Brief Biographies of Some of the Outstanding Clinicians
Who Will Be Featured at the 2012 Equine Affaire
Mark Bolender
Mark Bolender’s name is quickly becoming synonymous with the new and exciting equine
discipline known as mountain trail, a competitive sport in which he earned national titles in 2008,
2009, and 2010 and which he has been championing for the past six years. Prior to his
involvement in mountain trail, Mr. Bolender developed a solid foundation of experience in
breeding Quarter Horses and training and showing horses in open, Quarter Horse, and reining
competitions. He is the author of Bolender’s Guide to Mastering Mountain Trail and the producer
of two DVD series on the sport titled “Mastering Extreme Trail Obstacles 1 & 2” and “Road to
Bridleless 1 & 2.” Mark Bolender designs and builds mountain trail courses throughout the
United States, Canada, and Europe, and is active in both judging mountain trail competitions
and certifying judges for the sport. He has also conducted clinics for the AQHA and judged Trail
Challenges for the association. He promotes his training philosophy called “Unique
Horsemanship” at Bolender Horse Park in Silver Creek, WA.
Craig Cameron
Craig Cameron first trains horse people, then trains horses. His engaging, motivational speaking
style focuses on the training principles of patience and understanding as does his four-video
collection and line of training products. A life-long rancher, working cowboy, and horse trainer,
Mr. Cameron has just about done it all from stocker operations to custom hay-baling to
capturing wild cattle for fellow ranchers. After years of bull riding on the professional rodeo
circuit and successfully operating his cattle business, Mr. Cameron decided it was horses and
horse training to which he really wanted to devote his time and talents. He wanted to give
something back to the horse, thus he honed his horsemanship skills and began conducting
clinics throughout North America and abroad. His work has earned him the prestigious
American Cowboy Culture Working Cowboy of the Year award. Currently Mr. Cameron can be
found hosting a horse training program as well as his Extreme Cowboy Races on RFD-TV and
at equine venues throughout the country and working on his Double Horn Ranches in Bluff
Dale, TX, and Lincoln, NM.
Connie Combs
Connie Combs of Comanche, OK, has spent a lifetime developing and riding barrel racing
horses to the highest levels in the sport. She is a Women’s Pro Rodeo Association Champion
who has competed at the National Finals Rodeo seven times—where she has earned three
Fastest Times and held the record for five years of not hitting a barrel. During her extensive
career, Ms. Combs has trained numerous NFR and AQHA World Show qualifiers including the
WPRA World Champion barrel racing stallion, Maudies Joak. For more than 30 years Connie
Combs has also shared her enthusiasm for and knowledge of barrel racing with aspiring barrel
horse riders through clinics throughout the country and articles in industry magazines including
Barrel Horse News, Horse & Rider, and Western Horseman. Through her videos titled “Problem
Horse / Problem People” and “Barrel Racing Basics” she advances her training philosophy of
utilizing barrel racing squares to achieve natural balance and horsemanship.
Scott DeHelian
Scott DeHelian is a lifelong horseman who has been a hunter jumper professional since the
early 1980s. During his competitive career he trained and showed some the country’s most
legendary hunters, competed successfully at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show and
Washington International Horse Show, and earned significant prize money and titles in major
Grand Prix jumping events in the Midwest. From 2000 to 2006 Mr. DeHelian was an adjunct
faculty member at the University of Findlay where he taught and helped coach teams that won
national titles. Today Scott DeHelian continues to ride, train, and teach through his business
based at Shadowlake Farm in Sunbury, OH. In addition to working with his own clients, he
teaches clinics at private stables and college campuses. Scott DeHelian holds large R judging
credentials for hunters, jumpers, and equitation and a special events judging card for Quarter
Horse hunters. He judges competitions for both the Interscholastic Equestrian Association and
the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.
Cathy Drumm
Cathy Drumm was raised and educated in England where she graduated from Reading
University. She received a classical equestrian background while working her way through the
British Pony Club ratings, hunting, eventing, and showing. She moved to the United States in
1979 where she resumed her equestrian career and began providing instruction at several local
farms. With more than 30 years of experience as a trainer and instructor, Ms. Drumm currently
runs her successful Golden Hill Farm in Lenox, MA, and has coached students to countless
wins on both the local and national show circuits. She manages a large and very successful
hunter/jumper program which offers lessons, college classes, and school vacation programs in
addition to maintaining a busy show schedule. Her students vary in age from 6 to 60 and
appreciate her stress-free approach to teaching. Ms. Drumm is a USHJA Certified Trainer, a
Massachusetts Licensed Instructor, and active member of the USEF.
