Staff
Hunter/Jumper Instructor: Mary Thomson Alber
Mary graduated from St. Andrews University with a B.A. in Equine Business Management. She has worked for Grand Prix jumpers as well as a Pan Am games eventer. She helped open Maple Leaf Stables in 2018 with her mother Christie, but has recently come back from maternity leave with her daughter Juniper.
Mary focuses on building riders from the ground up, emphasizing correct position and how that effects the horse's way of going. She believes learning can be done at all times, not just in the saddle, and loves to teach students to be well-rounded horsemen.
Mary began riding at the age of six after years of begging for lessons. She grew up riding and showing hunters and jumpers in the Charlotte area. She knew she wanted to become a trainer at the age of 16 when she got her first horse Rocket; a four year old Haflinger gelding. She brought him along from the beginning to become the amazing lesson and show horse he is today.
Owner: Christie Pedder
Christie grew up in Jacksonville, FL riding Tennessee Walkers with her friends. She moved to the Charlotte area in 1996 and renewed her love of horses when her daughter started riding in 2000. She has raised three daughters who all share her passion for these amazing animals and now has a granddaughter who will surely follow in the tradition! It has always been her dream to own her own farm and now she is finally seeing that dream become a reality.
Event Coordinator: Sava Rollins
Sava joined our barn family when her daughter Lucy began taking lessons with us. She quickly became an integral part of the team offering her exceptional organizational skills and positive attitude! She cares for each horse at Maple Leaf like her own, and now the Rollins family finally has one to call their own with a sweet palomino mare named Lemon.
