About The Owens Family
Frank and Candie Owens
Frank and Candie established Oakwell Farms in 1984 when they moved to San Antonio from Virginia. Both of them grew up with horses as a passion from childhood.
Candie started riding at age 10. She loved teaching and coaching had a long career showing and she had many students that competed and had top placing and year end awards. Frank grew up showing ponies and horses in Virginia and was fortunate enough to compete at shows like Washington DC, Harrisburg PA, Madison Square Garden and in Canada, and he represented the United States on the only pony team that went to England. Frank and Candie met in San Antonio when Candie was riding with Col. Russell and Frank was in the Army stationed at Ft. Sam Houston with the U.S. Modern Pentathlon team where he trained horse and helped train the team for the 1972 Munich Olympics.... The rest is history!
Frank and Candie have taught numerous students over the years and have taken many to top levels in the show ring. They taught both of their children to ride and now both compete in the Grand Prix competitions. The Owens take great pride in their care and training of their horses and riders. The welfare of the horse is first priority, along with safety and a family atmosphere for their clients.
Frank no longer competes, he still trains students and goes to the horse shows. Candie passed away in May 2014. She will always be missed.
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Whitney and Frankie were born into the Horse world! How lucky for both kids to end up, loving the horses as well, and both help operate Oakwell Farms. It’s a family business!
Whitney started showing at age 6! After an extensive junior career with accolades from pony hunters up through the high junior jumpers and Grand Prix's, she turned professional in 2000. Along her professional career, she found a passion for teaching and has helped many of our clients reach their goals in the show ring. Whitney has been a cornerstone in our business, matching horse and riders to help them reach their goals.
Frankie Owens grew up riding and became serious about competing at age 14. At 19 Frankie became a professional and has been an invaluable part of our team especially bringing along young, green horses. In those first five competitive years, he traveled and was a working student under many top professionals in the states and in Mexico.
He was on North American Young Rider teams, started doing the Grand Prix level and sitting on young horse. Fast-forward Frankie has won numerous Grand Prix's, brought along young horses to top levels of hunters and jumpers, including state, zone and national champions.
Frank, Whitney and Frankie all train Oakwell‘s riders. Having perspective from three professionals who all have the same end goal for their competitive students is a unique dynamic to have. Collectively, they have taken riders to numerous championships. Top year end state, zone, national placings as well as qualifying for top ranking national competitions with excellent results. And our most important goal with training and reaching each clients full potential…having fun with our Barn family!
Whitney Owens Labrie
Frankie Owens
Rene Rios
Rene is a San Antonio native! He started out riding with Colonel Russell, a name well known in our area! Competing age 10 he went on to become professional at 18 and riding for five time Olympian Anne Kursinski where he gained valuable experience at the Grand Prix level as well as showing hunters at prestigious horse shows across the country.
Rene also owned/operated his own barn in California for many years. Eventually Rene relocated back to Texas to start in three day eventing! We are beyond fortunate that our friend of many years had joined our team in 2022. He’s a key part to the fitness and training of our horses.
