By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Melissa Fuller
Rendezvous: a place appointed for assembling or meeting. For Elise Stephens, Rendezvous Farm in Grafton, Wisconsin, is a place where her family’s passions come together.
When Elise was 4 years old, she followed in her older sister’s footsteps and began taking lessons at McFadden Farm. “I originally started riding just to spend more time with Mira, but I fell in love with it and progressed to competing when I was 7 years old,” she said.
As Elise and Mira got more involved with horses, their parents had the opportunity to buy the McFadden Farm property. While McFadden was a lesson and training facility, once the Stephens Family bought it, they transformed it into a training facility that catered solely to clients who were serious about competing.
With the acquisition of the farm, the Stephens family needed to come up with a name that meant something to the family. “My dad’s favorite place is Rendezvous Mountain in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our family is a big ski family, so naming the farm Rendezvous was a great way to acknowledge all our family’s interests,” Elise said. “It’s really amazing how my parents have supported me through the years, especially because they were never ‘horsey’ and got involved purely because of my sister and me.”
Lasting Relationships
From Elise’s very first lesson to today, trainer Cookie Beck has been along for the ride. “I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without Cookie and her expertise. She taught me all the foundations and has given me so many opportunities to continue to learn,” Elise said. “Whether it’s in the saddle or learning how to be a horsewoman, everything she has given me has been so powerful.”
Having the Rendezvous team working with Elise for so long has had a huge impact on her life. “Most of the time, they know what I’m thinking before I say it and also know exactly what to tell me in the moments that I need it, like before I go into the ring or after a bad day,” Elise said. “Especially in a sport that can feel isolating, I’m so grateful to have these relationships that are not only full of knowledge but also unending support in all aspects of my life.”
Elise started competing on her 7th birthday at the Traders Point Horse Show. Since then, Cookie and the entire Rendezvous team have been part of the journey at every major show where Elise has competed. “They’ve either been right there next to me or immediately calling me on the phone. The entire team has put in so much work to help me achieve my goals; I would be nowhere without them,” she said.
That first horse show started a tradition for Elise of showing on her birthday. “All I wanted was a blue ribbon for my birthday! I didn’t get one that time, but the competitiveness stuck with me,” Elise said. “My first show was on my pony Jackpot, whom we called JP, and he became a longtime member of our family for nearly eight years and had a huge impact on my riding career.”
Since that first birthday show, Elise’s team has always done something to make her birthday special at whatever horse show they’re attending. “They decorate the stalls or golf cart. For a while, I was at Pony Finals for my birthday and then it transitioned to me being at Young Riders. So, not only was I at a show for my birthday, but it was always a big, meaningful show for me,” Elise said. “The attention paid to my birthday is just a reiteration of the kind of family environment Rendezvous has always been for me. We’ve always had a fun time together.”
Part of what has made Elise’s experience in the show world fun is the teachers, both human and equine, who have helped her along the way. “I had some amazing pony hunters, from my small pony So Enchanted to my large pony Small Romance. They were all such great teachers who gave me the best foundations,” Elise said.
Thanks to Cookie’s connections, when Elise first went to Wellington to compete for the winter season, she worked with Rob Bielfeld and Chrystal Knight of RSB Farm. “They each have a long-term friendship with Cookie and helped me from my first Wellington shows in the crossrails. They taught me so many foundational lessons on how to be a soft and kind rider,” she said. “I still think about those early lessons when I work with them today.”
Chasing Dreams
As Elise moved to horses, she competed in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. She’s been fortunate to have special horses that have made her a better horsewoman and grow in the sport. “Chronicle, aka Clifford, was my Junior Hunter horse. We’ve been through a lot and had quite a few setbacks, but he taught me that having patience and developing a partnership over time makes it even more special,” Elise said. “He has the biggest personality and showed me what it means to build a relationship with a horse.”
Her equitation mare, Cholita, taught her many invaluable lessons on how to do the equitation tracks. But it was Nao, her first real jumper, that instilled Elise’s love for the jumper ring. “He taught me so much about how to effectively move up the divisions,” she said.
When Nao got hurt and unexpectedly retired, Elise wasn’t sure that she’d make her goal of competing at the North American Youth Championships (NAYC). Thankfully, Omega H&DB came into Elise’s life at the right time. “She truly made the impossible possible with her unbelievable talent. On top of that, she’s the most perfect mare. I never doubt that she is going to try for me, and I think having that confidence in our partnership has allowed us to achieve a lot together,” Elise said.
