Regina Cristo ~ President

Mary Ellen Russell ~ Vice President

Discipline: Dressage

What interested you about ENYDCTA:  I became interested in ENYDCTA when I moved up to this area and wanted to get involved in the dressage community.  I had been very involved in VA and was interested in continuing to help the local dressage association in whatever way I could participate.  I never thought of serving on a board, but Regina convinced me that my business skills would come in handy and that I really did have the time to participate!  She was right.

What made you decide to serve on the Board:  Serving on the Board is a nice way to give something back to the horse community and help build a stronger foundation of assistance for us all. 

A little about my horse-craziness:  I had always loved horses and had an interest in learning how to ride, but my work schedule never seemed to cooperate with my desire to learn a riding discipline.  My husband, Dave, bought me three dressage lessons (dressage was quite by accident, as he just went to a really nice barn in NJ that taught dressage) for Christmas.  We soon relocated to VA when I accepted a new position based in Norfolk, VA.  That’s where I met my mentor and dear friend, Kathy Rowse, who taught me how to ride.  Kathy is an accomplished Grand Prix rider/trainer as well as an “S” Judge, and she does four clinics a year at Three Lessons Farm.  Kathy helped me find my first dressage horse, Mandamus (Manny), a Grand Prix Schoolmaster who had the patience and fortitude to let me learn this humbling discipline.  He has forgotten more than I am yet to know, but he gave me the foundation to ride for the past four years and continue my education with Melissa Suits and my mare, Rowena.  Manny is officially retired now, but he did a great job in showing me the ropes and keeping me in line!  In just four short years, Dave and I moved to Broadalbin, NY, started a training/boarding facility for dressage, and are thrilled that we were able to meet his need to own and operate a “gentleman’s farm” (more than he expected, I’m sure) and I get to continue my riding/learning and have only to walk down the driveway to ride my horse/s (a dream come true).  Most of all, we’ve met so many great people along the way who have become our new “family” here in New York.  We are truly blessed. 

Stacey Thomas ~ Treasurer

What interested you about ENYDCTA:  Started as a volunteer for old chatham horse trials as a fence judge 

What made you decide to serve on the Board:  SSSSSSSSSIInterested in bookkeeping and want to be more involved with the horse club interested in bookkeeping and want to be more involved with the horse club  

Krystal Wilt ~ Recording Secretary

Discipline: Dressage

What interested you about ENYDCTA: I love ENYDCTA as a way to stay involved with the horse happenings in our area and connect with other people who have similar interests.

What made you decide to serve on the Board: I decided to serve on the ENYDCTA Board as a way to give back to such a great club.  I'm really passionate about helping the dressage and eventing community grow in our area and I look forward to working with the rest of the Board to organize great events for all of us to enjoy.  I have enjoyed participating in ENYDCTA events since I was a teenager and I think it's time to give back to the club that has provided me with so many great learning opportunities!

A little about my horse-craziness:            I have been obsessed with horses since I was a toddler and began taking hunt seat lessons when I was six years old.  I started eventing when I was twelve and then became addicted to dressage in college when I was a working student for a few incredible dressage trainers.  I love bringing along young horses and currently have a 13 year old Trakehner gelding, a 5 year old Trak/Hann gelding, and an adorable pony mare who keeps them company.  Dressage is my true love, but I also enjoy jumping and hacking to keep my horses fresh and happy in their work.  I love spending time in my barn and am spoiled to have my horses in my backyard.  I'm very grateful to ENDYCTA for allowing me to network with other riders, since I miss out on a lot of the "social" aspect of riding by having my horses at home. 

Susan Moses ~ Corresponding Secretary

Discipline: Eventing & Dressage

What interested you about ENYDCTA/What made you decide to serve on the Board: I joined ENYCDTA as a new rider and horse owner five years ago. It became apparent soon thereafter that the association was dedicated to serving its members in a wide variety of ways and that its success was dependent on volunteer members. I made a promise to myself at that time that when I had gained sufficient knowledge and experience I would run for the Board to try to make a larger contribution to ENYDCTA and its membership.

A little about my horse-craziness:  As a kid I was in love with horses and dogs and as a senior citizen I am still in love with horses and dogs. I went on trail rides as a child at the local riding stable, but never had formal instruction. In my twenties I rode briefly for a couple of years, took lessons each week, and pretty much didn't make any progress.....the horse was a spooky Arab, the instructor was "over the hill" and the venue was Utica, NY with no indoor ring (no - I didn't ride much in the winter months). I put riding aside for a professional life of skiing and competing in water skiing and squash at the national level. But..the horse bug never left my blood and after I retired, I started riding again at age 60. I was a beginner with a passion to learn all I could and hopefully compete. I bought a horse in Florida that first year (nobody told me that was a crazy idea). Monty, my Trakehner, and I did just dressage for five years. Then last year I discovered eventing. I had to sell Monty to acquire an event horse, which it took almost 9 months to find. I bought a lovely 15.1h TB gelding in Ocala in January and he and I met in Aiken on February 1st. The next adventure has begun. Whether we win blue ribbons is not so important as enjoying this next journey to its utmost. I intend to do that for as long as I am able. 

