Charlan Thomas, a/k/a “Sha Sha” started riding in the early 1960’s at the historic Woodlawn Stables and Polo Cub in Northern Virginia. 

Having to work at the stable to earn riding privileges and walk polo ponies during polo games to earn entry fee money for horse shows, she grew up understanding the meaning of hard work and self-sufficiency.

Her very first horse show was in 1964 where she was champion in the 12 and Under Walk/Trot division. 

The Woodlawn Pony Club was formed as a member of the United States Pony Clubs, Inc. in the early 1960’s and she became a member in 1965 at the age of 10. She attributes a lot of her knowledge and riding skills to the excellent instructors she rode under and the numerous clinics she attended while in the pony club, along with competing in 3-Day events, games rallies and horse shows. Fox hunting was introduced into the Pony Club through the Casanova Hunt and that started a long history of foxhunting, hunter trials, hunter pace races and even riding in a point-to-point race.

At the age of 16, she discovered a little thoroughbred named “Skeeter” she was riding would jump anything, so they competed in jumper shows in MD and VA and in 1972, she rode him in the Jr. Open Jumper Division at the Washington International Horse Show in Washington, DC.

She has continued foxhunting, showing and eventing as a life long passion. She also specializes in rehabilitating off-the-track TB’s and training horses with various issue