About Us

Foxtail Farm, established in 2010, is owned and operated by Dana Hooper Kiser; fulfilling her lifelong dream of owning and managing her own equestrian business. Dana began riding as a child in 1986 with various local trainers in the Middle Peninsula area of Virginia before beginning her successful show career with trainer Kathy Chambers and later Tara Best of Stonehouse Stables; winning many championships and year end awards in both hunters and equitation. Dana attended Wesleyan College to ride with trainer Jon Conyers where she competed on the IHSA team in the Open divisions as well as qualified for and competed in the ANRC National Championships all four years. After graduation from college with a BA in Business Administration and Communications, Dana moved back to Virginia and Stonehouse Stables. While at Stonehouse, she gained valuable experience managing a large and busy school program, teaching students at all levels, coaching at local and rated shows, coaching the CNU Equestrian Team, and training numerous horses and ponies. Dana left Stonehouse Stables in 2006 to pursue an MBA in Nonprofit Management at Regent University, though she still remained active in the equestrian world by continuing to teach a few select students along with training and selling project horses. In 2007 Dana married Michael Kiser and his job took them to Boston, MA for three years where Dana worked as Head Trainer for Sandy Bay Stables in Rockport, MA. In 2010, Dana, Michael, and their daughter Kelly moved back home to Virginia to establish Foxtail Farm at Happy Valley Equestrian Center. In 2013 Michael and Dana purchased thier own property in Smithfield, VA on the James River and moved the business there. Since then Foxtail Farm riders have been competing successfully at all levels of competition including VHSA Associate local and rated shows, USEF competitions, and IEA Nationals competitions.

ABOUT US