Drew Emnett
Paint and Quarter Horses are the passion of Drew Emnett and his wife, Kate, who own and
operate Drew Emnett Pleasure Horses in Lucasville, OH. For the past three decades Mr.
Emnett has trained and shown horses from the state and local levels to the national level and
has been immersed in the industry serving on the Board of the Ohio Paint Horse Club, as an
Area Director of the National Snaffle Bit Association, and as a National Director of the American
Paint Horse Association. Drew Emnett believes it is important to treat each horse as an
individual and develop a training program that caters to the horse’s abilities and needs. His
accomplishments within the show arena include training and showing multiple horses that have
earned honors as AQHA Year End All Around Champions, APHA Honor Roll Champions, World
and Reserve World Champions, and World Top Tens. Mr. Emnett also serves as a judge at
AQHA, NSBA, APtA, and IBHA events.
Duane Esser
Duane Esser of Esser Valley Arabians in Cleves, OH, began his impressive career in the
Arabian horse industry winning the 1978 Arabian Horse Association Region 14 Open English
Pleasure Championship on a horse he trained. During his extensive amateur and professional
careers, Mr. Esser has earned multiple regional and national championship titles in Open and
Amateur classes in halter, English, hunter, western, and driving while handling and riding
Arabians, Half Arabians, and National Show Horses. Mr. Esser has a knack for creating great
horse and rider partnerships, training outstanding show horses, and coaching amateur riders to
wins in all disciplines and at all levels of Arabian horse competition. He is a regional and
national level Arabian horse judge with experience adjudicating not only in the United States,
but also in South Africa and Canada. Duane Esser serves on the Board of Directors of the
National Show Horse Association and the Show Horse Alliance. He and his wife also breed and
show Dutch harness horses.
Jonathan Field
Jonathan Field is equally at home riding jumpers over fences and pushing cows at home on his
ranch in British Columbia. Though his initial equestrian pursuits were within the English realm,
he transitioned years ago to become a working cowboy. Following an industrial accident at the
age of only 19, horses played a crucial role in Mr. Field’s recovery—both physically and
mentally. This tragedy cemented his dedication to horses and his desire to “give back to the
world of horses” by building his career around them and sharing what he has learned from
them. Over the years, Jonathan Field has worked with mentors ranging from George Morris and
Craig Johnson to Pat Parelli and Ray Hunt. He now travels throughout North America working
with students of all riding levels. He is a gifted teacher who uses humor and kindness to help
people elevate their horsemanship and take their horses to higher levels of accomplishment.
Jonathan Field operates two horsemanship teaching centers just north of Vancouver, British
Columbia, and has documented his horsemanship teachings in a series of DVDs.
Todd Flettrich
Todd Flettrich is a veteran competitor and trainer at the FEI levels of dressage. He began riding
at the age of 12 and trained with such well-known horsemen as Steffen Peters, Jessica
Ransenhousen, Kathy Connelly, Christine Traurig and Hubertus Schmidt. He was a four-time
participant in the North American Young Riders Championships (NAYRC), winning the
Individual Gold Medal and helping Region 1 to secure a Team Silver Medal at the 1991
competition. Mr. Flettrich served as Region 1 Coach and Chef d’Equipe at the NAYRC from
1988 through 1994. He has earned his United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Silver and
Gold Medals and is also a graduate of the USDF ‘L’ (Learner) Judge Program. During his career
Mr. Flettrich has been featured in many publications including a cover appearance on the
legendary Dressage & CT magazine. He has also coached various professional riders including
Silke Rembacz and Lauren Sammis.
