Both involved with horses from a young age, Mike and Jennifer Crooks were from different coasts but crossed paths in Seattle, Washington while Jennifer was in college.  Friends set them up on a blind date and the match was a good one. 

Jump ahead a couple of decades, where Jennifer and Mike have developed not only a successful partnership in marriage and in equestrian sport, but they now also have twelve children. The oldest, Lauren (25) and Sean (23), both solid equestrians, work in the industry in Wellington, Florida. The other ten children include Catherine (18), Ciara (14), Hunter (13), four children adopted from China – Ruby (11), Kai (10), Sophie (9) and Holly (9) – and Millie (9), Jonah (4) and Mahlia (3) adopted from Ethiopia – are at home or at the shows with their parents.

When not competing their string of show jumpers on the road in California and Canada, and Europe the Crooks family can be found riding and training at their beautiful facility, Stella Farm, in Idaho.

More about Mike Crooks
Since 1969, when his family opened Evergreen Equestrian Center in Kirkland, WA, Mike has been involved with horses. A trainer for over 30 years, Mike was a successful competitor in the hunter divisions as well as the jumpers and through to the Grand Prix level. Although he retired from the show ring in 2005, he still rides at home and specializes in working with the young horses. Aside from his achievements as a rider, Mike serves as a very capable trainer having coached a variety of skill levels ranging from young riders rising up through the equitation ranks, hunter riders, and clients competing in Grand Prix events.

In 1995, Mike purchased Evergreen Equestrian Center from his parents and ran the facility for thirteen years until moving his family and business to Sandpoint, Idaho.  

His training techniques, dedication to the sport, clients, and the animal, as well as an outstanding eye, are the integral pieces that have come together time and time again to produce quality show horses and riders.  

A Brief History – Jennifer Crooks
Jennifer's love of jumping became apparent at an early age. She spent a lot of time riding in the woods turning her "pony hunters" into "pony jumpers" as quickly as possible, even though there was no pony jumper division at that time.

As a junior, Jennifer trained with Maxine Best, mother of 1988 Olympic individual silver medalist show jumper Greg Best and Mike Heneghan.

After taking some time off to attend Seattle University, Jennifer began riding with Ann Sellinger-Cox and Jill Pierce of Parkside Stables. Soon after she was set-up on a blind date with Mike Crooks, who owned and managed Evergreen Equestrian Center. The date went well and together they have built their own business, Stella Farm, which moved in 2008 from Evergreen Equestrian Center in Kirkland, WA to the location in Sandpoint, ID. Additionally, Jennifer works with Irish show jumping legend, Eddie Macken. She rides and shows horses ranging from young, green prospects all the way up to the Grand Prix level.

Jennifer's International Grand Prix career and success spans multiple countries, including the United States where she lives, Canada, Europe and of course her home country of Ireland. Jennifer has now become a regular on the Irish Team, representing Ireland in Nations Cups and Grand Prix from Wellington, to St. Gallen, to Hickstead, to Dublin and to Spruce Meadows just to name a few!

Behind the Name Stella Farm
In 2002 Jennifer's first Grand Prix horse, the fabulous Stella, sadly died of a tumor at the young age of 14.  Just a month earlier she competed at Spruce Meadows winning second and third against the best of the best in the 1.50m division.  In her memory Mike and Jennifer changed the name of their business to Stella Farm.  And her name lives on in each success earned by S.F. horses.