Gillian Margaret (Bower) Vallis - Owner, Manager and Market Research Analyst

From a very early age Gillian was passionate about horses and represented her local Pony Club in dressage, eventing and show jumping. This love of horses has evolved into a journey which includes all aspects of horse management, body work, ground work, non-resistant horsemanship and of course the end goal "riding".  With our elite clinicians and programs at Pine Knoll Farm, and the Four Harmony Foundation, there is a beautiful venue to continue this journey and she asks others to join her on this quest for knowledge. 

Full Bio >>

Gil Merrick - Resident Trainer

Gil Merrick has spent his life between two passions—horse sport and business management—combining them to create a truly unique résumé and professional career.

His childhood love of horses led him to a lifelong study of the art of dressage. While he enjoyed study in other disciplines (hunters, jumpers, eventing, Western pleasure, and vaulting), it was dressage and classical equitation that called loudest to him.

Full Bio >>

Tom Poulin - Clinician

Tom Poulin has been an influential member of the American dressage community longer than many riders today have been alive.  In his lengthy career, he has been recognized as a top rider, trainer, USEF “S” judge, instructor, and clinician, and is one of the driving forces behind the development of dressage as a sport in the United States.  As his clients and students can affirm, when seeking a professional that can realize the potential of both horse and rider, there is no substitute for experience.

Full Bio >>

Bruce Anderson - Round Pen Clinician

Our round pen clinician Bruce Anderson could be called a "Horse Whisperer", but he prefers "Horse Gentler".

His philosophy of working with horses and people in the round pen has evolved by using tools he has acquired from other clinicians and personal experience.

Full Bio >>

Judith Shoemaker - DVM

Judith M. Shoemaker, DVM is an internationally known practitioner and educator in complementary veterinary medicine and therapy. Dr. Shoemaker is a 1980 graduate of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. She is licensed to practice in most of the states on the east coast and in Colorado, Kentucky, and Alabama.

Dr. Shoemaker's equine and companion animal veterinary practice focuses on complementary medicine and holistic therapy - integrating chiropractic, acupuncture, and other alternative modalities.

Full Bio >>

Lee Follett - Equine Dentist

Lee Follett IAED/C - Professional Background:  Lee began working with Arabian horses in Arizona while in college in 1987.  While working for Tom Chauncey's World Class Arabians in 1988 he became an assistant trainer. 

Full Bio >>

Jim Helfter - President, Advanced Biological Concepts, Inc.

James G. Helfter, President of Advanced Biological Concepts, a manufacturer of natural feed supplements and nutritional additives. Working hand in hand with holistic veterinarians to stay on top of current health concerns by providing state of the art nutritional feed supplements and water additives Advanced Biological Concepts supports the equine industry.

Full Bio >>