Terry Ciotti Gallo
Terry Ciotti Gallo’s broad and colorful history in sports, dance, and music stretches over 30
years. She started as a theatrical choreographer where her works were seen on stage, film, and
in video; but, with a background as a competitive gymnast, she also acted as a dance instructor,
choreographer, coach, and judge for international caliber gymnastics. Ms. Ciotti Gallo coupled
the sports world with her dance and music knowledge to help a variety of athletes with the total
development of their freestyle performances. This led to the establishment of her company
Klassic Kur in 1989. Ms. Ciotti Gallo has had the privilege of seeing her dressage freestyles
performed at the Olympics, World Equestrian, and Pan American Games by such notable riders
as Guenter Seidel, Steffen Peters, Debbie McDonald, and George Williams. Her designs have
earned two World Cup titles. Ms. Ciotti Gallo has served on the USDF Freestyle Committee for
15 years—six of them as its chair—and is currently its liaison to the USDF Judges Committee.
Sinead Halpin
During her equestrian career, Sinead Halpin has been involved in virtually all English disciplines
from fox hunting and hunters to polo and race horses, but she is best known for her
accomplishments at the top levels of eventing. Ms. Halpin competed at her first international
competition at the age of 16 and achieved her first international win at Bromont International
CCI* at 18. Sinead Halpin’s impressive riding skills and competitive career evolved under the
tutelage of several eventing legends including Stuart Black, Karen and David O’Connor, and
Mark Phillips. In 2010 Ms. Sinead and her current competitive mount, Manoir De Carneville,
were named to the Nations Cup Team that earned the silver medal at Boekelo CCI***. Last
April Sinead Halpin and Manoir placed third and were the top-finishing American pair at the
Rolex Kentucky CCI**** Championships. Ms. Halpin and Manoir traveled to England last fall
where they earned a Top 20 placing at Burghley CCI****—the largest four star eventing
competition in the world. Sinead and Manoir de Carneville are currently on the USET’s High
Performance A list and are looking ahead to participation in the 2012 Olympics. Ms. Halpin
operates Sinead Halpin Equestrian, a full scale high-performance training facility based in
Pittstown, NJ.
Brenda Imus
Brenda Imus is an author, inventor, clinician, horse trainer and breeder, and one of the most
widely-recognized authorities on the naturally gaited horse. From her home in Kennedy, NY,
she travels throughout North America conducting clinics at horse expos and private venues
offering the riders of gaited horses humane and effective tools and techniques for developing
their horses’ innate gaits. Brenda Imus is the author of several books on horsemanship and
gaited horses including From the Ground Up: Horsemanship for the Adult Rider; Heavenly
Gaits: The Compete Guide to Gaited Riding Horses; and Gaits of Gold: Selecting, Fitting, and
Training the Naturally Gaited Horse. Ms. Imus has also produced several DVDs on the subject
of gaited horse training, and her articles and columns on the topic regularly appear in
magazines such as Trailer Blazer, Equus, Horse & Rider, Western Horseman, and many others.
Ms. Imus is the creator of her signature Imus 4-Beat saddle and a unique line of tack that helps
riders of gaited horses communicate with their horses and achieve smooth gaits.
Dan James
Dan James is yet another outstanding horseman to have emerged from the horse trainer
breeding grounds of Australia. He was raised on a cattle ranch near Queensland where he
developed a passion for horses at a very early age and was breaking and training horses by the
time he was a teenager. Through Longreach Pastoral College Dan James traveled to Japan and
then the United States to gain knowledge and experience training horses. He worked in Texas
under the tutelage of renowned cutting horse trainer, Punk Carter, before returning to Australia
and taking a position managing up to 200 horses on a vast cattle operation in WA-Liveringa
Station. Mr. James’ aptitude for trick riding and entertaining first emerged at this ranch where he
periodically performed for guests In 2008 Dan James left the outback to find his audience—and
began training and performing at El Caballo Spanish Horse Centre. It was there that he met Dan
Steers with whom he developed and promoted “Double Dan Horsemanship.” Later the same
year Mr. James demonstrated his finesse as a horse trainer by winning the “Way of the Horse”
at Equitana Asia Pacific. His skills as a performer were further brought to light in the United
States when he and Dan Steers participated in the World Equestrian Games in 2010. Mr.
James’ philosophy is to push the limits of horsemanship and entertainment while providing
knowledge and understanding of our equine “mates.”
