Featured Pro: Greg Crolick

Greg Crolick is a nationally recognized professional trainer and rider in the hunter and jumper disciplines. Together, with his wife Jessica, and their staff, they operate Greg Crolick Stables at Clarkston, Michigan.

Their luxury facility offers an outdoor jump field, large indoor, 30 spacious stalls with Dutch doors and automatic waterers, and an equine treadmill. Greg Crolick Stables caters to the equine athlete and develops horses and riders to their highest potential while competing on the A-circuit. They also offer sales and investment horses and always have a selection of high-quality horses available.

Greg with Chappy, owned by Carole Chase. Photo: Shawn McMillen

The Equestrian Lifestyle

Greg started riding horses when he was eight years old, growing up outside of Syracuse, New York. His mom always loved horses and bought him a pony for the backyard. Then, he started showing when he was 10 years old, and hasn’t looked back since.

He attended Cazenovia College in New York and earned degrees in equine management and business administration, knowing that he wanted to pursue a career as a trainer. Greg’s skill as a rider and trainer allowed him the opportunity to serve as the assistant coach for the intercollegiate riding team while he was studying at Cazenovia.

“Greg didn’t grow up with the show experience that he’s doing now,” his wife Jessica says. “He showed at local horse shows. His ambitions, talent, and hard work brought him to the place he’s at now, and it’s pretty cool what he’s been able to achieve.”

He moved to Michigan and founded Top Call Farm in 1996 and Greg built his home base and training facility there. Equestrian sports, especially jumpers, require a team approach. Greg and Jessica married in 2009, and Jessica’s sister, Katie Hogan, is their barn manager. The team regularly travels to horse shows, including HITS in Florida and others with Grand Prix events throughout the region and the country. Greg also trained at Bloomfield Open Hunt Club and is a visiting trainer at Grosse Pointe Hunt Club.

Greg and Kuore, owned by Renaud Farm. Photo: Andrew Ryback

Both trainers work with clients and their horses; Greg is known for consistently developing winning horses and riders that have won many awards on regional, and national levels. Developing future equestrians is an important part of the business model at Greg Crolick Stables, and Jessica focuses on teaching young riders, building their confidence, and moving them up from regional shows to top national shows. One of those young riders is their daughter, Ava Crolick. She’s making a name for herself and competed at the USEF Pony Finals this year riding And So Forth. Greg and Jessica’s son is also a fixture on the horse show scene, supporting his family and enjoying time with friends.

Greg and Kuore, owned by Renaud Farm. Photo: Andrew Ryback

Training Philosophy

The horses always come first, and Greg always does what’s best for the horse. It is one of the foundations in his success and has earned him numerous wins in World Championship Hunter Rider classes and on the Grand Prix level.

“I handle, train, and work horses based on their personality,” Greg says. “I adapt my training methods to what works best for that horse. Some need repetition and others don’t, the training system is very individualized for each horse.”

Consistency is another key to Greg’s sustained success at the top levels of the sport. Horses have good days and bad days, the same way humans do, but Greg shows up every day and works with his horses, training them to reach their full potential. His quiet and consistent methods build reliable horses whose good days far outnumber and disappointing performances.

“Our business model caters to show riders looking to move up in their show program,” Greg says. “We mostly have goal driven riders and then also offer the sales and investment horses.”

Greg has a keen eye for seeing potential in horses and developing that potential to earn tricolor ribbons. Take Corallo Z, owned by Renaud Farm’s for example. He was a jumper and equitation horse before joining Greg Crolick Stables. After four months, Greg took the 10-year-old Warmblood gelding to win the Antares High Performance Working Hunter at the 2019 Winter Equestrian Festival.

Greg noticed that Corallo Z was brave, had a powerful jump, and seemed unflappable. He knew this was a good combination for a high-performance horse, and once again, this horseman’s key knowledge and skill paid off. Corallo Z is just one example of many where Greg has guided a horse’s career to championship levels.

Looking Ahead

Greg Crolick has built an equestrian lifestyle for his family and clients that centers on his training philosophy and care of horses. Equestrian and human athletes all perform at their best because they have a solid foundation in the basics, with finesse and advanced skills acquired through consistent training.

Greg and Braavos, owned by Renaud Farm. Photo: Andrew Ryback

Greg and Jessica designed their facility and Greg Crolick Stables to offer a luxury experience that welcomes riders and allows them to feel like part of the family. The horse and rider teams they work with are reaching their goals and setting their sights on new dreams. Their work is also ensuring that the next generation of equestrians has the skills and passion to steward equestrian sports.

To see the current horses that Greg Crolick Stables has listed for sale be sure to visit their ProEquest profile!