Melissa Jones Sarle, Owner/Trainer
Technique
Skill
Integrity
Education
Patience
Confidence
Melissa has been a successful professional rider and trainer in the hunter/jumper world
since 1995. She is competitive from Pre-Green Hunters through Grand Prix Jumpers and everything in between.
She is a USEF licensed "r" judge in hunter, jumper, and equitation competition.
Melissa developed as a rider and trainer under the tutelage of several of the U.S.'s most influential horsemen, including
successful hunter trainer, Frank Perla,
and long-time horse show veteran and USET Chef D'equipe, Frank Chapot.
In addition to her primary focus in
the hunter and jumper arenas,
Melissa has competed successfully through Prix St. Georges
in dressage.
In 1999 she earned the prestigious
USDF Bronze Medal Award
for accomplishments in dressage competition through 3rd Level.
Melissa's training methods utilize
patience and persistence, great attention to detail and a keen knowledge of equestrian sport.
She places a great emphasis on equitation, not only as a means to produce "pretty" riders, but to create soft, supple, accurate, and effective riders as a result of correct body position and use of aids.
Melissa is available on a limited basis throughout the year for clinics and judging.
RECENT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
July 22nd, 2007- Winner, $40,000 Footings Unlimited
Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper III
(w/ River Edge Farm's, Lavaro)
July 15th, 2007- 10th, $40,000 Footings Unlimited
Grand Prix at HITS Culpeper II (Lavaro)
May 12, 2007- 2nd $25,000 Lexington Spring Encore
Grand Prix, Lexington, VA (Lavaro)
March 15th, 2007- 10th, $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix
at HITS Ocala (Lavaro)
February 15th, 2007- 11th $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix
at HITS Ocala (Lavaro)
Christy Burns, Manager/Assistant Trainer
Christy was raised in Washington, NC where her family still resides. She grew up riding and showing on the local hunter circuit around Washington. In 2003, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Farm Management and a B.S.
in Agribusiness from Bob Jones University (Greenville, SC).
Over the past several years, Christy has worked as a groom and rider for competitive show barns, such as Grazing Fields in Cape Cod, MA and Spring Hill Farm in NJ.
Christy also worked as my Assistant Trainer at Apex Equestrian Center in early 2006, where she proved herself to be a fantastic compliment to my training program!
Christy has extensive experience starting green horses and retraining problem horses. She also has a great senstitivity towards her students
and a kind way with horses.
