About Our Founders

JoAnn Postel & Nancy Turrill

Sisters JoAnn Postel, along with her husband Bill, and Nancy Turrill are the co-founders at Foxfield. They have been teaching horses and riders for more than half a century, and count Olympians and world champions among the riders that they have trained. JoAnn and Nancy were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the United States Equestrian Federation in 2003 and were inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame at the Devon Horse Show in May 2008. In 2009, JoAnn and Nancy were awarded the California Professional Horsemen’s Association Lifetime Achievement Award.

JoAnn Postel

JoAnn Postel was named California Professional Horsemen’s Association Horsewoman of the Year in 1984. In 1990, she was the Horsewoman of the Year at the Santa Barbara National Amateur Horse Show along with her sister, Nancy Turrill.

JoAnn is the founder of the Foxfield Equestrian Team, which was given an award of appreciation from the L.A. Chapter of WAIF, International Social Service, for outstanding contribution. In 1991, the team was awarded a plaque from Oak Tree Racing at Santa Anita for their participation in “Trooping the Colors” on Veteran’s Day.

JoAnn was a member of:

• Pacific Coast Horsemen’s Association (PCHA)
• United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)
• Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association (LAHJA)
• San Fernando Hunter Jumper Association (SFHJA)

Nancy Turrill

Nancy Turrill was named 1981 California Professional Horsemen’s Association Horsewoman of the Year, and in 1990 was Horsewoman of the Year at the Santa Barbara National Amateur Horse Show along with sister JoAnn Postel.

In 1989, Nancy was the Los Angeles Horse Shows Association “A” Circuit High Point Trainer of the Year. In 1994 and 1998 she trained the LAHSA “A” High Point Amateur/Owner Champion and in 1994, 1998, and 2000 she trained the LAHSA “A” High Point Pony Rider. Nancy has trained American Horse Shows Association Zone 10 Junior and Pony Hunter Finals Champions and many Medal Finals champions, including LAHSA Junior and Senior Medals, the USET, SFVHSA 17 & Under and 12 & Under Medals, Rosewood and LAHSA Pony Medals, as well as the PCHA-endorsed Foxfield Medal, which began in 1971.

Nancy has also trained many successful riders in the jumper ring, including the Marshall & Sterling West Coast Children’s / Adult Amateur Year-End Champion.

Many Foxfield junior riders are members of the Interscholastic Equestrian League, and Nancy was the Varsity Trainer of the Year in 2000. She was also honored as a trainer of the IEL Freshman Medal Finals Champion in 2003-2004.

Nancy was a member of:

• Pacific Coast Horsemen’s Association (PCHA)
• United States Equestrian Federation (USEF)
• Los Angeles Hunter Jumper Association (LAHJA)
• San Fernando Hunter Jumper Association (SFHJA)