A family legacy since 1985, Four Generations Farm continues to shape confident riders and quality horses through experience, care, and connection.

A Tradition of Excellence

Four Generations Farm is a hunter jumper training and boarding facility in Leonard, Michigan, led by head trainers Holly Kalso and Diane Hake, who bring decades of experience in teaching, training, and competing at every level of the sport. Rooted in a legacy that began in 1985 when Sharon Hake founded Rochester Hills Stables, the Hake family has remained deeply immersed in the horse community, each generation playing a role as riders, trainers, competitors, and mentors. Today, that legacy continues through a program that offers a full riding school for beginners, a competitive show team traveling to WEC Ocala, Waterloo, Bravehorse, Kentucky, and national indoor finals, and seasonal day camps that introduce young riders to the world of horses. The farm features 48 matted stalls, individual and small group turnout, a renovated clubhouse, and both indoor and outdoor arenas, creating an environment where riders and horses can learn, grow, and succeed together. Four Generations Farm stands as a tribute to Sharon Hake, Diane Hake, Holly Kalso, and Holly’s daughters—four generations of horsewomen dedicated to preserving their family’s tradition of knowledge, excellence, and love for the sport.

Aerial view of a horse riding facility with an indoor riding arena, paddocks, and a large outdoor riding arena surrounded by fences, with trees and greenery in the background.
A young girl holding hands with an adult woman, likely her mother, at an outdoor equestrian riding arena. The girl is wearing a pink jacket and jeans, while the woman is dressed in equestrian attire, including riding boots, breeches, a navy jacket, and a cap. In the background, there are some people, greenery, and equestrian jumps.

The Faces of Four Generations Farm

A woman wearing a black riding helmet, black riding coat, and beige jodhpurs riding a chestnut horse with a white blaze in an indoor riding arena, smiling.

Meet Holly Kalso


For Holly Kalso, horses and teaching have always been at the center of life. Raised in the Hake family’s riding program, she spent her childhood surrounded by the rhythms of barn life, early mornings, quiet lessons, and the steady influence of the women who came before her. Those years shaped not only her skills as a rider but her understanding of what good horsemanship really means: patience, respect, and connection.

As a junior, Holly’s dedication carried her to top national competitions including Pony Finals, Maclay Regionals, Maclay Finals, and the Harrisburg Medal Finals. The experiences taught her how to balance competitiveness with care and to find fulfillment in the everyday work that builds success.

Now as head trainer at Four Generations Farm, Holly brings that same grounded approach to her students and horses. She’s known for creating thoughtful training plans, developing young horses, and helping riders reach their goals in a way that feels both challenging and encouraging. With a degree in teaching from Oakland University, Holly has a natural ability to communicate and connect, meeting each student where they are and guiding them forward with patience and purpose.

Outside the arena, Holly’s two daughters now ride as well, carrying the family’s love for the sport into the next generation, a living reflection of the farm’s name and the legacy she continues to build every day.

Head Trainer Four Generations Farm

A woman in a riding helmet and equestrian outfit riding a horse, with another woman standing beside them holding a ribbon and rosette, on a decorated equestrian show ring with pink flowers and a dirt arena.

Meet Diane Hake

A lifelong rider and teacher, Diane Hake was introduced to the sport by her mother, Sharon Hake, whose passion for horses and teaching set the foundation for what would become a multi-generation family legacy. Over the past 40 years, Diane has built a respected career in the hunter and equitation rings, training riders and horses with the same dedication and attention to detail she learned growing up.

Her approach is steady and thoughtful—focused on helping riders understand the “why” behind every movement and develop confidence through consistency. Diane has an exceptional eye for the fundamentals, giving her students the tools they need to succeed at any level of the sport.

Having shown successfully up to 4’ in the hunter ring, Diane brings experience, patience, and perspective to every lesson. At Four Generations Farm, she continues to guide riders with the same values that have defined her family’s program for decades: clear communication, hard work, and respect for the process.

