Theresa Yount (Teri) Graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, IA with an undergraduate degree in Education and a graduate degree in Public Administration.  She taught special education in the Des Moines Public Schools for 23 years and volunteered as a Special Olympics coach for most of those years at both the Elementary and Junior High local and state level games. Teri also started the only Equestrian Club in the Des Moines Public schools and ran it from 1989 until 1997. The after school program was designed to introduce inner city students to the rewards of working with and riding horses.

Teri married Barry Yount in 1985 and started a family owned and operated stable of American Saddlebred show horses as a part time business and hobby. In 1997, she and Barry moved to Cave Creek, AZ with four dogs and eight horses.  Teri continued to use her education background to teach riding skills to both children and adults.  After Barry’s death in 2005, Teri chose to continue managing and training at their Arizona ranch, growing their initial vision to what it is today.

Chuck Hetherington was born and raised in a small town in Iowa.  He began his association with the Saddlebred horse when his children fell in love and started showing horses.  Chuck worked outside of the horse world as a commercial and industrial mechanical contractor until his retirement.  After moving to Arizona, Chuck partnered with Teri to help fulfill her mission to grow and manage the farm. His technical and managerial background is a perfect fit to help continue the multi-faceted business of Yount Horse Services; which also includes a commercial hauling business line. Chuck also oversees much of the maintenance and changes involved with the 5-acre facility and really enjoys watching the farm and business evolve. Chuck especially likes seeing how the young riders progress in their riding development.

Jannie Steenkamp joined Yount Stables in March of 2007. While he has worked with numerous breeds, he has been around Saddlebreds nearly all of his life. Born in Calvinia in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, he began his riding career in the show ring at the tender age of two. At 16, Jannie was training horses on his father’s farm. He worked and showed Saddlebreds and the indigenous South African breed, the Cape Boerperd; a breed somewhat similar to Morgans. Jannie graduated from Worcester College with a degree in agricultural management and came to the US in 2001 to work with Mitch Clark Stables in Kentucky. He also held positions at Kalarama Farms, Bluebonnet Farms, and Hoff Saddlebreds in Missouri. Jannie’s talents were demonstrated by his work with Highland Cavalier and by breaking WC Imperiaptor to ride. 

Teri, impressed by his work with her gaited horse, Desert’s Double Memories, convinced Jannie and his wife, Pauline, that Arizona was the place for them. Once they arrived, their talents were immediately recognized in both the training and lesson programs. Jannie has successfully broken to saddle and shown several new prospects. Under his guidance, the stable’s performance horses are consistently in the top ribbons. He also has a unique way of pushing the junior riders just hard enough to always keep them moving forward in their lesson program. His favorite part of the job is seeing his horses and riders coming down the rail on a victory pass.

Jannie’s interests outside of horses include golf and rugby.

Pauline Steenkamp, born in Ceres, Cape Town, South Africa, has been riding since age 14.  She and Jannie married in 2005, after they met while working at Mitchell Clark Stables. Her knowledge of Saddlebreds was also strongly influenced by Gene van der Walt.

Pauline excels in both the training and lesson programs and has shown two of Teri’s 3-gaited mounts to recent victories. Her skills are particularly impressive with the lesson program. Her ability to keep the riders focused and progressing with each lesson has really paid off in the show ring. With a calm and quiet demeanor, Pauline is able to pass on her flawless equitation style to her students. Part of Pauline's equine education came from spending many hours on the trails in South Africa, and consequently, she is able handle any situation that may come up. That's a unique and necessary talent when working with horses and young riders!

Pauline’s favorite part of her work is being outside with the horses year round. Pauline is an accomplished artist, particularly with equine portraits. She attended culinary school for 2 years and is a wonderful cook.