I just don't feel right unless I've got carrots in my pocket and a little horse slobber on my sleeve. Going to graduate school, getting married, adding one-two-three kids were just minor diversions from my true passion. Fortunately living in the Northwest means I can slouch around in jeans, fleece, and boots with unruly hair in a ponytail, which works equally well in the barn and the grocery store. Plus it makes for a nice surprise for people to discover that underneath the unassuming mommy-and-minivan exterior is someone with a Ph.D. in organizational sociology and the odd, rather obsessive hobby of riding precision dressage moves on a 1200 pound animal. My skills that aren't typical resume fodder, like recognizing colic symptoms and dragging arenas in perfect swirly lines, are talents honed by five years of owning Simpatico Stables, a 40+stall boarding facility. Some of my life experiences are more traditional; teaching, management consulting, database design, real estate investing. Yawn...sorry that got boring just now. What's not boring is that I've been successfully self-employed for over 20 years (hooray!) because, as my husband Carl points out frequently, I just like to be the boss.

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I have lived in Woodinville since 1985. I bought my first horse, Elation Wind, a Thoroughbred in 1991. Elay and I jumped, dabbled in dressage and rode the local trails. I bought another former racehorse named Gingham Flower (poor horse, what a name!) in 1993, bred her to a Swedish stallion resulting in a big bay colt (Jordache) born in 1994. To keep busy while the colt grew up, in 1996 I leased another Thoroughbred, Dancer, and starting taking dressage lessons from Leigh Cochran. I entered my first recognized dressage show in 1997 with Dancer. In 1998 we won the North West Dressage Championships Training Level AA Championship. Jordache remains at home (with his barn buddy, Gatsby) and we continue to train with Leigh.
I first became involved with E.I. in 1997 as Education Co-Director, then Education Director in 1998. Became the E.I. Secretary in 2001. Also in 2001 the Champagne Classic dressage show was resurrected from a two-year hiatus. I volunteered to be Show Secretary with no knowledge of how a show is run, with only the experience as a competitor. After a very steep learning curve I now feel pretty comfortable with the ‘behind the scene’ functions and we have an excellent core group of volunteers who greatly assist in putting on this show. It is definitely a team effort for any show to be successful and I would encourage anyone with the least little curiosity or interest to contact a Board member for more information on how you can help.
My husband and I are self-employed with a pottery business. You may see our work at horse shows since we place equestrian artwork on the pottery. In addition to the local shows we also sell at the Del Mar National CDI in San Diego and Spruce Meadows in Calgary.

My credentials for the position of Eventing Director are rather humble. I started riding in my mid 40s, but have always loved horses from a distance and had happy memories of riding my cousins’ pony on infrequent visits to their farm in Suffolk, England. When I came to Seattle in 1993 I leased a little horse called CB at Homeport (now Simpatico) who eventually became my very own pony. He taught me a great deal, suffering my ignorance and mistakes with aplomb. We found our way to Eventing when I joined Todd Trewin’s program. I was drawn into the camaraderie and exhilaration of the sport with Todd’s wonderful group of adult riders having had many good times. Since then I’ve been fortunate to train with Sarah Lorenz, who encouraged me to join E.I., and I now train with Carrie Carstairs. With a little schoolmaster named Shark Bay, I reached the dizzy heights of competition at Training level (3’3”). “Shay” taught me so much about partnership – he is a wonderful little horse who takes his job very seriously. He is 20 now and leased to a talented teenager – they are a great team! My new riding partner is a little Arab/Dutch WB cross called Batchelor Party “Kiwi” and I look forward to doing lots of clinics, derbies and schooling shows with him.

Eventing appeals to me on two levels: partly because I enjoy both jumping and dressage, especially riding cross country on a good pony – what a high! – and partly because the eventing community is so helpful and supportive of each other. Carrie��s group goes to most of our local recognized events and we take genuine pleasure in each others’ successes and encourage and commiserate over the disappointments.

