Founder & Trainer
McKenna Skelton
Accomplished trainer and rider with a passion for recognizing and developing talent. McKenna believes that when riders are thoughtfully paired with the right horses, every partnership has the opportunity to succeed.
Born and raised in Westlake Village, California, McKenna Skelton discovered her passion for horses at the age of four after her first riding lesson at Elvenstar Farms in Moorpark. She progressed through Elvenstar's riding school and local competitions before advancing to the A-rated circuit, where she trained with Mike Edrick & Nick Karazissis Jr. During her junior career, she earned numerous year-end championships and top honors in the equitation and hunter divisions and medal finals.
After overcoming a significant back injury that sidelined her from riding, McKenna returned to the sport with renewed determination. She gained valuable professional experience at Cross Creek Farms Malibu and Sunnybrook Farms before founding Zeppelin Farms in 2018. Since then, she has developed a reputation for producing confident, capable riders, coaching students from their first competitions through nationally recognized championships and prestigious finals.
In addition to her work as a trainer, McKenna has successfully managed investment horse portfolios, developing horses for competition and sale. Her own competitive career has been supported by valued owners and sponsors, most notably her partnership with Double S Farms and their Grand Prix horse, Daytona Du Sud. Together, McKenna and Daytona have progressed through the upper levels of the sport, competing successfully in numerous Grand Prix classes.
McKenna is dedicated to developing both horses and riders through thoughtful training and a commitment to long-term success in the hunter, equitation, and jumper rings.
