Developing Riders of All Levels
Whether you are fresh to horseback riding, looking to hone your skills, or a seasoned competitor, we are committed to helping you get the most out of your learning experience. As a welcoming, family-friendly facility, we take great pride in creating quality opportunities for horseback riders from every background to engage with quality instruction and learning.
Training
With a warm approach and knowledgeable staff, we offer horse training for a broad range of skill levels and disciplines. Our training programs are tailored individually towards each horse and rider combination. The staff is dedicated to training horses geared towards the riders’ goals whether you are into hunter/jumper, trail riding, lessons or fox hunting.
Lessons
We offer a high quality lesson program that caters to both children and adults. Lessons are private or semi-private only, ensuring that all riders receive focused and individualized attention.
Our staff is experienced and knowledgeable in a variety of disciplines. While our focus is hunter/jumper, we also offer lessons in dressage and can assist those who are looking to fine-tune their skills in the fox hunting field.
Our Team
We are proud to have a dedicated and professional team of trainers. Our trainers have many years of experience in riding and teaching, and they enjoy helping riders and horses of all levels reach their training and showing goals.
Lynda Zema
Our head trainer and barn manager, Lynda Zema, has been involved professionally in the equestrian field for more than 30 years. However, her riding experience goes back much further. Lynda has extensive experience in the Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation show rings and has trained many year-end award winners in all three disciplines. In recent years, Lynda’s riders have ribboned in the NAL National Hunter Finals and Marshall & Sterling National Finals and won the Marshall & Sterling Year-End High Point Championship, multiple IHJA Championships and HITS Circuit Championships as well as USHJA Zone 5 Horse-of-the-Year. Lynda is also a former fox hunter, earning her “colors” with the Wayne-DuPage hunt. Lynda’s great love of encouraging and preparing riders of all ages for the show ring makes her a key member of the Bull Run Equestrian Center training program.
Sarah Dieffenbach
Sarah started riding hunters in the Chicagoland area when she was 5 years old. Her English born mother sent her to horse camp and Sarah found her passion! With drive and determination, Sarah joined Oak Brook Pony Club and learned the basics of riding and horse care while taking bi-weekly lessons. Five years later she got her first horse and began showing at rated shows as well as hunting with the Wayne-Dupage Hunt and dabbling with polo. She trained with top trainers including Scott Gentry and Alex Jayne who gave her the foundation to win in the Juniors, Amateurs, and Equitation. Sarah’s goal is to share her equestrian education and experience with her clients to make them the best horseman and rider. Under the guidance of Lynda Zema, she prepares her students for the show ring, building a strong foundation for her riders to succeed. Whether you are a beginner or competing on the circuit, Sarah strives to make the horse and the rider the best team they can be together.
Patricia Spiroff
Riding over 45 years, Trish trained under British Horse Society instructors earning her British Horse Society Assistant Instructor certification. After competing at local area rated hunter jumper shows she found her passion fox hunting in the United States and abroad earning her colors with the Wayne-DuPage Hunt. At Bull Run Equestrian Center, Trish brings her horsemanship experience helping riders of all ages meet their goals from beginner to intermediate/advanced levels.
