As a child, Donna Haas longed for a horse of her own. 

“I was constantly asking my parents to buy me the horse I had always wanted,” says Donna, a customer of Wilson Farmers Cooperative. “But they were reluctant to because of the commitment of time and the responsibility that horse ownership would have required.”

Time passed and Donna grew into adulthood, never giving up on her desire of horse ownership. It was after the birth of her fourth child that Donna’s dream finally became a reality.

Her first horse, Copperhill, was worth the wait.

The namesake of the family farm, Copperhill was a purebred Arabian gelding. He was shown all over the country, earning several National Championship titles, and he provided Donna the opportunity to share her passion for horses with her son, Nathan. 

As Nathan watched his mother find success in the show ring, he understood the contentment that being around horses provides and began to feel that his life's calling was to work with equines. 

“While I was in high school, I realized I wanted to be a horse trainer,” says Nathan. “Mom encouraged me and told me that if I wanted to be successful, I’d need to go work with other trainers.”

Every summer, Donna would help arrange for Nathan and his horse to work with a different trainer in return for helping at the mentor’s barn. 

“I dove into it from there and learned the business,” says Nathan. 

Following his summers of internships, Nathan attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro where he received a bachelor’s degree in animal science, all while traveling back and forth from home to train horses. While Nathan was in school, his parents, Joe and Donna, worked to build a training barn as a reward for their son’s efforts to build his career.

“The barn gave me a space to work and to house the babies, because we were having 10 or 12 foals a year at times,” says Nathan. “By the time it was complete, the barn had 19 stalls, and those stayed full. We later expanded the facility to a total of 40 stalls.”

Over the past two decades, Copperhill Arabians has experienced ongoing success, says Nathan.

“Our growth wouldn’t have been possible without our dedicated staff,” he points out. “From our riders and trainers to our farriers and our nutritional partners at Co-op who help us keep our animals fed, we count on everyone to help us care for and train the horses.”

Today, Copperhill Arabians works with horses from across the country. The riders and owners range in age from 8 to 75. 

“When clients send their horses to us, sometimes they are already started under saddle and just need finishing. On other occasions, we need to build from the ground floor,” says Beth Ann, Nathan's wife of 12 years and co-trainer at Copperhill. “We start training a lot of our babies in November after our show season is over and we can give them our full attention.”

Beth Ann believes that initiating training when the animals are older increases their longevity in the show ring.

“Many of our horses are still winning national championships at 17 and 18 years old,” says Beth Ann. “We don't push or rush these animals, but rather take our time and work them gradually. In our experience, this approach helps the horses have longer careers.” 

Nathan and Beth Ann work with their clients to help them reach their maximum potential in partnership with their horses. 

“Nathan and I have different training techniques,” Beth Ann explains. “I feel we complement each other very well. We are both fluent in different styles such as Western and English.” 

Like Nathan’s love for the business, Beth Ann’s affinity for the industry has been passed down through her family, which consists of a long line of Arabian enthusiasts.

“My grandfather founded the Arabian Horse Association of Florida, and my parents met through the organization — they were even married on horseback!” says Beth Ann. “It was just perfect that Nathan and I met in the industry and built a life around this barn and our horses, which is what I always wanted.” 

Earlier this year, the family’s hard work was put on display at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. Copperhill entered 13 horses, had 10 regional champions, one reserve champion, and several top-five placings. Nathan and Beth Ann credit much of those horses’ success to a well-balanced nutritional plan in addition to their training program. 

“We count on Co-op Pinnacle Low Starch feed for the majority of our horses,” says Nathan. “Every horse is different, so some will be on the Co-op Pinnacle Senior or the Pinnacle Mare and Foal for different times of their life. We are happy with the nutritional value of the feed. All the horses’ coats keep their shine and glow, and we know that it comes from their nutritious diets.”

Today, Donna manages the administration of the farm work and still to this day gets excited to watch her son compete or judge in the show ring. 

“I am so proud of how Nathan has worked toward a goal and built this business into what it is today,” she says with a smile. 

For more information on Copperhill Arabians, visit www.copperhillarabians.com.