Born and raised in downtown New York City, Marley Stone Bourke’s start to life was a far cry from the rolling hills of Virginia. What originated as a bribe from her parents to entice her to leave the city on the weekends has transformed into a lifetime passion.
Stone Bourke grew up riding alongside her sister at Pleasant Hollow Farms in Pennsylvania, under the direction of Jane Cory. It was in Pleasant Hollow’s strong eventing program that she developed her love for the sport and the desire to compete at the highest level. In order to ride on a more consistent basis, Stone Bourke attended high school at Connecticut’s Ethel Walker School and, for the first time, was able to ride daily. She also began training with Bonnie Mosser, who coached her through the levels during both high school and college.
Stone Bourke has always been a strong believer in balancing riding with academics. She received a bachelor of arts degree in history from Davidson College while maintaining a competitive equestrian schedule and a rigorous academic course load. Stone Bourke further pursued higher educational opportunities post-graduation, and attended Dartmouth’s Tuck Bridge Business Program in order to prepare for running and owning a farm. She began working for top eventer Sharon White right out of college, and most recently managed Broad Run Veterinary Service before devoting herself to Bourke Eventing full-time.
