Staff

Cindy (Cynthia) Bell

Cindy Bell, owner and trainer at Silver Bell barn has been riding almost as long as she has been walking. Cindy started riding at four when her cousin Karen let her ride her horse and she promptly fell off. That rough start didn’t stop Cindy from  having horses become a major part of her life. At seven, Cindy’s mom decided Cindy wasn’t going to give up riding and decided to sign her up for riding lessons.

Catherine Wishoff took Cindy to pony club and that’s when she started eventing. Cindy loved the jumping but wasn’t too excited about dressage, but that would change later in life. 

Cindy remembers, “my parents encouraged me to keep riding and learning, when I got married my husband and children became my inspiration. In the last few years I’ve been lucky enough to find a world-class trainer, Miguel Tavora. He’s been a miracle worker. Because of him I have high hopes of riding Grand Prix.”

Cindy and her husband of  nearly 30 years, Mick, have their hands full with their four children and 5 grandchildren plus a pack of rescued dogs. When Cindy is not teaching, riding horses, or managing her facility, she is busy with church, running her children or grand-children to 4-H activities, cheer practice and basketball games.

Cindy started riding will Miguel Tavora in 2002 and that’s when she caught the “dressage bug” Miguel helped Cindy find her first Lusitano stallion, “Teorema VA” as a four year old. With Miguel’s help Cindy trained Teo to Prix St. Georges.  She also trained Teo in Piaffe and Passage. Injuries forced Teo into early semi-retirement.  Cindy then acquired Allure do Canaa who she has shown successfully through third level, competing in the 2014 CDS championships and earning the Adequan/USDF all breeds Vintage Cup at third level as well as earning her bronze. She earned her silver in 2018. In 2019 she qualified to compete in the USDF and CDS Championships for her Intermediare Freestyle. She plans to continue to show Allure with the goal of Grand Prix. Her new stallion, Gringo, has started his dressage career at third level and is showing aptitude for the FEI ring.

Cindy is involved in every detail of the barn including training, lessons, feeding, hauling and coaching.  You will never see her sitting down unless it’s on a horse or in the arena teaching a lesson.  Cindy currently trains with Brian Hafner and Volker Brommann.

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Cassey Mello

Cassey Mello, assistant trainer at Silver Bell Barn has been riding horses since she was 8 years old. Cassey had a love for horses from day one and asked for her very own horse every Christmas in her letters to Santa! Cassey started out riding on her mother’s palomino quarter horse “Trigger”. He was just a simple western trail horse, but he was the world to Cassey. Cassey’s mother knew the bond she had toward horses would never leave and wanted to find a way for her love of horses to continue as she grew older.

After a few years an amazing opportunity opened up for Cassey, she met Cindy Bell and began cleaning stalls and tack in trade for riding lessons with Cindy. As Cassey got older she was given more responsibilities with feeding the horses and even given the task of lunging Cindy’s personal horse “Moe.” Cassey continued to ride with Cindy through the years and was given another amazing opportunity to train with Miguel Tavora when he came to Silver Bell Barn for clinics. After taking a few years of dressage lessons Cassey had found her true calling in life.

Throughout  her years of riding Cassey has ridden and trained with Cindy Bell, Miguel Tavora, Gil Merrick, Gina Duran, Gina Miles, Melissa Cresswick, Volker Braumman, and Brian Hafner and many other noted equestrians. Developing her training techniques with every horse she has ridden from starting young horses under saddle to third level horses.

Cassey works side by side with Cindy with the horses in training and making sure the barn is in perfect running order.

Some of Cassey’s achievements are: CDS Ruby Award, USDF Rider Performance Awards at Training, First, and Second Level. Cassey is working toward earning her bronze award with USDF.

When Cassey is not riding horses, teaching, or helping run the facility she is busy with her family, attending soccer practices and games or helping build the next home improvement project her husband has in mind.

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Ashley Mayfield

Ashley started her ridding career at the age of 7.  She instantly was hooked.  Ashley continued ridding career with Linda Hake until the age of 13.  This is when she met Janelle Dunn.  Ashley had her eyes set on eventing and Janelle helped her accomplish her eventing goals.  Ashley remained under the instruction of Janelle for the next 13 years.  She learned everything she could about showing and barn management.

Ashely met Cindy Bell at an early age and took frequent lesson from Cindy over the years.  Ashley and Cindy became great friends.  Ashley is very happy to be a Silver Bell Barn working with an amazing staff and amazing clients.  Ashley recently bought one of Cindy’s young Lusitano horses Izzo.  Ashley is looking forward to a great partnership with him in the upcoming years.

Ashley has ridden in many championships.  She rode many times in eventing championship shows at the Beginner Novice, Novice, and Training levels.  Ashley also rode in the Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) at the Training Level and First Level.  Ashley, in 2009, went to the RAAC and placed 1^st in her class at Training Level.  The following year she went again to the RACC and place 4^th in a large class.

Ashley enjoys teaching children and adults of all ages.