We come to work every day because we enjoy helping horses and people feel better.
At ThinLine, we believe both horse and rider get to be comfortable. It is our mission to create products that do that. We are passionate about every product we make.
Elaine Lockhead Castelao
(Curator of visions large and small)
Elaine is the visionary of ThinLine. She has dedicated her life to the comfort of horses and their riders while simultaneously creating a channel for others to bring great ideas to the marketplace.
Greatest achievement: The culture and closeness of the ThinLine team.
Photos: Elaine and her child, Skyler. Right: Elaine & her horse Uri.
Tony Phillips, Sales Director
Tony has been a professional horseman for over three decades, focusing on promoting and breeding Irish Draught and Irish Sport Horses, with experience in a variety of disciplines. He brings his extensive knowledge and experience to his position at ThinLine.
Tony looks forward to increasing support for our retailers.
Tonys Family: Sarah, Tony, Gracie, Devon, Julian & Oliver
Ellie Bellia, Sales Manager
Ellie grew up in the Hunter/Jumper world with her Paint pony Dallas. Ellie and Dallas have been a team for over 12 years showing locally to Raleigh, NC. She and her pony also rode Western and Barrel Raced in their free time bringing together a combined knowledge of the Western and English disciplines. Ellie graduated from East Carolina University in 2024 pursuing a career in International Relations and Sales. With precision and apprehension, she ensures our wholesale and retail accounts are handled with care.
Emma Hodes, Marketing Manager
Emma grew up in Asheville, NC with her Quarter Horse Zip. Emma has ridden extensively in the Hunters; Emma and Zip showed in the NCHJA circuit until she went to college at Western Carolina University. She went to college for Journalism, hoping to pursue a career merged with her love for horses. After graduating in 2024, Emma joined ThinLine in October. Emma enjoys connecting with customers and brings fresh creativity to the team.
Skyler Castelao, Product Manager
Skyler manages ThinLine’s Amazon presence, price sheets, component ordering, and production numbers. While not a rider herself, she grew up around the equine industry and has a passion for making the company efficient.
Photo: Elaine, Skyler, and their dog Custard
Will Baker, Warehouse Manager
Will has managed the ThinLine warehouse for about four years. He does all the shipping and handling to ensure our customers receive their order. One of his passions is Formula 1.
Steven & Ellen Parker
Owners of EquiSew Inc.
Steve & Ellen met in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where both were involved in the Custom/Trophy Saddle industry. Ellen was carving and tooling leather while Steve designed and built saddles. After moving to North Carolina, they managed a company that built braces, prosthetic limb parts, and therapeutic aids to assist disabled people in completing their activities of Daily Living.
In 2012 they began building some products for ThinLine and in 2018, opened EquiSew Inc., which exclusively manufactures ThinLine products.
They have 4 children, 9 grandchildren, 3 dogs, and a parrot!
“We are humbled by the opportunity to work with ThinLine to develop and manufacture their incredible products and we are blessed to have amazingly talented employees who enable us to do this!”
Geraldine Nardi
(Equisew Inc.)
Geri joined Equisew in early 2019. She really enjoys sewing and loves being part of the awesome team of folks that create, develop, and assemble the Thinline products that benefit horses and their people all over the world! She has two wonderful daughters and is a pig mom to two chunky spunky Pot Bellies.
