Millpond Farm began as Stewartland Stables at the old Jumping Springs Farm facility on Lyons Road in April of 1980. Donna Stewart was the barn manager and trainer for the ten acre, 40 horse facility, and was later joined by her sister Diane. Between the two of them, they saw about 90 students a week. At that time, both took lessons form the renowned trainer Carl Bessette, whom Donna credits with making her the rider and trainer she is today. There were monthly schooling shows held at Stewartland, which were consistently well attended. A circuit awards banquet was held with awards for divisions ranging from walk-trot to Regular Working Hunters and Jumpers. The students from Stewartland Stables were active participants in local shows, particularly the SFHJA shows in Miami, Palm Beach, and Boca/Delray.

After a short time at the Royal Palm Polo facility in Boca Raton, operations moved to Coconut Creek FL after Donna married Dr. Mark Phillips and became Donna Phillips. There was a ‘name-the-barn” contest, with Millpond Farm being the eventual winner. It seemed to fit the grounds, since there is a large spring-fed pond for drainage and swimming recreation. Originally hosting only twenty stalls, Millpond Farm was also home to the equine veterinary clinic of husband Mark.



One of Donna’s students from the old Stewartland Stables was Jennifer Cocuzzo, who began taking lessons from Donna at the age of nine. At about 19 years of age, Jennifer took over the schooling horse program. As Donna’s family grew, Jen took over more and more of the lesson program, bringing her students up from scratch to medal finals and WEF. Another student, Renee Dessert, who had also begun taking lessons with Donna at the age of nine, began teaching the schooling horse lessons while Jen taught the boarders. During this time, Donna continued to manage the barn while raising her family.

Eventually, Jen went on to run Abbey Road Stables in Delray, and Donna took over the boarder lessons and the showing with Renee staying on part time in addition to her primary career as a Broward County Sherriff Corrections Officer. Bit By Bit, a special needs riding program for children was also begun at Millpond with Donna’s help.

During this time, Millpond was known for it’s family orientated atmosphere, community involvement, and family values. Millpond riders have won countless awards at local shows, and participated as a Drill Team in the annual Meggan Morency Memoral Ride-a-Thon with Horses and the Handicapped. They have also attended many riding clinics, as well as a yearly rider adventure at River Ranch in Lake Wales, FL. Millpond, through Donna, supplies all of the animals for the First United Methodist Church of Coral Springs, Bethlehem Revisited, each year at Christmas Time.

Many summer camps, holiday parties, Halloween Shows, Drill Teams, and trail rides later, Millpond Farm is still a presence on the local show circuits. It is the longest continually running equestrian facility in the Tri-county area. The facility currently boosts 24 stalls, two riding rings (one lighted), four sand paddocks, four large (high and dry!) grass paddocks, seven wash racks, laundry facilities, tack cleaning station, air conditioned office, boarders tack room, lesson tack room, as well as the full service Millpond Veterinary Clinic. Tradewinds Park, with it’s miles of beautiful wooded trails, is just a short five minute walk away!

Coming on board two years ago as an assistant trainer was Jackie George, and more recently Sue Sneesby. Renee is still riding and training at Millpond. Jackie will be taking over as Barn Manager in January 2010, continuing the traditions that Millpond has held for almost 30 years.