Meet Our Staff

Susan Wolfe is a native of Arizona and founded NARS in January 2006. Susan has 30+ years of experience with horses and has a background in both the medical field and business. She has been in the horse industry since early 2000. With her unique background she developed useful skills and knowledge to manage the barn as well as the horses and their owners needs. She has personally owned teams of draft horses, quarter horses, gypsy vanners, mules and many more. Susan is the mother of 2 grown children who are working hard to keep her well stocked with 5 grandchildren...Her passion today is traveling, trail riding and spending time with her grand babies!

 Mike Donoghue purchased Northern Arizona Riding Stables in late 2020 and is now running it together with Susan. Mike's lifelong dream was to own and operate an equestrian based business that could someday become a legacy for his children. In the short time here, Mike instantly gravitated to a sport that combined his love of horses and his love of guns and soon found Cowboy Mounted Shooting. Like everything else in life Mike poured all his time and energy into the sport with his son Pierce joining the fun. They are now traveling regularly to compete. In his spare time Mike enjoys the outdoors, hunting, riding, shooting but especially spending time with his daughter Reagan and son Pierce. 

Kelly Arfsten was raised on a farm in Germany, Kelly developed a passion for dressage-based training and horsemanship while working under a master trainer. She relocated to the U.S. in 2000 to earn a degree in Animal Science with an Equine concentration in Wisconsin. Throughout her career, Kelly has dedicated herself to improving communication between horses and humans. Her extensive background in the equine industry spans roles as a vet assistant, farrier, riding instructor, jousting trainer and equine therapy assistant. She has worked across a wide variety of disciplines—including dressage, English, endurance, western reining, liberty groundwork, and gaited horses—and firmly believes that a strong human-animal connection is the foundation of all riding styles.
Now at Northern Arizona Riding Stables, Kelly is excited to bring her versatile experience to the Southwest, fostering a supportive environment that builds leadership, confidence, and horsemanship for future generations. 

Bess Sisneros has been our head trainer at NARS since 2012. She began her equestrian journey at age eight in a Hawaii 4-H Club, gaining early experience exercising and grooming horses for polo players. Her extensive career includes guiding trail rides on the Big Island of Hawaii for nearly seven years, during which she was mentored in natural horsemanship. She spent several years working across various ranches, primarily starting colts and building solid foundations for young horses. For five years, she served as an assistant riding instructor at an academy in Kailua Kona, teaching basic horsemanship, dressage, and jumping. As a competitor, Bess has  shown at First Level on an Oldenburg gelding and earned a reserve champion title with a score of 68.571 showing a Friesian mare at training level three. Bess is a CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) Level 3 certified instructor in English, Jumping, and Western instruction, and relies heavily on Pony Club manuals to maintain top industry safety standards. Her teaching philosophy combines natural horsemanship methods with a strong focus on safety, character building, self-esteem and compassion for all her students.
 

Meet Nel Clayton-Stankowski born and raised in Oakland, California, Nel spent her riding career competing in Equitation and Jumpers throughout the West Coast. She attended Colorado State University, where she served as the Assistant Manager of a dressage barn. After graduating, Nel moved to Flagstaff in the summer of 2024 and is proud to be the Assistant Barn Manager at Northern Arizona Riding Stables, where she continues to pursue her passion for horses, instruction, and ranch management.
 

Kaylee Young grew up in a small town in Arizona, and was fortunate to be taught by some very skilled horsemen who helped launch her journey in equine care. Driven by a fascination with equine behavior and learning styles, she focuses on understanding each horse's unique needs to build strong, effective partnerships. She views horsemanship as a lifelong learning process, with every horse offering valuable experience.
Over the past several years, Kaylee has gained extensive experience caring for horses, instructing students, and working across various disciplines within the equine industry. While her background encompasses a wide range of activities, she specializes in ranch sorting and regularly competes in regional events.
Kaylee remains dedicated to expanding her professional knowledge, collaborating with fellow industry professionals, and sharing her expertise to help others appreciate and succeed in equine sports and care. 

Alex Odell brings a strong background in equine care and management to NARS, with a decade of riding experience and five years of competition in Cowboy Mounted Shooting. He holds an Associate Degree in Equine Management and Training from Central Arizona College, complemented by ten years of experience showing small stock through 4-H. Passionate about horses, Alex is dedicated to providing exceptional care for every animal.