Just outside Collinsville, Texas, lies a small training program that is quietly working to shape both horses and riders.
At 3-Up Farm, co-owner and trainer, Claire Marcell, focuses on breeding, raising, training and showing hunter under saddle and all-around horses. They also offer lessons to riders who want to improve their horsemanship.
“We give beginner and intermediate lessons to local riders in our community,” Marcell said. “Developing horsemen beyond just the show pen has become a passion of mine.”
Marcell operates the farm with her partner, James Gauthier and one assistant. Together, the three manage the day-to-day operation, which includes about 10 stalls and several horses in training.
Unlike many trainers who aim to grow large training operations, Marcell intentionally keeps her program small.
“A huge priority of ours is to keep the training at a manageable number,” Marcell said. “At the end of the day, I want to be able to say I did a good job with every horse and every client.”
Marcell’s passion for horses began early in life. Even though she grew up in a family that was not involved with horses, she knew from a young age what she wanted to do.
“I got my first pony when I was three years old and when I was six, I told my family I was going to be a horse trainer,” she said.
Her journey into the professional horse industry began in high school. During the summer of her junior year, Marcell worked for a horse trainer and quickly realized it was the path she wanted to pursue.
Marcell worked as an assistant trainer for five years and then ventured out on her own. She later met Gauthier, and the two eventually decided to build their own business and show barn. Their venture, 3-Up Farm, originally started in Michigan about 12 years ago, before the pair moved their operation to Texas nine years ago.
A typical day on the farm starts around 7 a.m. when all the animals get fed. The team then works its way through each horse and client. In addition to training, Marcell handles the bookkeeping and breeding aspects of the business.
While training and showing horses remains central to the business, Marcell has found a growing passion for teaching beginners.
“We are losing a lot of young horsemen. We don’t have as many young people getting into the horse industry as we used to,” Marcell said.
Through her lessons, Marcell focuses on teaching students the basics of horsemanship, not just how to ride.
“Those first couple of lessons and interactions with horses, they get to learn about the animal and how to take care of them,” she said. “What drives me is the look on their face and how excited they get about it.”
As the farm continues to grow, Marcell’s goals remain focused on quality rather than expansion. She hopes to continue with her lessons but also hopes to develop the barn’s breeding program for hunter under saddle horses.
“We’ve worked hard over the last nine years to develop a brood mare band that is producing the type of hunter under saddle horse we want to put on the ground,” she said.
As the farm continues to grow, Marcell remains focused on quality. Regardless of how the business evolves, her priorities will remain the same. The horses will always come first.
At 3-Up Farm, success isn’t measured in the show pen, but rather by the care given to every horse and the knowledge passed on to the next generation of horsemen.
