
Cheyenne took the initiative and trained one of the Tennessee Walkers to compete in barrels, poles and other play day events, and was competitive in those events.
Cheyenne attended Marion C. Early High School, where she participated in FFA and played softball. She received several softball trophies, including Top Offensive player in 2010 and Top Defensive player in 2011. Her outstanding athletic ability secured a four-year scholarship for the Stephens College softball program.
Cheyenne played softball at Stephens College for four years and was an outstanding student, staying on the deans’ list every semester while earning her bachelor’s in equestrian studies. To earn her degree, she chose beginner and intermediate hunter/jumper, driving, saddle seat, and intermediate and advanced western riding for the hands on part of her studies.
This practical experience, combined with her course work and background in training and showing horses, has provided her with the solid foundation necessary for her current career as the owner and manager of a full-service equestrian facility.
“My motto is that careful, consistent and repetitive training can create a companionship of a lifetime with your equine partner,” Cheyenne said. “I believe almost every horse can be trained for some type of work. Not all horses will fit all riders, so it is my job to train the horse to its highest potential and help the owner develop the skills to match the horse. If the owner and horse do not fit each other, I work to find a buyer that is the right match for the horse and to find the owner a suitable mount.”
Cheyenne incorporated her business in January 2017. She buys horses to train and sell. She also helps her customers as either a buyer’s agent in finding the right horse or as a seller’s agent to market a specific animal. Her clients appreciate her willingness to work with them so that they can achieve individual goals in whatever discipline they want to pursue.
Cheyenne offers board, riding lessons, and training or re-training of all breeds of horses at the former Ayers Stable in Eudora, Mo. Cheyenne is currently starting three Bureau of Land Management mustangs – two for a client and one for herself – re-training two mature mules, and working with a variety of other breeds and their owners.
“I am fortunate to be able to employ Geni Jamison-Sneed as my assistant,” Cheyenne said. “Geni is my age and has been riding since she was 3. She came to this job from Flying C Farms. Geni has good hands, a good seat and our skills are complimentary.”
Cheyenne has continued to compete in Western events and is currently running a part Arabian pinto in the Highway 38 Arena barrel series at Marshfield, Mo. She has won more than 15 championships and reserves in a variety of disciplines.
Cheyenne recently purchased the registered American Paint stallion, I Be Lopealicious, as a competition horse and breeding stallion.
She is training him for barrels and extreme cowboy competition. “Hidalgo is a very intelligent, athletic stallion with good conformation,” Cheyenne said. “He has impeccable behavior around mares and geldings and is a crowd favorite at the parades we have participated in. I plan to use him as the foundation for my Paint breeding program and am standing him at stud in 2018,” Cheyenne said. “I have also purchased Chareds Smoke n Lace, a weanling, five-generation Appaloosa to Appaloosa filly that I intend to train for barrels and extreme cowboy events. After Lace earns a performance record, I want to breed competitive foals from her. Both horses are five-panel negative/negative.”
Cheyenne continued “My personal goals are to continue to bring riders and horses together, to become a respected barrel racer and trainer, and to be a top competitor in extreme cowboy events. After working with mustangs, I also want to participate in the trainer incentive program for the Mustang Heritage Foundation. Mustangs are extremely intelligent and, when properly started, can become amazing working animals in almost any discipline.”
With her talent and determination, it is a good bet that Cheyenne will achieve those goals.
