Our Story
Lifelong Learning and the
Value of Horsemanship
The 60 acres that comprise Whistlejacket Farm is carved out of Manning’s 4M Farm, a larger piece of land that has been in the Manning family for decades. Ralph Manning, Farm Owner, has many fond memories of growing up on the farm, learning about horses and horsemanship in addition to life lessons. (He and his wife Krista even had their rehearsal dinner on the farm!)
It’s those many days Ralph spent learning to train and ride the Arabian horses he loves so much that inspired him to found Whistlejacket Farm on that same land where he and his sister grew up.
He’s been nurturing a vision for Whistlejacket Farm for nearly 30 years— in fact, ever since he chose a career in business over training horses. Ralph promised himself then that one day he would have an operation that not only fielded top show horses but introduced others to the potential of the Arabian breed.
“The decision to open the family land up through Whistlejacket Farm was made in the spirit of creating a place where more people can enjoy what my family has enjoyed for so long.”
– Ralph Manning
Today, that vision enters its next chapter through a dynamic partnership with Andrew Andersen and Alanna Andersen. Andrew brings a well-rounded background across English, hunter, and western disciplines, along with experience contributing to the success of numerous winning programs. His approach to training reflects both the precision of a competitive showman and the thoughtful perspective of an educator, developing horses and riders with an emphasis on longevity, feel, and true partnership.
Alongside him, Alanna leads the academy with a vision centered on connection, confidence, and structured growth. Having built and expanded the Whistlejacket program into a thriving community, she is passionate about developing riders from the ground up and creating an environment where horsemanship is both taught and lived. Together with Manning’s leadership in operations and long-term vision for the farm, this partnership brings a unified approach to training, education, and community—one that honors tradition while building something distinctly its own.
As Whistlejacket Farm continues to grow, its mission remains clear: to open the doors of the farm to riders of all levels, introduce them to the elegance and versatility of the Arabian horse, and provide an experience rooted in quality, care, and purpose. That vision comes to life through both a dedicated training and showing program and the Whistlejacket Riding Academy—offering riders the opportunity to develop their skills, deepen their understanding, and become part of something greater than themselves. At the heart of it all is the Arabian horse—respected, celebrated, and thoughtfully developed for generations to come.
“I love the training, and I love the horses. If I won the lottery, I’d train horses for free for everyone I love.”
– Wendy Potts
The Magic of Arabian Horses
Whistlejacket Farm wouldn’t exist but for the amazing world of the Arabian horse.
Manning Arabians dates to the 1960s, when Ralph’s parents, L.M. Jr. and Susan, bought a 2-year-old chestnut colt named Chum. Within a few years, the elder Mannings’ equine headcount was climbing past 30, they owned a state of the art facility, and had a resident trainer, Jim Long.
The Manning family’s preferred bloodlines evolved over time, but their standards remained high.
By the 1980s, they had an eye on national level shows and enhanced their association with several well-known names, among them Blake Krohn, Stanley White Sr., Stanley White Jr., Ray LaCroix, Joel Kiesner, Gordon Potts, Spike Barter, Kat Stephens and Kim Morgan.
Eventually, during his college years, Ralph went to work with Ray LaCroix (and Joel Kiesner, who was a LaCroix assistant at the time) and even considered becoming a trainer himself. With and education and background in business including an OPM from Harvard Business School, Ralph went on to start several businesses while maintaining a presence in Arabians.
In 1997, he and his father traveled to Poland on a buying trip that yielded the Europejczyk son *Ordynek and the filly *Eksedra. Both would be awarded U.S. national top tens, *Ordynek in English Pleasure AAOTR with Ralph, and *Eksedra in Mares with Kim Morgan in open and Ralph in amateur.
At Whistlejacket Farm, we are dedicated to helping you get there and do well.
Because Everything Rides On A Name
Behind the Name … Whistlejacket …
In the mid 1700s, the British longed for a racehorse that could run longer distances. To accomplish this, they imported into England three Arabian stallions, the Godolphin, the Byerly Turk and the Barb. They bred these stallions to their prized English mare and in doing so, the first offspring became the foundation stock of the British Thoroughbred.
Still today, all full blood registered Thoroughbreds can be traced back to these three Arab stallions. In 1762, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, an English Duke, commissioned George Stubbs to paint his winning racehorse, Whistlejacket, as a gift to King George III of England.
That famous painting stands more than nine feet tall and hangs in the National Gallery in London. It is considered one of Great Britain’s national treasures. As such, Whistlejacket was an Arabian ambassador to the British, a progenitor of the British Thoroughbred and has often been called the “Arabian Thoroughbred.”
Whistlejacket is an example of the immeasurable impact the Arabian horse has had on the world at large and horsedom specifically.
“Whistlejacket’s enduring legacy serves as a reminder and a source of inspiration for how Whistlejacket Farm intends to impact the Arabian horse community with the contributions we aspire to make and the new trails we hope to blaze.”
– Ralph Manning
Thanks for visiting our website!
– The Manning Family & The Potts Family
Updates & Information
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