Mariano Alario was born January 27, 1978, in Mar Del Plata, Argentina. His 33 years has taken him on a journey with horses and the sport of Show Jumping that has now landed him at Willowbrook Stables in Petaluma, California, as owner of Estancia Farms, with his wife Nina Herrera-Alario, and son Nico.
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As early as he can remember Mariano rode horses.
With his father, Oscar Alario, being the President and head trainer of the Club Hipico Mar del Plata, and a board member of the Federacion Equestre of Argentina, it made sense that Mariano would have horses and riding as a part of his life. While show jumping was always his passion Mariano learned practically every equestrian discipline, including vaulting, polo, endurance, dressage, three-day eventing, and show jumping. Mariano trained under his Father and became one of the youngest and most successful Grand Prix riders in his home country, turning professional by the age of 15.
Still a successful Grand Prix rider, in 2000, Mariano left Argentina for a job opportunity in Spain, to work for one of the most successful endurance racing barns. While in Spain, Mariano truely mastered the art of breaking and starting young horses with the 200 plus two and three year-olds that went through his training program.
In 2005, Mariano had become well known on the West Coast and was hired by the Kilkenny Crest Farms, of Bend, Oregon, to ride and show their Grand Prix and young horses as well as be the private trainer for their daughter. During Mariano’s time at Kilkenny he had three successful Grand Prix horses and qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals in Malaysia.
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In 2007, Mariano married his wife, Nina, herself a well know rider and trainer on the West Coast, and the decision was made that they would both move to Northern California to start their own business together. After many years of traveling the globe, learning from the best, and working his way up the ladder it was time to land in one place and begin his own operation where he could pass on his knowledge and work doing what he loves.
Now in Petaluma, at Willowbrook Stables, Estancia Farms, is run and owned by Mariano and his wife.
For Mariano, having this barn and helping his clients learn all the angles of this complex sport and achieve their goals within it is a dream come true. His background in so many disciplines of equestrian sport from so many different places in the world have provided him with a comprehensive knowledge of horsemanship, riding, showing, management, and training, that he is able to pass on everyday to his horses and his students.
Click to view Estancia Farms’ website
Trainer Bethany Wallace is dedicated to developing happy athletes, both horses and riders!
As an up and coming trainer, with over 10 years of full-time professional horse training experience and over 30 years of experience riding, showing, and caring for horses, Bethany has a wealth of knowledge to draw upon as a horsewoman when training and teaching. Raised by a mom that runs her own riding school with a background in Eventing, and a grandmother who has also taught riding, bred and trained horses, and shown Dressage and Eventing, Bethany was immersed in the horse world from day one.
Though born in San Diego, Bethany was raised in Northern Virginia – an area of the country steeped in equestrian tradition. With access to the show circuits of Upperville, Middleburg, and Warrenton, Bethany grew up showing on a very competitive hunter/jumper circuit, competing successfully at shows such as the AA rated Upperville Horse and Pony Show. She showed through the 3’6″ divisions as a junior, with help from her mom and grandmother, and from trainer Laurie Haynes, as well as lessons at Blue Fox Farms in Chantilly.
After years of experience in the Hunter/Jumper divisions, Bethany became interested in dressage as a young adult. She pursued her new passion when she moved back to San Diego, training with FEI rider and trainer Suzan Strahan for a number of years. Bethany then trained extensively with Grand Prix rider and trainer Sandy Burns-Gardner from 2008 through 2014, who’s coaching helped her move confidently up the levels to earn scores in the mid-sixties showing through Intermediare 1. Bethany also trained with Eventing trainer Taren Atkinson at Copper Meadows while in San Diego.
While Bethany enjoys competing, her passion is in the daily training of the horse – bringing young and older horses along and discovering their strengths and talents.
In addition to dressage and jumping, Bethany enjoys starting young horses, and has plenty of experience starting youngsters through her own business, as well as holding the position of Young Horse Trainer at Savoir Faire Stables in San Marcos in 2008 and 2009. Bethany also employs extensive groundwork and horsemanship methods in the tradition of Tom and Bill Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and Buck Brannaman, learned in large part from San Diego trainer Debbie Rocha.
In July 2014, Bethany moved from San Diego to Northern California and has been showing successfully since then at recognized Dressage Shows and Horse Trials in the area, including scores of 70% at Yarra Yarra and earning her final 2nd level scores for her USDF Bronze Medal on a young mare at the mare’s first dressage show. She also won at Beginner Novice at Woodside on the same mare the following month, as well as consistently placing in the ribbons on a number of other young horses at Woodside and Fresno County Horse Park. She has also been fortunate to be able to clinic with Jan Ebeling, Brian Sabo, and Gina Miles since her move north and is looking forward to the new opportunities 2015 will bring in beautiful Sonoma County.
Rounding out Bethany’s pursuit of being an all around horsewoman, she trail rides her horses regularly, and has even trained for and assisted in endurance rides. Bethany brings experience and passion for horses and for the art and science of riding to her training and lessons. She believes that every rider, herself included, is a lifelong student of the horse. She invites you and your horse to come join her on this wonderful journey of learning!