Meet the Silver Eagle Stable team – from the owner to the instructors.
Tom Russell – Owner
Tom Russell is the owner of Silver Eagle Stable. He’s a retired, service disabled Marine Corps Colonel and the son of an Army officer. Tom grew up on military installations in the country and started riding in 1973 at military base stables. His riding was interrupted off and on with military maneuvers, college and then with deployments when he became a full time Marine.
Upon retiring, Tom established a successful consulting company and has now decided to pursue something that he has enjoyed since his days in the 70’s. Tom has shared his life and love of horses with his wife, Vicki Russell – together they have three children and one granddaughter.
Tom established Silver Eagle Stable in late 2014 and is committed to preserving a rich equestrian tradition in the state of Virginia. He recently opened the Park Gate House into a Corporate Retreat & Event Center.
Chris & Tammy Noakes – Managers
Chris and Tammy are a co-managerial team who have an engineering and law enforcement background prior to their voyage into managing a horse farm. Tammy has had a love of horses since an early age and is a proud Army Brat. Chris embraces the challenges of property management. They have been married for over 30 years and have many plans to keep learning and improving Silver Eagle! tnoakes@sestable.com
Instructors/Trainers
Kelsey Powell- Lead Riding Instructor & Trainer
Kelsey began riding horses when she was 6 years old, getting her first pony for her 7th birthday. She was a member of The United States Pony Club for 11 years, achieving her C3/HB rating.
Originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she spent her childhood traveling across the Midwest for various camps and events. Kelsey has spent many summers living with trainers and working with horses. As she grew as a rider, she began giving lessons and training horses. Kelsey worked with a therapeutic riding program for multiple years, assisting children and adults with various disabilities both on and off horses. She has taught riders of all ages about horsemanship and developing a strong foundation both in and out of the saddle.
Kelsey was a middle school art teacher for 6 years before deciding to work with horses full time. She takes her passion for teaching and organization into her role as lead instructor. She is skilled at teaching students of all learning styles and breaking down concepts to help her riders flourish. Her goal as lead instructor is to keep Silver Eagle Stable a positive and educational environment while expanding the lesson program to its fullest potential!
Taylor Deal – Riding Instructor & Trainer
Taylor Deal is originally from North Carolina. At the age of four, she started riding horses and by age six she was doing low level barrel jackpots to compete at on weekends. Her love for horses stemmed from there and she learned everything she could from anyone and every horse she could ride or work with!
Taylor began training and colt starting around the age of fifteen with the help of her own trainer until she ventured off by herself to start training for various clients. She eventually went on to compete in and out of state state barrel racing competitions until she turned seventeen. At that point, she focused more on training and flipping horses.
Her love is not just for barrel racing, but also for pole bending, trail riding, colt starting, and restart projects! The most gratifying part of Taylor’s passion is not only helping owners/riders build confidence and skill but also their horses. She is a firm believer that anyone can learn to ride or work with horses at any point in their lives and there is always something new to learn everyday!
Lauren Fanta – Riding Instructor & Trainer
Lauren’s family got their first horses when she was 18 months old and she has been heavily involved with them since. Training under world class instructors in the U.S Pony Club, achieving her C3/HB and C3 Dressage, Lauren has trained horses from the first time being haltered to 3rd level dressage. She has experience with severely abused horses, off-the-track racehorses, top level event horses, and everything in between. Lauren has been teaching English style riding since she was a teenager and began training students in Western style in recent years. Lauren’s approach to teaching allows people to find their love of the sport through empathy, correctness, and joy. Lauren believes riding is as much mental as it physical and the well-being of horse and rider is her focus.
Barbara Lawrence- Riding Instructor & Trainer
Barbara is a student of classical dressage with Nuno Oliveira and Dominique Barbier and eventing with Jimmy Wofford.
She has trained mounts from unbroken to advanced level eventing, Prix St. George dressage, and first-flight foxhunters. She also has trained students to the same levels of competition. She brings her experience to Silver Eagle Stable and enjoys teaching in a more relaxed atmosphere
Samuel Ruwe – Riding Instructor & Trainer
Sam has been riding horses for over 8 years. He started taking lessons but quickly realized it was a passion for him so he began volunteering as help for riding camps. At that point, he met an AQHA professional horseman and started riding under him everyday learning everything he could. Sam was one of the Top 100 youth point earners in the nation in 2018 for AQHA Western Pleasure Shows. After some time, he also started training and breaking horses for clients with his mentor’s guidance . He loves how you can learn a lot from a horse and how they responded to different cues if you’re patient and attentive.
Sam is focused in teaching all western disciplines including ranch riding, western pleasure, horsemanship, and trail patterns – which requires riders to have good communication with their horse and all parts of the horse’s body. He focuses on basics first and then improving to progress to the specialty disciplines.
Alyssa Marzilli – Riding Instructor
Alyssa graduated from the University of Findlay with a bachelors degree in western equestrian studies and has worked for and trained with some of the top trainers in the AQHA industry.
She specializes in western pleasure, horsemanship, and trail and also has experience in reining, barrels, and ranch riding. She loves sharing her passion and teaches advanced western lessons in any of these areas.
Alyssa is only available for certain advanced criteria.