Sarah’s commitment to E.I., and my own small volunteering efforts made me realize how much time and effort it takes to organize and run horse activities. When I was asked to become involved with the E.I. Board I decided it was time to step up to the plate and join the contributors, as well as enjoying being a participant. It’s been a rewarding experience to work with such a lively group of talented individuals who share not only a passion for horses, but a desire to help others become more educated equestrians, and have fun as well.

I’m a pediatric dentist and I work full time, with my week divided among the University of Washington and patient care in Mt Vernon.

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I began riding when I was 6 years old.  All it took was for my Mom to drive me out for a surprise riding lesson.  Since that point I have been hooked.  I have worked and trained in Providence, Boulder, and southern California.  Recently I moved back to the Seattle area where I grew up.  My past mentors include: Wendy Meyers, Lou Denizard, and Hilda Gurney.  Currently I train and teach at River Run Ranch and Simpatico Stables and have a wide range of students and horses with my business, Emerald City Dressage.      I am looking forward to working with EI in 2009!

I grew up riding horses on the coast of Northern California.  While earning my bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo I became involved in therapeutic horseback riding.  After years of volunteering at lessons, I joined the Board of Directors, became a certified instructor, and ended up as head instructor for Partners in Equestrian Therapy.  Our non-traditional lessons are still some of my favorite memories, and I treasure the relationships that I formed with my students, volunteers, and wonderful Norwegian Fjord lesson horses.

After moving to the Seattle area in 2004, I started taking dressage lessons and volunteering for the Equestrian’s Institute.  I became one of the volunteer coordinators for the EI dressage shows and am now excited to also take on the role of Director of Volunteers.  My goal is to make the volunteer experience as fun and rewarding as possible.  Although I am taking a break from riding to get married and pursue my goal of becoming a sign language interpreter, I am thrilled with the opportunity to stay involved in the Western Washington horse community. 

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My vision for 2007 is to present Spring and Fall Freestyle Clinics with Karen Robinson so more riders can learn to dance with their horses. Bear Creek Farm and Pacific Moon Equestrian Center will be the host sites for the 2007 clinics. The freestyle clinics provide a forum for riders to explore music and choreography with their horses, and to prepare for shows.

Once you wave your hand to start your music at a show, you look forward to the next show. Riding to music can provide a chance for you as a rider to learn more about your horse and your riding while you provide entertainment for the audience. It can be spontaneous, exciting and rewarding.

I invite you to challenge yourself in two ways in 2007. First, dance with your horse, even if you simply ride to music when you train. Secondly, make a point of volunteering for E.I. to help put on shows and clinics. You will meet great people and learn new things along the way.

I grew up riding with the Bainbridge Island Pony Club. Years of school put horses aside but I eventually got back to dressage. For many years, riding had to work around my schedule as an MD Anesthesiologist, but then significant back problems put both riding and practicing medicine on hold. My back rehab program included the pilates exercise system -- it helped both my back and riding so much that teaching it became my second career. I now run my own pilates studio (www.riderpilates.com), and most of my clients are riders.

I currently compete at Prix St. Georges and Intermediare 1 with Bluette, a very cool 12 yr- old Danish mare. I am a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, and a graduate of the USDF "L" judge training program. I was Dressage Director for E.I. from 2000 - 2003. The position gave me a great appreciation for the many people who are behind the scenes making programs happen for the dressage and equestrian community. I plan to stay involved with this organization that plays such an important role in promoting dressage events and education.

I live in Redmond with husband of 22 yrs, David Stutz and our two cats, two goats, Bluette, and 5 chickens. We also have a vineyard in Oregon and play with home winemaking.

