Our Team

Jennifer Burk - Head Trainer/Owner

Jennifer Burk began her riding career while in preschool at the Willow Bend Polo Club in Dallas. After her family moved to Fort Worth, her mother was one of the founding members of the Fort Worth Pony Club (now Thundering Hooves in Weatherford.) Pony Club kept her occupied in her early years. Eventing became a passion when began riding with Laura Miller. Jennifer was with Laura until seventh grade and then Evented with Andie Witchen through high school. Currently, Jennifer works closely with Peggy Friauf, drawing on her years of experience.

In 1995, Jennifer earned her BS in Equestrian Science from Lake Erie College where she competed through third level dressage and evented through preliminary level. Jennifer has experience in training and showing fox hunters, as well as hunters and jumpers. Jennifer's main focus is eventing and dressage.

After college, Jennifer worked as a trainer at barns in Ohio, Colorado, and locally before branching out on her own to form Deer Creek Stables. Jennifer’s clients are consistently impressed with her unique way of teaching that inspires confidence and competence in her riders. Jennifer utilizes the principals of Classic Dressage to start or retrain horses, which leads to a confident and successful mount. Jennifer is also an ICP Level 1T certified instructor through the United States Eventing Association (USEA).

Currently, Jennifer rides with Elizabeth Madlener, a USEF "S" judge since 1980 and USDF "L" faculty member, who she brings into the barn four times a year and Captain Mark Phillips, who among many honors, serves as Chef d'Equipe of the United States Eventing Team. She has also ridden with Don Sachey and participated in clinics with Jimmy Wofford, Brad Cutshall and Steffan Peters.

Peggy Friauf - Senior Trainer

As a trainer and rider, Peggy worked her way through the levels, up to Advanced, with the help of Karen O'Conner, Stephen Bradley and Grant Schneidman.

Peggy will tell you that she went to the school of hard knocks after college. She ran a large facility with upper level Event and Dressage horses for 10 + years in Maryland. Peggy took lessons and audited from the best people in the area. She was acting as a ground person, and then began her teaching career.

Teaching is Peggy's first love. She's been sidelined these past few years with several nagging injuries, and so she feels it's a good thing that she gets such a kick from her students doing well!

Deer Creek Stables is thrilled to have Peggy, she is a wonderful resource. Peggy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Peggy is careful to incorporate safety with every step because she truly cares about her students and their progress. If you want to book a lesson with Peggy contact her directly through lessons@deercreekstables.net or runjumpxc@aol.com

" I love to teach and I love the sport. I love watching horses and riders progress. Many of my students' horses are ones we have brought through the levels. Ask my students. You'll learn more about me from them than anyplace else." - Peggy Friuaf

Angie Heflin - Assistant Trainer-Dressage/Webmaster

Angie grew up around horses and ponies, the typical horse crazy kid. She established a formal discipline when she found Jennifer in 2001.

Angie evented for a bit but found her true love in dressage. She has ridden with Brad Cutshall, an FEI rider, trainer, and clinician, Don Sachey, Level IV Certified Instructor, USEA and former member of USET and she rides twice a year with Elizabeth Madlener, a USEF "S" and USDF "L" judge. Angie shows in both dressage and western dressage.

Angie has a unique advantage with beginners or those just discovering the complexities of dressage.

Having not ridden English until later in life, she can still remember the difficulty in acquiring the balance and coordination skills needed. The challenge of gaining the basic foundation to influence a horse and the difficult concept of dressage are always close in her mind making her an empathetic teacher. Angie also works with many green horses teaching the early skills such as lounging, ground manners, and basic dressage through Second Level.

In addition to her assistant trainer responsibilities, Angie also maintains the Deer Creek website and administrates company email. Angie is married with three children and two grand children. In the world outside of Deer Creek Stables she works as a dental hygienist.

Rachel Herod - Assistant Trainer

Rachel Herod is DCS assistant trainer who began riding as an eight year old with Jennifer twelve years ago. Rachel credits Jennifer with cultivating her love for Eventing. She rode briefly under Steve McGreggor of Castle Rock in Ft. Worth, TX before following Jennifer to Deer Creek, where she has been since it opened in 2004. Currently, she balances working as a teacher, acting in local productions and actively playing a part in the Deer Creek community. Rachel is an instructor, trainer, competitor and Lesson Coordinator. She is an excellent choice to school and new horses over stadium or cross country jumps.

Rachel competes through First Level Dressage, but her passion is eventing. She is currently competing at Training level eventing and frequently rides in clinics with USET member Don Sachey and Grand Prix level trainer, USEF "S" and USDF "L" judge Elizabeth Madlener. Rachel appreciates the technical aspect of riding different fences and is a very patient teacher. She loves working with students of all ages and abilities. She is a favorite choice for many of our young riders.

Amy Haycox - Assistant Trainer

Amy started riding when she was just 5 years old. She attended many summer camps with Jennifer and grew up eventing. Amy has owned several horses and currently showing through Training Level/Schooling Prelim. Amy has ridden with USET member Don Sachey and Grand Prix level trainer, USEF "S" and USDF "L" judge Elizabeth Madlener as well as Alyce Hinkle, a member of the USEA YEH Committee, Level III ICP Instructor.

Amy began as a working student on the Deer Creek training team. She is now an assistant trainer with a full schedule of lessons and training rides.

Amy has a wonderful sense of humor and is very good with kids. She is an excellent choice for teaching beginners and those new to jumping. In addition, Amy has partnered with many trainers in breaking and starting green horses. She is calm and patient and delivers a stress free experience to horses in her charge.

Keri Ward - Assistant Trainer/Marketing & Social Media

Keri’s parents love to tell people that on the day of her birth the nurse said, “It’s a girl and she says she wants a pony.” It took her eight years, but she is nothing if not persistent, and she eventually began taking lessons at a dressage barn in South Central Texas as well as enjoying a backyard horse of her own. Keri has competed through 1st Level Dressage, Novice Level Eventing, schooled hunters and jumpers, as well as enjoying ranch trail rides as a child and, periodically, Western Dressage. Keri spent almost 10 years teaching high school English and brings a teacher’s approach to her lessons--imbibing them with fun facts and memory devices to help her beginner students, especially, to learn the correct foundation for their future riding. Keri is a good choice for beginners of all ages, adults coming back into riding after time off, and low-level jumping or dressage. Keri has been with DCS since 2005 and has brought her unique sense of purpose and humor with her. Not only does Keri serve as Ringmaster for all of our "Horse-o-ween Spectacular" parties but she is also most likely to win the costume class. Her imagination abounds with her horse, Lord Wimbledon (Win), and a needle and thread. Keri is one of our most popular trainers, especially for weekends, book her early!