ABOUT

ABOUT

We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of service, and strive to provide the best experience for all our clients. Whether it be boarding or training we ensure you'll be taken care of!

ABOUT US

Marigold Stables is a privately owned and managed equestrian center located in Forsyth, GA right off I-75 (Exit 193). The facility is situated on 52 acres of picturesque rolling hills. The amenities include; 22-stall barn, 34,000 sq. ft. advanced riding arena, 12,000 sq. ft. covered arena, full length Wellington dressage arena with mirrors, miles of riding trails, pond, and community garden.
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STAFF

The Leverett Family

OWNERS

The Leverett family (Mike, Karen, Marcelene, & Maradeth) purchased Marigold Stables in 2011. Since then, they have invested heavily in improving the facilities and amenities offered.

The family enjoys competing in different horse competition. Mike successfully competed in the 2020 Thoroughbred Makeover and the 2022 Extreme Mustang Makeover challenge. Marcelene and Maradeth ride competitively at the collegiate level and also compete in Three-Day Eventing and Dressage.

The Leveretts love horses and constantly strive to make Marigold Stables a supportive and inviting place to learn and interact with horses. 

Carmen Mesbergen

HEAD TRAINER

Born and raised on a Colorado ranch, horses have always been a major facet of Carmen’s life. As a child, jumping over sagebrush and swimming rivers bareback lead to an early love of equine athleticism, but it was only after she had the opportunity to ride with her first Eventing instructor that she discovered the sport that would shape her career.

After graduating from college with a B.A. in English and a B.A. in French, Carmen worked with 4* Eventer and gold medalist Stuart Black (Canada), with whom she discovered a love for dressage and the art of riding in total lightness. While riding with Stuart, she completed a full season of competition at Prelim Eventing.
Returning to Colorado as head trainer at a private dressage barn, Carmen worked for 2 years with a collection of 12 Andalusian stallions and over 20 mares, performing in traditional Spanish dressage exhibitions and personally training the young horses. Aa a frequent translator for Jean-François Favier (former headmaster of the Cadre Noir in Saumur, France), she had the opportunity to study extensively with him during his summers teaching in Colorado. She also rode with visiting Spanish instructors from the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre. Thanks to these international influences, Carmen developed a solid understanding of classical dressage and its implication for the modern sport horse.

Establishing her own training and coaching business in 2016, Carmen focused on developing and selling quality dressage and Eventing horses to a solid clientele of youth and adult clients, as well as teaching lessons from beginner to Third Level dressage and Novice level Eventing. She developed her own program for starting young sport horses using a combination of natural horsemanship, classical, and Young Event Horse methodologies. She also assisted several clients in finding their dream horses, both domestically and internationally, and rode extensively under the tutelage of USEF S and FEI 4* dressage judge, Janet Foy (another Colorado native!). 

During a horse shopping trip to Holland in 2019, Carmen was invited to ride with an affiliate stable in Sulzbach-Rosenberg, Germany. For 3 years, she worked her way around Europe as a presenter of sale horses in Germany, trainer of young horses with 5* Eventer Karin Donckers in Belgium, home rider for a FEI showjumper in Norway and head rider at a world-class show jumping facility in France. 

Eager to rebuild her business presence in the United States, Carmen is now Head Trainer at Marigold Stables in Forsyth, GA and welcomes new and existing clients. With a knack for teaching riders what part of their body influences each part of the horse, Carmen emphasizes the importance of balance before speed and self-carriage over force, so that horse and rider understand each other’s roles and work together in harmony. As translated from the classical riding school of Saumur, “first calmness (submission), then forwardness (or speed).” 

Maggie Stanford

BARN MANAGER

Maggie Sanford graduated from Berry College with a Bachelors in Animal Science and a Masters in Business. During her 6 years at Berry, she worked at the Gunby Equine Center; caring for more than 70 horses. As a graduate student, she served as the Assistant Barn Manager at Gunby responsible for horse care and record keeping. She also worked in the breeding and training programs at Berry.

Maggie has been riding since childhood. Growing up, she competed in Hunters and rode collegiately for the Berry College Equestrian team. She successfully competed at Region, Zone, and National finals on numerous occasions. 

Maggie’s passion, dedication, and attention to detail always ensures the best care possible for the horses.

TRAINING & LESSONS

Our teaching style is focused on bringing the rider and horse together. We teach riders how their body influences each part of the horse, emphasizing the importance of balance before speed and self-carriage over force, so that horse and rider understand each other’s roles and work together in harmony. Students of all ages and abilities welcomed.

SHOW TEAM

Come enjoy the thrill of a local horse show, Dressage competition or competitive Three-Day Eventing with our friendly, supportive show team. For us, shows are a great way to gauge your riding and training achievements; they’re not the definition of success, but a perfect opportunity to challenge your riding goals.

BOARDING

We offer personal, individualized care for your horses in a calm and secure envirnoment. We have a full-time staff with extensive experience in horse care and management. We customize the level of care to the individual needs of the horse.
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