Meet Our Trainers…
JESSICA ALLEN – TALLY HAWK
Jumping & Dressage Trainer, Jessica Allen, grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her first teacher was her aunt, Gina Allan, a well-known Western Canadian jumping and dressage trainer. Starting out in riding school at age 9, Jessica slowly worked her way up the ranks through working student positions and catch riding. She had success on the “A” and “B” hunter/jumper circuits in British Columbia as a junior and young amateur, and was lucky enough to compete at classic venues like Thunderbird and Spruce Meadows.
In her early 20s, working for Desiree Johnson at a hunter/jumper sales barn in the heart of German horse country. From there Jessica moved to California and the prominent Northern Californian hunter/jumper training barn Horizons East Show Stables, where she worked as assistant trainer to Barbara EnDean, participated in training both horse and rider and was the barn’s show rider.
With multiple wins and championships in the hunter and jumper divisions throughout California and Oregon, Jessica has made many connections throughout the industry, most recently working for and receiving training from prominent West Coast hunter/jumper coach, young horse trainer, and breeding expert Sue Lightner. Jessica@tallyhawkstables.com
ELENA FLAHARTY
Elena Flaharty of Rise Above Equestrian is a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze medalist, a national title holder in both Three Day Eventing and Dressage, a successful competitor in Western Dressage, and is an HA graduate with the United States Pony Club. This gives Elena a well-rounded approach to teaching and training all types of horses and riders.
A firm believer in continuing education, Elena regularly rides with USEF Dressage Team Coach Christine Traurig, as well as Nick Wagman, Volker Brommann, Tina Steward, and Heidi Gaian. An avid competitor, Elena and her clients regularly compete in both local and regional shows on the West Coast.Elena‘s program at Rise Above Equestrian applies an individual holistic approach to the minds and bodies of equine athletes and their riders ensuring that clients and their horses are well coached and well cared for, at home or on the road.
Assistant Trainer Ari Kann-Ortua is very involved in RAE and brings Hunter/Jumper and Three Day Eventing experience with her to complement the dressage program at RAE. Ari is also available to support clients who compete in the jumping disciplines.
Elena’s goal with each horse and rider is to impart knowledge of excellent horsemanship and develop harmony through partnership with the horse. Riseaboveequestrian@yahoo.com
TRACEY HILL
Dressage trainer, Tracey Hill, has recently joined La Jolla! She is an accomplished Grand Prix rider who earned her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals on self-made horses.
A highlight in Tracey’s successes was being on the USEF Elite Rider List with her former GP mount Aldente. She has worked and ridden in the States and Germany with top trainers and judges to fine-tune her craft.
Tracey enjoys teaching and helping her students meet their goals. Some of her students have successfully competed at the North American Youth Championships, USEF Young Horse Finals, and USEF National Championships – Brentina Cup division. Tracey has also had the pleasure of working with two Para riders. Learning from and working with both young women was a very rewarding adventure!
Tracey’s program offers training for horse and rider, clinics and help with sales (both buying and selling). She also enjoys judging schooling shows as an “L” graduate with distinction. While she strives for high scores in the ring, she and her students also enjoy relaxing on the neighboring trails. T4curioso@gmail.com
LINDSEY HONEYMAN
Lindsey Honeyman’s training philosophies draw from Pony Club fundamentals, her Equine focused Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, and hands-on experience as a groom, ranch hand, catch rider, instructor, trainer’s assistant and Equinology certified Equine Bodyworker. She also traveled the western United States during her years as a professional Saddle Fitter, and has been fortunate enough to work for several esteemed Dressage, Eventing and Hunter-Jumper trainers throughout Northern California.
A highlight of Lindsey’s career was her time spent volunteering for CANTER California’s NorCal rescue, riding and re-retraining off the track Thoroughbreds. She is passionate about equine welfare issues, and currently owns and rides her own rescued mare, Fiona.
Lindsey believes that above all else, the health and happiness of our horses comes first, always. She strives to develop well-rounded horses that enjoy a sustainable workload, individualized care and carefully tailored management. While her discipline of choice is Dressage, she incorporates low-level jumping, lots of groundwork, and prioritizes regular trail riding. Her program welcomes riders of all skill levels, each of whom begin with developing strong basics, and build into learning all about horse care and management.
HoneybeeHorsemanship@gmail.com
STEVEN STRATTON
Steven Stratton has been riding since childhood and has had the advantage of an exceptional education in the theory and practice of classical horsemanship. The US Pony Club shaped his early years where he had the honor to work with many well-respected educators in the discipline of Three-Day Eventing. Among them was Jim Graham, who later went on to ride and medal in the Atlanta Olympic Games. Throughout his teen years Steven was a working student for Ms. Ann Ticehurst, BHSI and R level judge at the High Halden Dressage and Combine Training Center. There he also studied with Michael Handler of the Spanish Riding School. Steven continued on to compete at the National and International levels in Three-Day Eventing and Dressage.
As an instructor Steven provides riding lessons that emphasize safety and correctness, as well as effective communication with the horse. Steven’s lessons are geared toward the individual needs of each team, whether their goal is competition or trail riding. As a trainer Steven excels at helping hone each horse’s natural abilities. He works patiently to build solid foundations and his decades of experience on all types of horses, from green through highly trained competition horses, give him the wealth of knowledge needed to bring out the very best in you and your horse. Steven@Strattondressage.com
CHRYSTAK WIRCH
Chrystal Wirch’s passion for horses started before she could walk, frantically drawn to every horse she encountered in our rural town. In other words, she was born with an incredible gift for them. She began professionally training at age seven with Western riding lessons and trained in that discipline for seven years. At 13, she moved to English riding and took both English riding and Jumping lessons. She began training with Steven Stratton in 2009 and has become an accomplished rider and instructor who understands horses, their personalities, and is especially mindful of the rider’s needs and goals.
Today, Chrystal runs the Riding Academy business training horses and students of all levels and works with Steven and his program. In his absence, she takes over his more advanced clients. Chrystal is exceptionally proficient with children, college educated in Early Childhood. She also has extensive special needs experience. horsegirl24-7@comcast.net
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