As a young rider growing up on the East Coast, Randy Durand enjoyed the classic “do it all” equestrian upbringing. He competed in the pony ranks then moved on to the hunter, equitation and jumper divisions. He also spent plenty of time paying his dues as an apprentice: mucking stalls, grooming, braiding and, in short, “doing everything I could do to learn and to help my riding and teaching skills,” he recalls. Throughout early adulthood, Randy apprenticed with the likes of Allen Smith, Katie Monahan Prudent, Michael Matz and Paul Harnet.
That diverse and hard-working upbringing has served Randy well as a California-based professional. He moved west in 1982 and a few years later established his own New Haven Farm. Since then, Randy and his amateur and junior riders have become regulars in hunter/jumper winners circles at local, regional and national shows.
Randy’s background also sets him up for success in his newly expanded business plan. Based at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center in Lake View Terrace, New Haven Farm is renewing its dedication to the local and regional show circuit. Simultaneously, Randy and his assistant Laura Guiterrez will continue their firm commitment to clients with national goals.
“We’re going to get much more involved in the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Assn. and Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Assn. circuits,” explains Randy. He still plans to do the big East Coast shows, like Devon, Lake Placid and the fall “Indoors” competitions as appropriate to his clients’ ambitions. Acknowledging that not all riders can or want to compete at that level, Randy looks forward to also helping those who can fulfill their riding goals closer to home.
On top of that, Randy has several ladies who ride seriously but have no desire to compete and he loves working with them, too.
Randy insists on keeping New Haven’s equine head count to not more than 25 horses, which usually includes a few sales prospects. His students compete in every division, from entry-level ponies up through the higher jumper divisions. The veteran trainer credits his assistant Laura and the rest of “my totally amazing” staff with making every aspect of the horses’ training and his clients’ progress go so smoothly. “Laura is an amazing rider and teacher,” Randy reports. She schools everything from the ponies to the jumpers and prepares the hunters. “She’s phenomenal,” he says of Laura, who has been with him for nearly two years.

Loyal Clients
One of the best testaments to New Haven’s program is that fact that several clients have been there for many years. National star Olivia Esse started with Randy as a 5-year-old and she loves the sport more than ever at 13. With a Junior Hunter string that includes Valor and Country Grammar, Olivia has a resume of recent championships from Devon, Lake Placid and Showpark, just to name a few.
The adorable Gerber girls, Grace and Emma, and their adorable ponies are also doing well. Both started the year with many top ribbons on the Thermal HITS circuit and were going strong with Showpark successes toward the end of summer.
Taylor Spooner is another star student. The daughter of amateur rider Kaylen Spooner and the step-daughter of top Grand Prix rider Richard Spooner, Taylor is making great progress in the hunter, equitation and jumper divisions.
Olivia Champ and her pony Cappuccino took champion or reserve champion ribbons in every Short Stirrup class in their division at Thermal, then went into summer with big wins at the Flintridge Childrens Show and Gold Coast competition.
Randy has several clients who keep their horses at or near their homes and meet up with him at shows. Adult amateur hunter and equitation rider Hope Gray and amateur jumper contender Jennifer Zito come from San Diego’s Coto de Caza and the Los Angeles area’s Chatsworth, respectively, to ride with New Haven on the circuit. Amateur jumper riders Chris and Debbie Jamsa live in Scotsdale, AZ, and meet Randy at California events. Debbie is a professional herself, working mostly with entry-level riders.
Randy is especially pleased about the return of Lexi Zavad. She’d started with Randy as an 8-year-old, campaigning the well-known pony Cutie Patootey to high point PCHA and Zone 10 championships in her early years. Lexi had taken a few years off due to family circumstances and her return is a happy event at New Haven. “She rides great and she’s helping me with riding and teaching,” Randy reports.
In addition to his show crew, Randy’s non-competitive amateurs are a key to the positive and progress-oriented atmosphere at the barn. They are Carol Baker, Heidi Carrens, Judy Lucas, Carol Esterkin and Roneet Atias.
“We appreciate that every rider is unique,” Randy notes. “That is why we spend as much time teaching as we do observing.” The trainer prides himself on fostering a friendly, nurturing environment in which students enjoy the process of becoming better and more confident riders. “Beginning or advanced, young or old, New Haven Farm believes the truest measures of success are when our students achieve their goals and reach their highest potential,” he concludes.
For more information on New Haven Farm, call 818-686-8577 or visit www.newhavenfarm.com.