Larry Kuyper
Larry Kuyper has embraced the sports of team penning and ranch sorting in every way
possible—as a competitor, as a judge, and as an advocate and United States Team Penning
Association officer working on both the domestic and international fronts to promote the
disciplines he loves. A lifelong horseman and competitor, Mr. Kuyper has competed in
disciplines including speed events, reining, and working cow horse in addition to team penning
and sorting. During his lengthy competitive career he has earned numerous titles in AQHA and
USTPA competitions including a reserve champion title in reining at the All American Quarter
Horse Congress, a champion title in team penning at the Congress, and several AQHA yearend championships and Top 10 awards in working cow horse and team penning. His horses
have been high money winners for the USTPA and have represented region 8 of the
Association at the National Finals every year since 1993. Larry Kuyper is a certified judge for
both team penning and ranch sorting who shares his experience and knowledge through clinics
both at home and abroad and articles in the USTPA magazine, Flags Up. In 2011 he also
served as the Chairman of the USTPA National Finals.
Peter Leone
Peter Leone began riding at the age of five and went on to train with such prominent horsemen
as Bertalan de Nemethy, Frank Chapot, George Morris, and Michael Matz. As a junior rider, Mr.
Leone received the Best Child Rider award at many prestigious horse shows. He has been
competing successfully on the professional Grand Prix circuit for almost two decades and, with
his two brothers, was part of Team Leone. At age 20, Mr. Leone won the International Jumping
Derby in Newport, RI—then regarded as the most challenging show-jumping event in the nation.
As a member of the United States Equestrian Team, Mr. Leone helped the United States finish
fourth in the 1982 World Championships and, aboard Crown Royal Legato, was part of the
silver-medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games. Peter Leone also competed in the 1988
Seoul Olympics, is a six-time World Cup Final qualifier, and has many other prominent
international wins to his credit. He and his wife own and operate the stunning Lionshare Farm in
Greenwich, CT.
Andy Marcoux
Andy Marcoux has been training and driving carriage horses of all breeds and descriptions as a
professional for more than 15 years. He received a degree in equine industries from The
Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts in 1993. Since that time he
has held several positions as coachman and trainer at facilities throughout the United States. In
1997 Mr. Marcoux returned to Massachusetts and created Coachman’s Delight, Inc., a company
dedicated to training and providing field-tested equipment for the sport of carriage driving. Andy
Marcoux is a recognized judge of combined driving for The American Driving Society as well as
an evaluator for The Carriage Association of America’s Carriage Driver Proficiency Program. He
holds the highest level of certification through The British Driving Society and is the author of
articles on carriage driving for The Carriage Driving Digest. His competitive experience includes
combined driving with singles and pairs through advanced level and pleasure driving
competition with singles, pairs, tandems, and four-in-hands.
Guy McLean
Guy McLean is an Australian-born horse trainer and teacher who has become widelyrecognized both for his extraordinary horsemanship and his entertaining performances. Mr.
McLean is an accomplished, self-taught, thinking horseman. Through a complete love of horses
and a burning desire to “find better ways” of building relationships with horses, Mr. McLean
developed his own training methods which “ask” the horse to do the job as a partner. He is a
champion colt starter, two-time Australian Bush Poetry Champion, and was recognized as the
“Ambassador of the Outback” in 2002 and 2006. Mr. McLean grew up on the Susan River with
his family running the Susan River Homestead Adventure resort and has performed and taught
horsemanship throughout Australia for the past 10 years. More recently Mr. McLean has
produced a DVD series and begun traveling throughout the United States to introduce his
training philosophy and techniques.
Hollie McNeil
For the past 15 years Hollie McNeil has owned and operated Riding Right Farm in South
Cambridge, NY, where she teaches lessons to English discipline riders of all levels. Her focus is
on innovative riding education through which she combines classical riding with modern
biomechanics and presents the information through teaching, demonstrations, writing, and highquality video. Ms. McNeil has competed through FEI level and holds a German trainer's license,
German riding performance medals, and is a certified Balimo instructor. She is also the author
of 40 Fundamentals of English Riding and the creator of the Riding Right catalog. Ms. McNeil
writes a popular blog on equestrian topics called “Life on the Farm” for WRGB-TV in the
Albany/Schenectady/Troy area and is a member of the United States Equestrian Federation,
United States Dressage Federation, and the Eastern New York Dressage and Combined
Training Association.
