Rose Nelson is the head trainer and owner of Sunny Rose Farm...
Rose first climbed into the saddle at three years of age and has been riding ever since.
Her first horse—a quarter horse cross named Sunny—came into her life when she was only nine. Sadly, Sunny passed away when Rose was thirteen, inspiring her father Chuck to name the lower barn “Sunny Rose” after the special bond that Rose had with her first horse.
Coming up under the talented instructors at Oakendale Farm’s Pony Club, Rose soon developed into a brave and versatile rider with a special talent for jumping, eventing, and retraining off-the-track thoroughbreds for their post-racetrack careers.
"Rose is the best! She cares for our boy as if he were her own."
KIM H.
Rose’s second horse, Cora, arrived on Rose’s seventeenth birthday. A totally different animal from Sunny, Cora was hot to the leg with an extremely sensitive mouth. Temperamental, strong-willed but a hard worker with a huge heart, Cora made Rose the horsewoman she is today and gave her the confidence to empower other riders through and past their fears, regardless of their age or experience with riding.
Growing up on her parents’ ample property in bucolic Sandisfield, Rose always dreamed of an upper barn to accompany the lower barn named after her first horse. That dream became a reality in 2015 when land clearing and construction began.
Since opening Sunny Rose Farm to students and boarders in 2018, Rose has trained countless riders and horses in eventing, jumping, and dressage.
“Rose is a great instructor and horse trainer. She has done wonders with my 4 year old warmblood cross. She also has been a great teacher to my son who enjoys riding but is a bit anxious. Rose remains calm and makes the experience fun for him. I also work with Rose and she has been incredibly helpful in coaching me on cross country courses and on the flat. I highly recommend Sunny Rose Farm.”
SHAUNA B.
Rose is grateful to have received instruction and mentorship under such icons as Michele Paige, Jimmy Wofford and Jerry Schurink and she worked under local trainer Katie Rocco of Dragonfly Farm for several years. She has competed in many rated area 1 region events up to training level. A C3 graduate, today, Rose lessons weekly with Virginia Leary and is hoping to take her second horse—an OTTB named Marlee who Rose transformed from “problem child” to well-rounded equine partner—to rated dressage shows. She’s also excited to get boarder Shauna Burke’s baby Oldenburg Briallen into smaller shows and give her exposure in the cross-country field.
“Sunny Rose Farm is a hidden gem within the woodland Sandisfield. What makes it special is its namesake - Rose. She possesses a natural talent to teach and share in her students' joys as they learn not only how to ride but also to groom and saddle your horse for the lesson. And these horses are not overly trained nor programmed to ride without input from its rider. As a newly retired teacher, I have great appreciation for the opportunity to FINALLY learn to ride.”
MICHAEL B.
When Rose isn’t on a horse, teaching, or helping to muck stalls, you can find her enjoying her beautiful daughter Maxine and spending time with her extended family throughout the area.
