OUR STAFF
NIKKI
Nikki is our Director of Instruction and a co-owner of HorseSense Riding Academy -- a patient, enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructor for riders of all ages and abilities. She is experienced in mounted games, dressage, show jumping, cross country, foxhunting and trail riding, including four USPC National Championships competitions. Nikki has a national-level "H" Pony Club instructor and stable management rating. She also teaches unmounted horse care classes, and manages the barn for Fowler Farm. References from many satisfied students upon request!
DANA
Dana is co-owner of HorseSense -- which means she does everything from mucking stalls to doctoring horses to balancing the books. She served many years as a USPC District Commissioner, and continues to teach unmounted horse management lessons to children and adults, along with the occasional beginner riding lesson. In a former life, Dana designed corporate training programs .... she infinitely prefers teaching people about horses!
OZZIE
AND COLBY
The newest additions to our barn family arrived when they were just 5 weeks old -- but they immediately took over the management of the feed room. Ozzie (named for fellow screamer Ozzie Ozborne) and Colby (rescued from the Gilmer County Animal Shelter) have been very popular with our students and campers. They're learning about horse management, and we hope that eventually they will share Barn Manager duties with NIkki.
For those of you who've asked about our former barn kitties (listed below): Fiona and Chamomile have been promoted to house cats, and are enjoying a life that consists mainly of eating, sleeping and shedding on the furniture.
FIONA
Fiona is our Assistant Stable Manager and Groundskeeper. Fiona (and Gemini) came to us through the good work of the Pickens Animal Rescue. Her duties include integrated pest management, landscaping, arena maintenance and instructional quality control. She is a tireless worker who takes pride in overseeing the day-to-day operation of the riding school.
CHAMOMILE
Chamomile arrived at our gate as a very young kitten -- and immediately assumed the role of Overall Director of Everything (a/k/a Empress of the Universe). In addition to supervising the human, feline and equine staffs, Cammy enjoys patrolling for pests (unfortunately, butterflies seem to be the only thing she can catch), testing all of the stable equipment (especially longe whips, hay strings and horse tails), and monitoring the parking lot from the barn roof (watch out below!) She is always incredibly dirty.
GEMINI
We miss you, Gem.
EVAN
Evan won't let us post a photo of him here, but we couldn't run this place without him. He does all of the heavy lifting and grunt work, and helps us in a thousand little ways.