Jennifer Moshier
Jennifer Moshier is a professional horsewoman with more than 30 years of experience as a
competitor, trainer, clinician, and judge. During her career she has trained and shown a great
variety of breeds from Arabians, Morgans, Saddlebreds, and Tennessee Walking Horses to
Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, and hunters. She holds judge’s cards with seven different
organizations, is an approved 4H judge in eight states, and has judged more than 450 shows
ranging from 4H and schooling hunter events to world level breed shows. Jennifer Moshier
holds a degree in equine husbandry and management from the State University of New York at
Morrisville. As a youth she participated for many years in 4H, and, as an adult, she has been an
active supporter of this worthwhile youth organization at both the local and state levels. She
serves on the Ohio State 4H Judges Committee and aides in the development of clinics to
educate youth as well as the state’s 4H judges. Between judging commitments, Jennifer
Moshier coaches a select group of clients at her farm in Ostrander, OH, and at her winter base
in Smrnya Beach, FL.
Linda Parelli
Linda Parelli is widely-recognized as the wife of Pat Parelli and the co-creator of the Parelli
Natural Horsemanship movement based in Pagosa Springs, CO. Ms. Parelli is a lifelong
equestrienne who competed in dressage before being introduced to Parelli Natural
Horsemanship in 1989. She became a Certified Instructor of the program in 1991 and has since
turned her attention full-time to the development and promotion of Parelli Natural Horsemanship
as an internationally-recognized brand. Together, Linda and Pat Parelli promote a horse training
philosophy that is based on respect for and a love of horses and utilizes methods that enable
horse owners of any level to have fun with their horses and achieve results naturally. Over the
years the Parellis have produced and marketed a plethora of training equipment and
educational products including numerous DVDs and publications. They have also contributed
articles to several industry publications and been co-hosts of a television program titled “Parelli”
or “The Horsemans’ Apprentice” broadcast on RFD-TV.
Aaron Ralston
While growing up on his family’s ranch in western Colorado, Aaron Ralston learned at an early
age what it takes to be a good cowhand. As a young horseman he rodeoed throughout
Colorado and neighboring states and then began applying his skills to other western disciplines.
Today Mr. Ralston is an accomplished international reining and reined-cowhorse competitor.
His competitive achievements during the past few years include numerous first and second
placings in regional and world reining and reined cowhorse derbies and futuries, first places in
freestyle reining at the Denver Stock Show, and a senior reining reserve championship at the
AQHA World Show. Aaron Ralston was a member of the team of United States reiners who
brought home a gold medal from the 2006 World Equestrian Games in Aachen, Germany—an
event where he also earned a silver medal in the individual reining finals. Mr. Ralston is an
enthusiastic horseman and talented communicator who balances his time between competition
and teaching clinics and performing at equine events nationwide. He is a partner in Cow Horse
Productions, whose RFD-TV series, “The Ride with Aaron Ralston,” showcases the life of the
modern working ranch cowboy.
Mark Rashid
Mark Rashid is an internationally-acclaimed horse trainer known for his ability to understand the
horse’s point of view and solve difficult problems with communication rather than force. He
began working with horses at the age of 10 and, for many years, worked on ranches gathering
herds, managing stock, and training horses. A number of years ago he turned to the martial art
of aikido for insights that might apply to horsemanship. He earned a black belt in Yoshinkan
aikido and now trains and teaches the discipline at a dojo near his home in Estes Park, CO.
Mark Rashid also uses its principles daily in training horses and in his clinics, teaching students
to stay centered and to look for quiet, but effective ways to blend with the horse’s energy and
help the animal understand what is being asked of it. Mr. Rashid has been a guest on NPR’s
“The Horse Show” and was featured in the PBS “Nature” series. He is the author of seven
books on horses, horsemanship, and life lessons learned from horses; he also enjoys singing,
playing guitar, and recording music with his band, The Elktones.