Erin L. Keehan ~ Piaffe Flyer Editor

Discipline: Dressage

What interested you about ENYDCTA:  Once I fell in love with dressage, I had to be involved in anything to do with the sport.  Thanks to former president Chris Veitch, I became actively involved with ENYDCTA first at the Cobleskill Horse Trials and then as a Member-at-Large on the board.  My junior year of college I started working at DaCory and became heavily involved with Dressage at Saratoga.  I just loved the elegance of the two sports and wanted to be more actively involved.  It's been a great ride ever since.

What made you decide to serve on the Board:  My passion for dressage, my compulsion to give back and contribute whole-heartedly to the things I care about.

A little about my horse-craziness:  All I can say is I was born this way and my family will totally back up this statement.  My father sweards my first word was Horsey.  I always knew horses would play a part in my life.   My aunt had a horse when I was child and we rode her western style.  It wasn't until I went to work at DaCory Farm right before my Junior year of my undergrad years that I was introduced to dressage and totally fell in love with the sport.  Chris Veitch introduced me to eventing when she asked me fence judge.  To date, the eventing bug has not taken ahold of me...I like to say that I'm too much of a clutz to even attempt jumping.  I just admire it from afar. My goals going forward are to begin competing, working my way to being able to go for an "L" judging liscence.  To keep my horse-craze in check, you'll find me at a lot of events throughout New England...strangely all but one of them eventing...

Barbara Murray ~ Member-at-Large

Discipline: Dressage

What interested you about ENYDCTA:  I was introduced to dressage by a friend/trainer and began tagging along to shows and clinics.  I found ENDYCTA’s presence and involvement in area events to be very positive and welcoming.  It seemed that at any level of competition, members and participants were having a great deal of fun while gaining experience along the way.

What made you decide to serve on the Board: I wanted to become involved in the local world of dressage and to help out and provide support to what goes on behind the scenes of ENYDCTA.  Both the level and quality of the members and programs are inspiring, and to be part of an organization that offers such a variety and wealth of knowledge and events is a privilege.

A little about my horse-craziness:  My mother used to say that my first word was ‘horse’ and that I never wanted Barbie dolls, but rather Breyer horses.  I started riding relatives’ farm horses bareback, through the hay fields, when I was about 8 years old, which began my incessant begging for a horse of my own.  At the age of 12 I got my first horse “Playboy”, a little pinto/QH (that I rode hunt seat and western as well) that took me through 4-H and pony club.  Several years went by during which I was only able to ride sporadically and for a short time owned a sweet Morgan that I rode hunt seat (and trail riding) while occasionally riding as a guest with local hunt clubs.  Eventually marriage (and two sons later) put my riding days on hold for nearly 15 years until about 4 years ago, when I decided it was time to get ‘back in the saddle’!  Believing that my hunting/jumping days had long passed, I looked to lease something that could challenge me back into riding (safely), and I ended up leasing a big WarmbloodX mare that had just begun training in dressage.  I found that I had ‘met my match’ and it was love at first site/first ride in a dressage saddle on Maggie, who has since become mine.  We now dabble in dressage and very much enjoy participating in local clinics and schooling shows and look forward to being members of ENYDCTA.

Melissa Suits ~ Member-at-Large

Discipline: Dressage

What interested you about ENYDCTA:  I became interested in ENYDCTA in 1999 because I felt like it was a good way to meet the local equestrian community. 

What made you decide to serve on the Board:  Severing on the board has allowed me to give back to the association. I also enjoy volunteering for something that is near and dear to my heart.  

A little about my horse-craziness:  I started riding at the age of seven and have pretty much know since I was ten that I wanted to be an instructor and a trainer. I grew up in Pony Club, participating in many different disciplines. I caught the eventing bug in my mid teens and evented thru college. I started to realize my passion for dressage in 1993 and started my journey. I am originally from NH and moved to NY in 1995. I had done some teaching before moving to NY, but started my business since I have moved here. I have been riding teaching and training ever since. I am working toward my "L" for judging, and am looking forward to furthering my career as a judge. I currently work at Three Lessons Farm and Honor Way Farm, as well as doing some free lance teaching. I have a B.S. in Equine Science and use my education daily. Riding and training are my passion and I could not dream of doing anything else.