Rivermont Farm is owned and operated by Ashley Godwin. Ashley was born with a love for horses, and on her 10th birthday in the summer of 1985, her parents bought her first horse who became her self trained Champion Large Pony Hunter, Hidden Talent. (aka, Sultan) Her parents fully supported her equestrian dream, so much so that her father even delivered pizzas at night after he got off work from his regular full time job to help pay for riding lessons and horse showing. Ashley worked for trainer Claire Boyd off and on from 1986 until 2006, and rode with Stephanie Free of Step N Free Stables in her teens. At age 14 she galloped race horses on the track in exchange for riding lessons. She showed Hidden Talent in the Large Pony Division, and her show jumper (who was also self trained), Kaiser Fritz, in the jumpers. Kaiser Fritz was a grandson of Secretariat and to this day Ashley says he was the greatest jumper she has ever ridden. She also showed extensively on the "A" circuit with her self trained Half Arabian mare "CBS Krystal Kat+" in the 90's. "CBS Krystal Kat+" and Ashley were Top Ten in the Nation at the U.S. National Championships in Louisville, KY in 1998. They also won the Region 12 Championship that year in Half Arabian Hunter Pleasure AAOTR 18-39 and in '98 they were Region 12 Reserve Champion in the Green Working Hunters. Krystal and Ashley also won numerous Top 5 Championships in Region 12 and Region 14 in 1997-1999. Ashley has many years of experience horse showing at the "A" and local level.
In 1997 Ashley was hired by the Walt Disney company as the riding double for the lead actor, Lucas Black, in the Disney movie "Flash". "Flash" was directed by Simon Wincer who has directed such movies as Pharlap, The Man From Snowy River, Operation Dumbo Drop, Free Willy and many other great animal movies. Since she was the riding double for a 14 year old boy, she had to shave her head for the part! Most of the riding scenes in the movie are actually Ashley riding. She is even pictured riding on the back of the VHS movie sleeve.
Ashley was born and raised in the Atlanta area, but fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning a training and boarding facility when her family moved to northwest Georgia and opened Rivermont Farm in the fall of 2002. Ashley has an extensive resume of training off the track Thoroughbred's for the hunter and jumper arena which she calls "Higher Calling Thoroughbreds", horse show management as she organized and ran the horse shows at Rivermont for over 12 years, and farm management. She also designs and manufactures ladies insulted coveralls with her company "GlamourAlls", which she started in 2012.
Her daughter, Gracie McDaniel, is also an accomplished equestrian. She is currently showing her mare, Yours Truly, in the hunter ring and hopes to be a large animal vet one day.
In March of 2013 Ashley's father, Roger Godwin, who also lived and worked at Rivermont (and Ashley's best friend) passed away after a short battle with colon cancer. Roger could be found at every horse show cooking hamburgers and hot dogs, and was well liked by anyone who met him. He adored the animals on the farm and his unexpected loss was devastating to Ashley and Gracie. However, not long after he passed away, Ashley met Dr. Vince Mirarchi, who is now part of the team at Rivermont. Ashley believes whole heartedly that her dad sent Vince to her from heaven! Ashley and Vince were married on July 3rd, 2017.
Rivermont Farm is now located in "The Horse Capital of the World", Ocala, Florida. Rivermont Farm has broadened its horizons with their Thoroughbred and Jack Russell Terrier breeding program as well as continuing with their retired racehorse program. Ashley and Vince also currently have two horses in training that will hopefully begin their racing career sometime in 2020. (Nacho Supreme and Faith's a Bluebird)
In 1997 Ashley was hired by the Walt Disney company as the riding double for the lead actor, Lucas Black, in the Disney movie "Flash". "Flash" was directed by Simon Wincer who has directed such movies as Pharlap, The Man From Snowy River, Operation Dumbo Drop, Free Willy and many other great animal movies. Since she was the riding double for a 14 year old boy, she had to shave her head for the part! Most of the riding scenes in the movie are actually Ashley riding. She is even pictured riding on the back of the VHS movie sleeve.
Ashley was born and raised in the Atlanta area, but fulfilled her lifelong dream of owning a training and boarding facility when her family moved to northwest Georgia and opened Rivermont Farm in the fall of 2002. Ashley has an extensive resume of training off the track Thoroughbred's for the hunter and jumper arena which she calls "Higher Calling Thoroughbreds", horse show management as she organized and ran the horse shows at Rivermont for over 12 years, and farm management. She also designs and manufactures ladies insulted coveralls with her company "GlamourAlls", which she started in 2012.
Her daughter, Gracie McDaniel, is also an accomplished equestrian. She is currently showing her mare, Yours Truly, in the hunter ring and hopes to be a large animal vet one day.
In March of 2013 Ashley's father, Roger Godwin, who also lived and worked at Rivermont (and Ashley's best friend) passed away after a short battle with colon cancer. Roger could be found at every horse show cooking hamburgers and hot dogs, and was well liked by anyone who met him. He adored the animals on the farm and his unexpected loss was devastating to Ashley and Gracie. However, not long after he passed away, Ashley met Dr. Vince Mirarchi, who is now part of the team at Rivermont. Ashley believes whole heartedly that her dad sent Vince to her from heaven! Ashley and Vince were married on July 3rd, 2017.
Rivermont Farm is now located in "The Horse Capital of the World", Ocala, Florida. Rivermont Farm has broadened its horizons with their Thoroughbred and Jack Russell Terrier breeding program as well as continuing with their retired racehorse program. Ashley and Vince also currently have two horses in training that will hopefully begin their racing career sometime in 2020. (Nacho Supreme and Faith's a Bluebird)
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Ashley handing the show secretary duties at one of the many Rivermont Farm horse shows.
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Team Chrome at the Breeders Cup 2014. L-R Raul Rodriguez, Vince Mirarchi, Alan Sherman, California Chrome, Victor Espinoza, Ashley Godwin and Willie Delgado.
Ashley on her first horse, Sultan, along with her dad Roger in the spring of 1986.
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Ashley, Gracie and Roger Godwin in March of 2010.
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