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At the highest levels of show jumping, careers are often shaped by timing, talent, and chance encounters. For Bretton Chad and Charlie Jones, that defining moment came during an international competition — an unexpected meeting that would change the course of their lives.
When the two found themselves competing in the same class, both were already established riders at the highest levels, navigating pivotal points in their professional journeys.
Chad, a Canadian Young Rider team veteran with CSI5* experience, and Jones, a British show jumper raised in a family of elite horsemen and the nephew of Olympic champion Nick Skelton, quickly recognized a shared mindset and complementary strengths.
What began as friendly competition banter evolved into something deeper. Their connection soon grew into a partnership focused on elite performance, individualized horse development, and the success of their clients.
Bretton Chad: Early Opportunities for a Rising Star
Horses were woven into every aspect of Bretton Chad’s childhood. Raised in Calgary, Alberta, Bretton and her sister were introduced to riding at a young age and quickly became involved in regular lessons, riding camps and local shows. “My parents enrolled my sister and I in riding lessons when I was six, and she was four,” says Chad.
As the years went on, her riding began to take on a more competitive focus in show jumping. Eventually, a young Bretton had the opportunity to compete in California as a junior rider, which marked a significant turning point in her career.
“My sister and I began competing regularly on what was then known as the ‘A circuit’, gaining exposure to higher levels of competition,” she explains.
Training with Meadow Grove Farm in California brought opportunities to train and compete in Europe, an experience that shaped her understanding of five-star level sport. After spending several years riding and learning across the pond, Bretton returned to the United States with a broader perspective and a clearer sense of what she wanted to do next.
As she re-established herself on the West Coast around 2020, Bretton’s role in the horse industry began to expand beyond competition alone. “I began reconnecting with people in California and took on opportunities riding and managing horses for a variety of programs,” Chad says.
It was during this period—while working and competing in California—that she met Charlie Jones. It was a connection that would soon evolve into much more than she could have ever anticipated.
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Charlie Jones: A Family Show Jumping Legacy
Like Bretton Chad, horses were part of Charlie Jones’ life from the very beginning. However, his path took a very different turn before ultimately leading him back to the sport where he now competes at the highest level.
“I grew up in Leicestershire, right in the center of England, in a family where horses were a way of life,” says Jones. “My parents competed at the top level of show jumping, but after getting bucked off a pony as a kid, I stopped riding—I was terrified.”
Though never far from horses, it took time—and the right pony — for him to return to the saddle. “When I was about 12, a friend asked us to look after her pony, and I finally agreed to ride,” he says.
“She was incredibly kind, and within two weeks I’d jumped my first cross rails class—that was it for me.”
Jones continued to compete and, at just 17, relocated to Holland — an experience that would play a defining role in his development as a professional rider.
“I was riding a lot of young horses — nothing older than six — and that was a real change in my life. After that, moving back to England to work for my uncle, Nick Skelton, and Laura Kraut was a huge shift in my riding career. That was real top sport, and honestly, many of the skills I still use today come from that time,” Charlie explains.
After nearly three years working with Kraut and Skelton, Charlie found himself at a crossroads, unsure whether he would remain in the sport or cut his path somewhere entirely new.
“I was on the Sunshine Tour, and a lot of the horses I was riding had just been sold, so I was thinking about doing something different,” says Jones. “I sent messages to the people I was riding for to thank them and let them know I was moving on.”
But just an hour after he sent those messages, Charlie received a call from Lindsay Maxwell that changed everything.
“She’d just been injured and offered me a job in California. It was right in the middle of COVID, so it was a tricky time, but I went for six weeks to see how it felt. I ended up staying, and I had some incredible opportunities with the horses there.”
“I jumped my first five-star Grand Prix with one of their horses, and it really opened my eyes to the American side of the sport.”
— Charlie JonesMad Barn High Performance Athlete
Like so many equestrians before him, Jones was unable to walk away from the thrill and reward of working with top-level horses. He continued training and competing across North America until eventually, he crossed paths with a competitor who changed his trajectory forever.
Finding Common Ground In & Out of the Ring
Bretton and Charlie met at a competition in California — a moment that stood out for more than just the class results. Their first interaction came during the jump-off for a class they were both competing in.
“The first time we talked, I gave Charlie a bit of a hard time because he had the last jump down in the jump-off,” Chad recalls with a smile.
