Cheryl Patton
Owner and Founder
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Cheryl Patton began breeding Welsh ponies and Welsh-crosses in 1989 using the prefix Clovercroft Ponies in partnership with a good friend. She was a lifelong horse lover who bought her first horse in her early 40s. Her eye for ponies proved to be excellent and by the early 2000s she was starting to make a name for herself in the pony division. Cheryl created a new prefix, Clovermeade Ponies in 2002 when her business partner decided to focus more on driving ponies and wanted to scale back her work with hunter ponies. Over the past 20 years, Cheryl has been ranked the #1 USEF Pony Hunter breeder nine times.
Cheryl lives with her husband Allen in Brentwood, TN. In addition to her equestrian pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, going to church, and playing bridge. |
Elizabeth Ivanovich
Daughter, Breeding Program and Social Media Manager
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Elizabeth moved back to Tennessee to help with the ponies in 2021. She helps manage the day-to-day functioning of the farm and runs the breeding program and our social media channels.
After growing up around our ponies, Elizabeth spent her 20s and 30s pursuing a career in global health, during which time she served in the Peace Corps in El Salvador and worked with malaria programs to monitor and evaluate global initiatives and advocate for investment in efforts to eliminate malaria. Elizabeth lives on our farm with her husband and her dog, Oatmeal. |
Ginny LaIRD
Daughter
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Ginny grew up riding and helping her mother, Cheryl, with the ponies. She developed a lifelong passion for horsemanship while competing in local and national Welsh pony shows. She continued her riding career at Vanderbilt on the IEA team before moving to New York City to pursue her nursing career.
After earning her Master’s from Columbia University, Ginny served as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner at New York-Presbyterian. In 2021, she and her husband, David, returned to Tennessee with their three children to be closer to family. Following two years at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, Ginny is thrilled to be back in the "pony world," where she focuses on training foals, exercising ponies, and enjoying trail rides at Clovermeade. |
Sophia Laird
Granddaughter
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Sophia’s equestrian journey began during childhood visits to her grandmother at Clovermeade Ponies. Her passion truly accelerated after moving from New Jersey to Tennessee in 2021, leading her to compete at Brownland, WEC Ohio, and the Kentucky Horse Park.
At Clovermeade, Sophia likes to play with foals and yearlings. With her trainers at Camwood Farm, she has successfully developed several green ponies, showing Clovermeade Zurich in the 2025 Medium Green Pony Finals alongside her regular large pony, Clovermeade Charmed. Currently, she is preparing Clovermeade Cheerful for a debut in the show ring this spring. |
Mary Kathyrn Glenn
Farm Manager
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Mary Kathryn has served as the Farm Manager at Clovermeade Ponies since January 2023, seamlessly blending a lifelong passion for horses with professional expertise in animal care. With an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Nursing and a Bachelor’s in Equine Science, she brings a sophisticated clinical perspective to the farm, drawn from her previous experience in veterinary practice. Mary Kathryn oversees all aspects of Clovermeade’s operations, including breeding, foaling, and specialized training programs. Her dual background in science and horsemanship ensures that every pony under her care receives a high standard of compassionate, informed management.
A rider since age 12, Mary Kathryn remains dedicated to her longtime equine partner, Jasper, whom she has owned since she was 16. She and her husband, Parker, recently celebrated a joyful new milestone with the arrival of their first child in February 2026. This new chapter further inspires her commitment to nurturing the next generation of riders and ponies alike, maintaining a welcoming and well-run environment for the entire Clovermeade family. |
Ty Franzoy
Farm hand
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Ty joined the Clovermeade team in the summer of 2023, bringing a wealth of practical expertise rooted in his upbringing on a New Mexico chili farm. His background in farm maintenance, advanced machinery operation, and facility management has made him an invaluable asset to the team and the daily operations of the property.
Outside of his work at the farm, Ty is a dedicated family man, sharing his life with his wife, Kristin, his children, and his dog, Rodeo. An equestrian at heart, he is currently preparing his two young horses, Ammo and Banjo, with plans to begin their training under saddle within the coming year. |