Elise’s partnership with Omega was made possible through Elise working with Ken and Emily Smith at Ashland Farm. “I began working with the team at Ashland during the 2023 WEF season and they were transformative in helping me reach my goals—and beyond—in my last few Junior years. The entire environment is always so supportive and dedicated to helping me succeed,” she said. “I had the invaluable opportunity to ride many different horses, and they found Omega for me.”
Prior to Nao getting hurt, Elise had begun to look for a new horse so she could move up the levels. Ken and Emily’s son, Spencer, had been riding Omega and everyone thought she could be a good match for Elise. “The first time I got on her, I immediately felt at home. During the trial, I jumped probably the highest I had ever jumped up to that point, and just felt comfortable. Until I got Omega, I knew how to go fast, but I didn’t really know a lot more than that,” Elise said. “She’s really taught me all there is to know about the jumpers up to this level.”
The duo first showed together in March 2023 and by August 2023 they competed in Elise’s first NAYC—winning individual bronze in the Junior Jumpers. “I had no real expectations going into the week, but it all clicked for us at NAYC. That was the first time I got really excited for the future with her. That week really solidified our partnership, and we’ve kept on going from there,” she said. “It’s been amazing!”
Elise and Omega traveled to Belgium in 2023 and 2024 with Team USA for the FEI Jumping Nations Cup Youth Final. Being selected for the team twice was a career highlight for Elise and something that went beyond her dreams. “I never expected to reach that point, and especially winning the team gold in my second year on the team was incredible. Being able to learn from Anne Kursinski and the rest of the team, and feel the pressure in those situations, has given me so much to take with me into my riding career,” she said. “Having that success with Omega meant so much to me. Belgium was the last big show of my Junior career, so it was very rewarding to finish off something that characterized so much of my life on a high note.”
Photo courtesy of NCEA
Higher Education
When Elise began thinking about college, she wasn’t planning on pursuing the NCEA Equestrian Team experience; instead, she wanted to focus on her academics. “My academics have always been very important to me and my family. I always understood that I had to work hard in school to be able to continue riding,” she said.
Knowing the work it took to juggle horses and her school work during high school, Elise was happy to solely concentrate on school for her college years. However, as she was looking into schools, she heard about Dartmouth College’s developing D1 Equestrian program. “I started talking to the coaches and the rest kind of fell into place. I’m very glad it did! I love the school and especially being on the team,” Elise said. “I’ve met some really amazing people through the team, and they’re some of my closest friends at school.”
A member of her high school’s field hockey and track varsity teams, Elise was excited about being part of a similar tight-knit team at Dartmouth, but this time with horses. “I really enjoy being on the team, because it allows me to continue doing what I love in a slightly different way. I think doing the sport outside of the collegiate level is typically very individual, so being on a team and having to learn to work together with your teammates and depend on one another is super exciting and fun,” Elise said. “Also, there’s an added challenge of having to switch horses, which is something very different from normal competitions and tests your adaptability.”
During the 2024-2025 season, Dartmouth’s third year in the NCEA ranks, they won the NCEA Single Discipline National Championship. Elise also took home the Most Outstanding Fences Performer honor. “We worked really hard for that win as a team, so I’m super proud that we were able to accomplish that,” she said.
“I took a step away from my competitive riding outside of school this year, so to have the ambition within collegiate riding and knowing that we wanted to win Nationals was really exciting. It was a whole new environment, a whole new format and gave me something new to work on,” Elise said. “I was very motivated by the prospect of Nationals. It’s also been really fun to learn a new thing within a sport you already know so much about.”
While Elise focused on the Dartmouth team during the school year, Omega has stayed in work with the team at Manciais Stables, with whom Elise started working during the 2025 WEF season. “Omega’s currently living with Spencer and Daisy Farish at their Manciais Stables, so unfortunately, I don’t get to see her as often as I’d like to. However, during my breaks from school I go see her and ride her. It’s nice that I have so much faith in my team I don’t worry about her well-being while I’m away,” she said. “I’m looking forward to getting back in the ring with her.”
From the very first ride to starting Rendezvous Farm to today, Elise is thankful for her parents’ unwavering support. “They’ve been the backbone of my riding for my entire career. I couldn’t do any of it without them. They’ve been there through the highs and lows, not just supporting my riding but also every part of my life. They’ve always instilled a drive and determination to reach my goals,” Elise said. “I’m so lucky to have them in my corner. I know it hasn’t always been easy, but they made everything possible for me, and I will always be so grateful for that.”
Follow Elise on Instagram @e.k.stephens
Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com, unless noted otherwise