What began as a chance encounter and friendly banter between competitors quickly evolved into something more. The two began dating, and just months later, they decided to start a business together — Stone Ridge Sport Horses.
“Around the time I met Bretton, we were both in a bit of a transition period—not entirely sure what the next step was,” says Jones.
“We decided to go back to her family farm in Calgary and see what could come from it. At first, we were doing things a bit separately, but one day we just looked at each other and said, ‘Why don’t we just start a business and go for it?’ And that’s exactly what we did.”
Partners in Sport & Business
Chad and Jones have built up the Stone Ridge brand by staying true to what they know. The business enables them to continue competing at the highest levels of show jumping, and their success in the ring is a living testament to the value of their coaching and training services. They also offer horse sales and leases for riders who are trying to level up their game.
What makes Stone Ridge so successful is not just shared ambition, but the way their unique strengths balance each other—creating a partnership more effective than either could be alone.
“We've been really fortunate to grow and to attract clients we genuinely enjoy working with, as well as some incredible horses. We want to stay hands-on, really getting to know every horse and every rider we work with.”
— Bretton ChadMad Barn High Performance Athlete
“Coming together, we bring very different strengths, and that’s what makes us work so well,” says Chad.
“Charlie is more of the dreamer — very competitive, very vision-driven — and I’m more focused on the logistics, making sure every client and every horse has exactly what they need. That balance has allowed us to build a more comprehensive and successful program.”
A fundamental value Bretton and Charlie share is their commitment to doing right by each horse and rider in their care. For the equestrian duo, growth has never been about how big their business could scale — it’s about intention.
Even after so many years of running the business, they still use a deliberate, hands-on approach—building a program that stays personal and deeply focused on the individual horse.
Nutrition Fundamentals Fueling Success
Because a hands-on, horse-first philosophy sits at the core of their business, Bretton and Charlie bring the same level of intention to each horse’s nutrition program. For every horse in their care, equine nutrition isn’t a supporting detail — it’s a foundational part of their program to help the horses feel, develop, and ultimately perform at the highest levels of the sport.
“You don't get to top-level competition without taking care of nutritional details right from the beginning. You can't expect a horse to perform at their best if you're not paying attention to how it feels on the inside.”
— Bretton ChadMad Barn High Performance Athlete
Advancing through the highest levels of competition requires nutritional support from experts. Looking to refine and improve their program with specialized guidance, Bretton and Charlie partnered with Mad Barn in the summer of 2025.
Drawn by Mad Barn’s commitment to research-driven education and evidence-based nutrition, they began working closely with the Mad Barn team to establish a tailored feeding program for all of their horses.
Today, every horse in the Stone Ridge Sport Horses program is on a high performance regimen designed by Mad Barn’s expert nutritionists. All of the horses Chad and Jones work with start with the basics:
- Omneity®, to meet vitamin and mineral gaps
- Visceral+ to support stomach and hindgut health
- W-3 Oil for cool calories and essential fatty acids
- Performance XL Electrolytes to meet the hydration demands of elite show jumping
Because every horse is an individual, Bretton and Charlie take a collaborative approach to nutrition—working closely with their dedicated Mad Barn nutritionist to identify exactly what each horse needs beyond this foundation.
“That’s where Mad Barn has been a huge advantage for our business,” she says. “They have such a wide range of products and the expertise to address so many different nutritional needs.”
Individual Horses, Individualized Nutrition
The value Bretton and Charlie have gained from Mad Barn extends well beyond the supplements themselves. The education, expertise, and ongoing support behind the products have played a meaningful role in their business.
“The best part about Mad Barn for me isn’t just the variety of supplements — it’s the support that comes with them,” says Chad. “They genuinely stand behind their products and take the time to understand each horse as an individual. You never feel like they’re just trying to sell you something.”
“Omneity®, especially, is something I really like because it covers so many essential vitamins and nutrients—it's a great nutritional catch-all, and the horses eat it easily.”
— Bretton ChadMad Barn High Performance Athlete
That knowledge has since strengthened their entire operation.
“Equine nutrition isn’t something that has a clear step-by-step education system in this industry, so a lot of it comes from experience. Mad Barn has helped fill those gaps—not just in what horses need, but also in why they need it.”
