Pat has loved horses as long as she can remember.As a little girl in a big and not very well-off family, she made lists of names for the horses that she dreamed of owning and consumed horse books. Later her parents helped with riding lessons whenever they could, and put up with Pat trespassing on a neighbor’s TB breeding facility where she would go to watch horses, and ultimately helped me keep my first pony, Blue Book, on our 5 acres.When Pat graduated from college and began working, she bought her first real horse, a hunter mare named Casual Reply (“Annie”).Then came law school, marriage to Nick,a move to Maryland, 2 children and a career.Horses slipped to the part of life labeled “someday”.But in 1999, after a bout with cancer and a 20 year hiatus, that “someday” became “now”.She now focuses her journey on the sport of dressage.She enjoys taking care of Dameron, in gallant retirement, and riding Taz, a 4th level horse.
Pat’s goals are to become the best rider that she can be, and focuses on achieving a really independent seat.Her dream is to be able to ride Taz at Third Level and earn her Third Level proficiency pin through the PVD schooling shows.“Maybe some day I could ride a freestyle or pas de deux with other members of the Celebration Farm team.I was introduced to Kerstin through my friend Jeannette Bair about a year ago and it was one of thenicest things Jeannette has ever done for me!Kerstin has done so much to help me improve my seat and leg position.She also helped me prepare for my first licensed show in 2009.”
Pat is an attorney by training and works a long week for a local defense contractor -finding it hard to fit everything in.But in riding, she has found peace, wholeness and a new focus.
In her “spare” time, Pat is a member of the board of directors of the PVDA, and the founder of the Ride for Life benefit for the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center.Looking to 2010, Pat will chair the sponsorship committee where she has found tremendous joy in giving back to the sport.
Meet Jeannette Bair Jeannette has been riding over 25 years and has the achievable dream of riding Grand Prix dressage.“ Somewhere in my gut, just always wanted to be around horses and ride them and so I started to learn as much as possible as an adult.”In addition to her riding and raising a family, Jeannette has managed a small Hanoverian breeding operation which allows her to breed the type of horses that she and her husband, Dick, love to ride. Around 3 years ago, Jeannette started riding with Kerstin.“Kerstin is an excellent instructor and devoted teacher.She works you diligently on rider position relative to affecting the horse’s movement and ability to grow.She has an “eye” for what is happening and the knowledge to define how to correct, improve and enhance horse and rider.She is a talented and accomplished rider herself and as such can support a rider/horse team.’Kerstin rides all of the horses in her program and this helps achieve specific goals relative to their progress -- pushing both horse and rider a little farther. Retired from her profession as a Corporate Executive, Jeannette found the horses to be an outlet for stress reduction and alternative accomplishment.She is hard driving and analytical and dressage suits her personality well.Today, she runs numerous clinics from her farm, Final Decision, including hosting, Bent Jensen Clinics every month. Look for Jeannette riding her mount, Woodstock, at the recognized PVDA and VADA NOVA shows at 4th level.
Meet Richard 'Dick' Bair
Dick got involved in riding because of Jeannette’s interest over 22 years ago. As an engineer, Dick has applied his technical knowledge to creating a fabulous facility and indoor where he can concentrate on his riding.
Now retired, Dick is focused on his partner, Willoughby a.k.a. Willie and has set his sites on training him with Kerstin’s help to perform the FEI movements. “Kerstin is clear, progressive and organized in her training regimen which has helped keep me and my horse stay focused on learning the fundamentals of dressage.”
Fundamentals are the key to accelerated achievement and perhaps to Dick's wonderful dry sense of humor as well.In his spare time you can see Dick riding down the road on his classic motorcycle – grinning ear-to-ear.His many talents include music and he enjoys singing the Rock ‘n Roll classics with his band.
Meet Shari Glickman
Shari has always had an interest in horses that went unfulfilled as a child.Her parents wisely suggested that she would appreciate riding more if she financed it, herself.‘They encouraged me to do well in my studies so I could get a good job that would support my future horse habit.’Today Shari manages an insurance plan for a large group of State employees.
In 1993, Shari started riding and realizing her dreams.She purchased her second farm in 2006 -- a 27-acre farm in Mount Airy (www.goodnessridge.com)where she rides and raises 1 or 2 quality Oldenburg foals a year.I do a lot of volunteer work for PVDA as well as the Oldenburg Horse Breeders Society.
In 2007, Shari was forced to take a hiatus from riding when she suffered a severe back injury, had surgery and then nderwent a second surgery after a car accident in 2008.But that didn’t stop her – she has been back in the saddle since January 2009. ‘As a newly classified Grade IV Para Equestrian rider, I have aspirations to represent the U.S. in international competition. I would also like to compete in open FEI classes.’
‘I’ve been riding with Kerstin for the past few months. I have a partially paralyzed left leg, so Kerstin has to be incredibly creative to develop exercises and images that will teach me to better ride from my seat and core aids.I have found Kerstin to be very patient and supportive and I have progressed immensely in the short time she has been teaching me.Not only is Kerstin an effective teacher at home, but she has coached me at two large licensed competitions where I rode the FEI Para Equestrian tests for the first time.I cannot say enough about how I appreciated her calm demeanor and systematic warm-up which greatly contributed to my success at these two shows. With Kerstin’s 'expert instruction, I know I will be successful in the dressage arena AND have lots of fun along the way!’
Meet Christine 'Chris' K
Chris has been riding for many years.She was born with a love of horses and the first time she was around them she knew her destiny. . .Chris has had a few horses over the years (and stranger than fiction -- all with the same birthday), and has recently acquired a young Hanoverian mare.
‘I have been riding with Kerstin for over 2 years. She helped me maintain a connection with horses though my concentration was on a long term serious family illness. When I was ready to think about becoming a horse owner again, we discussed my needs, limitations, and goals. I recently met my new girl, Willow, though Kerstin and settled on her as my dressage partner.’
Willow is young but has a wonderful work ethic and lots of potential.Chris plans to take her to Grand Prix movements with Kerstin’s help.
Chris supports her horse habit with a job as a management/program analyst. When she is not riding, Chris loves to sing.She finds that exercise and concentration for each hobby compliments the other.