My dressage interest came totally by accident, but out of a lifelong love for horses… I squirreled away my lunch money for riding lessons so I could learn to ride 3- and 5-gaited saddlebreds. Two children, a late husband, a new husband, and many years and miles in between; it happened again…I was offered an appaloosa mare because the owner no longer could care for her. This little rescue mission put me squarely on a path of total capitulation to my reawakened passion. I came to dressage because the mare wasn’t a “saddlebred” and was too old to jump. And, I found a trainer who woke me to the challenges of the “new” discipline. I was cajoled into taking over as designer for the newsletter at a time when I was selling my horse and was caring for my mother…wanted to keep in touch even though I wasn’t riding. I later bought a new gelding only to discover he had Wobblers and required surgery. So, again my riding was curtailed. Thank goodness for my involvement in E.I. Now, I’m helping to make the transition from hard copy to electronic media and will wear a different hat for awhile. Better yet…I’m back in the saddle and looking forward to participating again in the many events offered by E.I.

Anyone who has competed at E.I.’s USAEq/USDF approved Dressage Shows will most certainly recognize the faces, voices and presence of this husband and wife team of committed dressage enthusiasts who make these shows happen.
In years past, Lothar has had multiple show titles: Manager of L'Aperitif, Secretary for Beaujolais, Manager of Summer Champagne Classic, and finally, Secretary for the Region 6 Championships. Caroline is right there helping as well, with organizing rider packets days before the show, organizing volunteers, and handing out awards at the show grounds. The two of them essentially live at the show grounds from dawn until dusk during each show taking care of all the endless details.
Lothar and Caroline began running shows to support their daughter when she was showing -- and they just kept on with it. They both get “pleasure in doing the job and creating horse shows that competitors enjoy coming to.” And they continue running these shows as they find them to be “Something a retired person can do with interest and ease.”

Many of you have noticed the lady with the camera, walking casually around schooling shows, recognized shows, clinics and other E.I. events. She always has a smile and kind word for those she encounters. Jan has willingly taken dozens of pictures of our riders to provide an up-close and personal view of E.I. events in the past for the E.I. newsletter and will be bringing us her wonderful shots for the expanded website. Jan has a wonderful eye for capturing a special moment around the horses, the arenas, and the special people who make up E.I. She asked us if she could be allowed to take a few pictures for us once and we haven’t wanted her to quit ever since….she is truly a volunteer in the truest sense of the word.

Kellie has been into horses most of her life. B.J. - one of her horses - has been with her ever since she was old enough to get her own horse and he evolved from a 2 year old quarter horse to a 4 level warmblood look-alike under Kellie’s tutelage. Kellie has brought up teenagers through the levels to young riders and currently teaches a number of adult amateur riders on their respective horses. Kellie has a small farm with her husband Peter where she is able to teach and enjoy riding her own horses in the classical way. She is currently training a Belgian-Thoroughbred (shown below) and a Duch warmblood mare called Julie. After being the E.I. dressage Director, Kellie is now the person behind the E.I. schooling shows and also helps run the recognized shows. You will always see her making sure that everything goes smoothly from setup to takedown of every show.

Peter has been riding since 1973 which probably dates him a bit; But he’s still going strong on Pharaoh who’s a handful and a hand-me-down from Kellie Larsen his wife. He’s depicted here on Thor at Donida. They later went to the championships at Emerald Downs, and did fine. On previous tries, Thor decided to leave the arena by jumping the dressage arena fence! Peter was introduced to horses by his sister as a teenager in Denmark and realizing that this was a great way to meet girls and he stuck with it. He has done stadium jumping and dressage for over 30 years, and can still sit almost straight in the saddle. His first own horse was Strego purchased from Britt Marie Ross shortly after he came to Seattle in 1993. Peter has since grown roots in Seattle with Kellie where he makes software at Microsoft. At home he and Kellie have a little stable with 10 stalls and some great borders. Peter has realized his life dream of a life with horses - what this really means is a lot of repairing fences, mucking out stalls and riding in the rain, but you asked for it!
In the past, Peter has been making the E.I. Directory and from professional experience with web pages, he’s now trying his hand at the E.I. web site.