Faculty

Eleanor Blazer

Eleanor-Blazer-and-My-Kustom-Kruzer-bio-picEleanor Blazer is a fourth generation horsewomen who has trained and traded horses most of her life. Now actively showing in AQHA and ABRA amateur competitions, Eleanor was a nutrition specialist for Western Reserve Farm Cooperative in northeast Ohio for more than 20 years.

The author of numerous articles and the syndicated column, The Way of Horses, she is considered among the leading experts in horse nutrition. She counsels horse lovers world-wide on the science and art of feeding horses.

Eleanor is a member of the Texas American Buckskin Association, the National Snaffle Bit Association and the Ohio Horseman’s Council.

Visit her at: www.thewayofhorses.com

Nancy Cahill

nancy_cahillNamed Horsewoman of the Year, Nancy Cahill has trained multiple AQHA world champions, including World Champion western riding horses, and she was chosen five times to coach the AQHA Youth World Cup team. A graduate of Texas A & M, Nancy has been training horses for more than 30 years and has developed a practical and successful philosophy for getting the most from horse and rider. Visit her web site www.nancycahill.com

Nancy continues to compete on the AQHA circuit and is busy year-round doing hands-on clinics.

Norma Fay

Norma-FayNorma Fay holds a B.S. degree from Ithaca College and is a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, weight management consultant, ski instructor and motorcycle safety instructor. She has extensive experience in the design and delivery of fitness programs. Norma holds a variety of certifications and specialty certificates from The American Council on Exercise, Aerobics & Fitness Association of America, Professional Ski Instructors of America, Motorcycle Safety Foundation and others.

Norma has been a presenter for Exercise Etc., one of the country’s largest providers of fitness education programs and is now in private practice in suburban Boston, MA. Her love of teaching, in many different areas, as helped countless individuals achieve their personal goals. She continues to enjoy her lifelong horse passion with her Quarter Horse gelding.

Cathy Hanson

cathyCathy Hanson, named AQHA’s Most Valuable Professional, travels the AQHA show circuit with several World Champion horses, including Sure Bet Chip, 2008 Youth World Champion in Trail. Cathy began riding at the age of 4, and at 17 went to England to study dressage and jumping. She tested before the British Horse Society and earned her B.H.S.A.I. certificate before returning home to open her training stable. She is past president of the Pacific Coast Quarter

Horse Association, and is a member of AQHA’s Board of Directors.

An active clinician, she was a member of the coaching team for the Youth World Cup. Her training and teaching techniques are frequently featured in many equine publications. She is the co-author of the book Natural Western Riding. Visit her at: hansonqh.com

Gina Gould

Gina Gould, instructor for the online Equine Massage course, has simple goals: to teach horse owners massage techniques which can help their horses recover from Injuries and receive relief from tight muscles. This can help relieve pain and improve their gait and balance. Massage also helps their Spirit as well and is a great bonding experience between horse and owner.

Gould grew up loving all animals.  After 25 years in the office workplace setting, she decided to follow her heart. Gould became Certified in Equine Massage through Equinology.  And is also certified in Acuscope Therapy for Horses, Dogs and Cats.  She works with many Animal Rescue Organizations in her location.

Gould knows horses are special, magical beings whose presence brings people who love them peace and joy.  She looks forward to helping her students learn massage techniques that soothe both their bodies and their minds.

Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith has been an attorney, educator, and horse owner for more
than two decades. She grew up riding in Lexington, Kentucky with the
U.S. Pony Club before moving west. She has owned hunters, dressage
horses and one cutting horse. Lisa has been licensed and worked in
Texas and Oklahoma.

Dr. Jack Sales

jackDr. Jack Sales is pretty fast when it comes to answering equine health care questions. Maybe he’s so fast because he was the veterinarian for no less than six All American Futurity winners— those are American Quarter Horses, the fastest horses in the world.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Sales was a partner in an equine practice which specialized in race horses at Sunland Park and Ruidoso Downs. Today he teaches and spends much of his time on research and education projects. He is a member of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Association of Equine Sports Medicine.

Lynette Smith

Lynette-SmithA lifetime of love for and involvement with horses create the foundation for the award-winning work of photographer Lynette Smith.

Based in Wenatchee, WA, Lynette is the owner of Lynette Smith Photography www.lynettesmithphotography.com. She is a member of the Equine Photographers Network and the American Quarter Horse Association.

While photographing horses is her passion, her profession has her photographing everything from pets of all kinds to nature scenes and weddings.

An active rider, Lynette’s private life is filled with the companionship and adventures of her Labrador Retrievers.

Gord Wadds

Gord-Wadds-head-shotGord Wadds is a World Champion trainer known in many horse show circles as the “master of the longe line horse”, consistently winning longe line classes with a variety of breeds. But that is only the beginning of successful careers started the Wadds Way….he trains and campaigns a multitude of great horses, having won Superior western pleasure titles with 34 horses, AQHA championships and garnering a long list of futurity champion titles.

Gord, a graduate of St. Andrews College, Aurora, Ontario, Canada and the North Texas Farriers School of Horsemanship, trains out of his ranch in Ovid, MI. A professional Equine Appraiser, Wadds is a frequent clinician at horse show expositions.

Visit his web site at: www.gordwadds.com

Vickie Zapel

Vickie-ZapelYou could say that Vickie Zapel likes to take things to extreme.

Starting at age 11 with an untrained 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly, over the years she progressed through various show circuits, competitions and events until reaching the top—now she holds an ESI Professional Riding Instructor Certification and is certified for judging Extreme Mountain and American Quarter Horse Association Trail Challenges.

A two-time national champion, she is the winner of multiple national awards for extreme-mountain trail competitions, she hosts clinics and
competitive horse shows, lectures and aids in the development of competitive trail facilities and sport promotion.

Visit Vickie at http://www.ridecompetitivetrail.com/