Mary Rivers
Mary Rivers is widely recognized both for her talent as a performer and for her dedication to
riding aside. In addition to being a certified instructor for the American Sidesaddle Association,
she has received three Instructor of the Year awards from the World Side Saddle Federation
and was inducted into the International Side Saddle Organization Hall of Fame in 2002. With a
background in dressage, Mary Rivers has accumulated more than 30 years of training and
entertainment experience working with more than 20 breeds of horses in equine performance
disciplines including roman riding, trick riding, liberty horses, tandem ride/drive, and dancing and
trick horses. During her career she has trained and performed with The World Famous Royal
Lipizzaner Stallion Show, Gene Holter's Movieland Animals, the Shrine Circus, the Texas White
Horse Troupe, the Golden Horse Troupe, and the Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association.
Mary Rivers trains horses and choreographs acts for professional equine entertainers and
private horse owners, and also designs and produces beautiful specialty act costumes and
horse apparel. She is currently the Director of Acts at Wild West Entertainment in Ocala, FL.
Stacy Westfall
Great insight and an effective teaching style have made Stacy Westfall one of the most popular
and sought-after clinicians in the horse industry. Ms. Westfall developed her natural
horsemanship techniques through years of training horses for reining competition. During her
career, she rode with numerous influential trainers and reining competitors including Dan Huss,
Clark Bradley, Rusty Dare, and Mike Flarida. Stacy Westfall is an AQHA and NRHA Freestyle
Reining Champion who impressed the horse world twice by winning while riding both bridleless
and bareback. Her famous 2006 Freestyle Championship ride, seen by millions on the Internet,
led to an appearance on the Ellen Degeneres show in 2008. In addition to her accomplishments
within the reining arena, Stacy Westfall is the first woman to take part in (and win) the Road to
the Horse competition. With her husband, Jesse, she presents clinics at venues throughout the
nation to inspire and teach people how to build better relationships with their horses.
Jeff Wilson
Jeff Wilson is a dedicated spokesperson for western dressage, a new equestrian discipline with
origins on the West Coast. Mr. Wilson has been starting and training horses under saddle and
working with problems horses of a variety of breeds on a professional basis for more than 30
years. He recently became enthused with the emerging sport of western dressage because he
believes that it represents “the next level of horsemanship” that all riders should understand in
order to build better partnerships with their horses. At his western dressage clinics, Jeff Wilson
teaches classic dressage concepts and movements in a fun and easy-to-understand manner.
He is also writing a manual on western dressage to complement what he teaches in his clinics.
For the past 26 years Jeff Wilson has bred and trained Black Willow Morgans in Delhi, NY. He is
the creator of the Black Willow Western Dressage Drill Team, America’s first drill team focused
on western dressage. At the 2010 World Equestrian Games he demonstrated the virtues of
western dressage with one of his Morgan stallions.
Cathy Zahm
Cathy Zahm grew up on a dairy farm where she was exposed not only to cows, but also to
opportunities to ride horses. Her interest in horses and different horse breeds evolved over the
course of more than 20 years of participation in horse shows and 4-H activities. Though she has
shown Quarter Horses and Paints and competed in dressage, eventing, and halter, her career
as a professional trainer has focused on the largest of our equine companions: draft horses. Ms.
Zahm’s success in starting and training draft horses to drive naturally led her to begin teaching
her techniques to others. She has produced several videos that have been featured on RFD-TV.
The proof of Ms. Zahm’s success and reputation within the draft horse community can be heard
when the auctioneers at draft horse sales brag about a horse’s training by advertising it as,
“broke by Cathy Zahm.” Ms. Zahm’s draft horse training operation is based at Z Hidden Valley
farm in Huntington, IN.
Sylvia Zerbini
Widely recognized for her extraordinary liberty performances in the equestrian show Cavalia,
Sylvia Zerbini transforms liberty work into the ultimate equestrian performing art. She is a ninthgeneration circus performer who has mesmerized audiences since making her stage debut at
the age of five. Using body language, verbal cues and precise timing to communicate with her
horses, Ms. Zerbini’s spellbinding Grande Liberté performance has earned accolades from
widespread media ranging from the Los Angeles Times to CNN to Arabian Horse World
magazine and countless other equine publications. Throughout her career Ms. Zerbini has been
honored with numerous awards including the prestigious Cup of Monaco, presented to her by
Monaco’s Prince Rainier. To date, she has performed for nearly 10 million people, drawing rave
reviews worldwide for her captivating style of horsemanship. Ms. Zerbini is currently developing
educational seminars and clinics to share her vast knowledge of liberty horse training.