Kit Sydnor
From her own riding, Kit (Katharine Baker) Sydnor has years of experience foxhunting, training, competing, and judging in hunters, jumpers, eventing, and dressage. She trained for several years with Col. Bengt Ljunquist, — USET Dressage coach.
In 2011 she was recognized with the Jane Marshall Dillon Award from the USHJA (United States Hunter/Jumper Association) for excellence in riding instruction (see article), and also received a 2010 award from the ANRC (Affiliated National Riding Committee) for the same (see article). She holds the highest Rider Rating from the ANRC and was a longtime judge and board member, as well as being a founding member of the Southwest Virginia Hunter/Jumper Association.
She has trained horses and coached riders to wins at local and national level competitions, but values helping her students find the quiet, magical moments of synchronicity at home just as much, maybe more. She has a lifetime of searching to improve communication and understanding between horses and people.
Jennifer Fessler
Jennifer Sydnor Fessler is a USHJA Certified Trainer, holds an ANRC Rider Rating of Level 4, and has shown and coached successfully in — USEF competitions in equitation, hunters, and jumpers. She draws from many experiences riding in lessons and clinics with noteworthy hunter/jumper professionals such as Paul Cronin, James A. Cantwell, Danny Robertshaw, Anne Kursinski, Joe Fargis, and Paul Mathews, as well as having exposure to natural horsemanship philosophies through apprenticeship with Dave Seay.
Jenn has experience starting green horses, re-schooling off the track Thoroughbreds, reclaiming troubled horses, and introducing jumping to horses from other disciplines. She has served as a board member for SWVHJA for several terms and holds current memberships for — USEF/USHJA, VHSA, and SWVHJA. Jenn had early background with Pony Club and rode successfully in IHSA competitions for Mary Washington College where she earned her BA as an English major.
She worked as advertising copy editor and horse show manager’s assistant before turning her attentions to the horse world professionally in 1999. She and her husband Adam are busy parents to a young daughter and enjoy hiking, kayaking and camping when they can.
