about us

margaret beeman

Margaret Beeman is a third generation horsewoman with over 45 years of experience in the horse industry both in the United States and abroad. Margaret was raised in a family owned horse business where from the age of 5 she was helping to train young, green ponies to drive single and double, ride, and compete in gymkhana. In her 20's Margaret worked at a ranch as a trail guide and free lanced training horses and giving riding lessons. Then Margaret built her own boarding and training business, Broken Wheel Ranch LLC.

After seriously injuring her back in a horse accident Margaret began to look for safer methods of working with horses and began her path to developing her own unique approach to natural horsemanship and horse/human communication. Inspired by the work of Bill and Tom Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and Buck Brannaman, Margaret developed the “The Better Deal Horsemanship Training Program”  and conducted workshops throughout the United States and Canada. Margaret has published a training video and two books, The Better Deal: Practical Horsemanship Training for You and Your Horse and Training for Safety. Her work has been featured in Practical Horseman, Equus, The Whip, Trails Less Traveled, and Rural Heritage. 

​Margaret has worked with horses and people from all disciples, from trail riders to members of the U.S. Equestrian Team. Margaret coached singles combined driving competitor Scott Monroe to two National Championships, qualifying them for the U.S. Equestrian Team where they competed in the World Combined Driving Championships in 2004 and 2006. Margaret also coached the U.S. Equestrian team in the marathon phase of competition in 2002.
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In 2018 Margaret renamed her business Sovereign Hilltop.  Currently Margaret leases her facility to horse owners, clubs, artists, teachers, and trainers for small events and lessons. She continues to give clinics, workshops, lessons, evaluations, and consultations for horse owners part-time at Sovereign Hilltop and other facilities. As she eases her way into retirement Margaret enjoys working with her daughter Shanna and fellow farmer Chris on developing regenerative, small-scale agricultural practices at Sovereign Hilltop including composting, vegetables, laying hens, meat chickens, heritage breed meat rabbits, lamb, and cannabis. 
 

Mark gomez

      For over forty years Mark Gomez of Hilltop Polo and Positive Results Training has been training horses of all breeds and disciplines using natural horsemanship methods. Mark grew up on a dairy farm in Northwest CT but always wanted to be a cowboy. When their father bought them a pony, Mark and his siblings rode mostly bareback, practicing roping and cow chasing. His herd eventually expanded to a string of fifty and he went to Oregon to work at a ranch. 

      Upon his return to Connecticut Mark began a lifelong working partnership with Leslie Desmond. They were both bitten by the polo bug and through his work with her Mark expanded and refined his training techniques. Incorporating the influences of John Lyons, Ray Hunt, Bill and Tom Dorrance, and more recently Warwick Schiller and Tristan Tucker, Mark’s techniques aim to foster relaxation, balance, and impulsion – the core foundation of training
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      Mark believes “every horse, pony, donkey, and mule” can be in charge of their own feelings and his training provides strategic ways for them to practice handling their natural flight, fight, or freeze instincts. 
In recent years, the dressage community has embraced natural horsemanship as a pathway to greater suppleness and stability. Mark works with horses on the ground, under saddle, or at liberty, offering them and their human partners the opportunity to gain clarity and completely synchronize with one another.
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      In addition to training and offering clinics at Sovereign Hilltop, Mark is a farrier, a polo umpire, and an Associate Professor at Post University in Waterbury, CT, teaching Equine Communication.

Chris hopkins

Chris has spent most of his time practicing the art of repair (verb- to fix or mend a thing suffering from damage or a fault). The practice of repair has included carpentry, mechanics (the broader definition), agriculture (cultivating the soil and associated systems), and human relationships (how we get along).  This practice of repair is continual and he brings this with him to Sovereign Hilltop. 

mary auclaire
Mary Auclaire has lived on farms for almost her entire life. She has been working with horses since age eight and spent many hours at Sovereign Hilltop as a 4-H kid with her paint mare Molly. Since then, Mary has been a dedicated student in multiple disciples in English and Western. As an ARIA certified riding instructor Mary is passionate about helping people with their horses whether are just starting out, or advanced riders honing their skills. Mary is excited to bring her skills and passion to teaching children and adult riding lessons at Sovereign Hilltop Farm.
 
When she isn’t at the barn practicing mounted archery on Laddie, Mary can usually be found outside with her two dogs, Adrian and Lucy, training for her next triathalon, or at Ultimate Dog Spa and Boutique in Canaan CT, where she grooms and teaches dogs to swim.
Sovereign Hilltop Farm
41 Barney Drive
Millerton, NY 12546
(845) 518-9376