Head Trainer Four Generations Farm

Two women and a horse at an outdoor equestrian event, with one woman sitting on the horse and the other standing beside it, holding the reins.


Marisa has spent most of her life at Four Generations Farm, first as a young student learning to ride, and now as an assistant trainer and riding school coordinator. She joined the program at just ten years old and quickly found herself at home in the barn—absorbing the lessons, traditions, and values that have defined the Hake family’s approach for generations.

After growing up showing with the program as a junior, Marisa now combines her deep understanding of the farm’s mission with her professional experience as a high school history teacher. Her background in education gives her a unique ability to connect with students, explain concepts clearly, and adapt her teaching style to fit each rider’s needs.

Known for her organization and calm presence, Marisa keeps the riding school running smoothly while ensuring every student feels supported, prepared, and confident. Whether she’s teaching in the ring or coordinating behind the scenes, she plays an essential role in maintaining the quality and consistency that make Four Generations Farm a place riders can truly grow.

Assistant Trainer and Riding School Coordinator

Meet Marisa Olszewski

A woman with curly blonde hair smiling next to a brown and white horse inside a stable.

Meet Mary Kay Hake

Riding School Instructor

A second-generation member of the Hake family, Mary Kay has been part of the program since its earliest days. The daughter of Sharon Hake, sister to Diane, and aunt to Holly, she has spent more than 40 years teaching in the riding school and helping shape it into the strong, supportive program it is today.

Mary Kay’s teaching style blends experience and enthusiasm. As both a lifelong equestrian and a theater teacher, she brings energy, creativity, and patience to every lesson, making learning engaging while ensuring her students master the fundamentals.

Her focus on the basics has helped countless riders build the confidence and skills they need to progress through the program. Whether working with a brand-new student or a returning rider, Mary Kay creates an encouraging environment where riders can learn, grow, and discover a true love for the sport.

  • Scenic landscape of mountains with a lake in the foreground, grassy hills, and a cloudy sky.

    Deanna

    Riding School Instructor

  • Scenic view of snow-capped mountains in the background with rolling hills and a modern house in the foreground.

    Charlotte

    Beginner Riding School Instructor

  • Modern wooden house with large glass window set in a mountainous landscape with grassy terrain and shrubs.

    Hope

    Riding School Instructor

  • Modern house with wooden exterior and large windows, set against mountainous landscape with snow-capped peaks in the background, stone steps and landscaped yard in the foreground.

    Sarah

    Riding School Instructor

Our team is made up of riders who were raised in this program and continue to uphold the values and philosophies that Four Generations Farm was built on.

Join Our Program
  • A woman in a red jacket leaning on a fence at a horse riding event, with a smiling face, wearing a white cap with a logo. Behind her, a young rider in riding attire is seated on a brown horse, with another rider and a man with a horse in the background during daytime. There is a warning sign about equine activity liability.

  • A woman smiling and holding the reins of a white horse with a young girl riding it, wearing a black riding helmet and a navy blazer, outdoors with a portable toilet and trees in the background.

  • Group of six women and two children posing with a brown and white horse in an indoor riding arena, some smiling and hugging, one child wearing a helmet, the women wearing casual jackets and sweaters.

  • Two women dressed in equestrian riding attire, sitting on a wooden bench outdoors, smiling at the camera. One woman is wearing a beige quarter-zip top, navy riding pants, and a navy cap with an Auburn logo, holding a phone. The other is dressed in a navy riding shirt, light gray riding pants, black riding boots, a cap, and sunglasses. A black backpack is on the bench beside them, with greenery and a small garden in the background.

  • A young girl wearing a black helmet sitting on a light-colored horse in an outdoor riding arena, listening to an adult woman who appears to be instructing her.

  • A woman in a hat and dark jacket is holding out her hand for a horse to nuzzle. The horse, ridden by a woman in formal riding attire, is extending its head towards the woman. The background is outdoors with green trees.