Success Stories from Stone Ridge
A recent influx of new horses put Bretton and Charlie’s individualized approach to nutrition to the test—and highlighted just how important having the right nutritional support system can be.
“We nearly doubled the number of horses in our care in December 2025,” says Chad.
“We were already working closely with Mad Barn, so we were able to go through each new horse, describe what we were noticing or dealing with, and start them on supplements that fit their individual needs right away.
That group of horses has come along so well in just a couple of months — much faster than we would have expected. Now they look good, they feel good, and I definitely wouldn’t overlook the role their diet and nutrition played in that.”
Charmeur: Exceeding Expectations
One of the newer additions to the Stone Ridge string, Charmeur, affectionately known as Rupert, has quickly emerged as a standout example of how thoughtful nutrition has supported their horse’s progress beyond expectations.
“Adding the muscle recovery support made a big difference. Rupert recovers faster, is more relaxed, and feels better than ever. He's even moving past what we originally thought he would do.”
— Bretton ChadMad Barn High Performance Athlete
“Rupert was already performing well when we imported him from England, but he was jumping at a much smaller height,” says Chad. “Since he’s been here and on our full Mad Barn nutrition program, he’s gone from strength to strength.”
Nubikk HST: Nubi’s Transformation
When a young horse named Nubikk HST, called “Nubi” around the barn, arrived at Stone Ridge Sport Horses, he presented a few challenges.
The eight-year-old showed signs of a dull coat, a slight potbelly, and visible ribs, along with stress-related tension that affected his body and energy levels. For Bretton and Charlie, it was a clear reminder of why individualized nutrition matters—especially when a horse is adjusting to a new environment and workload.
As the team learned more about Nubi, a few individual nutritional needs began to emerge. “That initial Mad Barn supplement program we use across our program helped a lot,” Chad explains.
“As his individual program evolved, we added Mad Barn’s Spirulina supplement, and that marked a noticeable turning point. After that, everything really came together—his coat and muscle development improved, and his body condition started to balance out.”
Perhaps most importantly, Nubikk HST’s energy levels got more consistent.
“He’s a horse with a lot of Thoroughbred blood, so the energy was always there, but it wasn’t consistent or didn’t last,” she says.
“He’d give you a few spectacular efforts and then fade. Now, his energy is consistent, it lasts, and you wouldn’t even recognize him compared to when he arrived. Nutrition played a huge role in that horse’s transformation.”
Monty: Nutritional Support for Surgery Recovery & Performance
Monty has a special place in Bretton and Charlie’s program, not only because of what he’s accomplished in the show ring, but also because he was one of the first horses they purchased together.
“Monty is very near and dear to our hearts,” says Chad. “He’s really come along with us through the whole process. Today, he looks incredible and feels super.”
While Monty shares many of the same foundational Mad Barn products as their other horses, his needs differ—and his nutritional program reflects that.
“He doesn’t need help with his coat or muscle the way some horses do, so he’s not on spirulina like Newbie,” Chad explains. “But one thing we did notice was that he tries so hard — he’s very exuberant — and that can make him muscle sore. Adding Mad Barn’s muscle recovery support made a big difference for him.”
Monty’s nutrition program became even more critical following a bout of colic last summer that required surgery.
“He's been on Mad Barn products throughout his recovery and return to competition, and his comeback has honestly been unbelievable.”
— Bretton ChadMad Barn High Performance Athlete
Since returning to the ring, Monty has exceeded expectations. “He went to his first show back and jumped a few small classes, then went to his second show and was champion in the 1.30-meter class,” Chad says.
“We couldn’t have asked for him to come back any better than he has. He feels great, he’s performing well, and I really don’t think you can separate that from nutrition supporting him every step of the way.”
Horses at the Heart of a Joined Career
For Bretton and Charlie, the real reward has always been the horses—and the journey each one brings.
“There have been so many horses in my past that have done incredible things for me and my career,” says Chad. “I love working with each horse because they’re all so different. Every one of them brings something unique to the table if you can figure out how to unlock it and bring out the best in each of them based on what they need.”
That perspective sits at the center of everything Bretton and Charlie have built together. From young horses arriving at the barn for the first time to seasoned competitors stepping into the ring, every horse brings its own story, strengths, and possibilities.
And for the pair behind Stone Ridge Sport Horses, that process of discovering what each horse can become is what keeps the work exciting — one horse, one ride, and one breakthrough at a time.
