A current Waredaca field boarder and now staff member, Travis started riding here 20 years ago, and for several years, taught in our lesson and summer camp program. After finishing high school, Travis managed a small farm that focused on physical and mental rehab of horses, near Richmond for six years. His mom, Vickie, is a frequent face you see around the farm and his sister Lauren, a schoolteacher, makes an appearance at times also! A couple other fast facts about Travis, he is a national gold medal speed skater and a certified welder!! Expect to see Travis working in the barn, teaching in the ring and assisting Robert and Rob with maintenance around the farm.
Sarah Gonzalez
Sarah started riding in 1995 and has been teaching since 2003. In college, she rode in the open flat and over fences divisions on the University of Maryland Equestrian team and was the assistant trainer at Grace for Life Horse Rescue. Sarah also started eventing in college, and knew immediately that she had finally found the perfect fit. Sarah currently works full-time as a rider, trainer, and instructor in the sports of eventing and dressage. She has competed through the CIC** level of eventing and 3rd-level dressage. Sarah has a particular interest in retraining off-the-track thoroughbreds and has worked as an exercise rider at Laurel Racetrack. She is also a USEA ICP certified instructor, an ‘r’ Event Judge, and a USDF Bronze medalist. Sarah loves to watch her students learn new skills and support them in achieving their equestrian goals, whatever they may be!
Liz Schroeder, Volunteer and Expert Day Coordinator
I began teaching and training in college before working full-time at Goose Downs Farm, a premier West Coast eventing barn, as head groom, travel barn manager, instructor, and competitor. During college, I
also trained as a working student with Sally and David O’Connor. For over 20 years, I have assisted Sally at every Kentucky 5* competition since its inception, continuing in this role with current commentators from the tower balcony during dressage and show jumping. When I moved to the area in the late ’90s, both Sally and David recommended Waredaca, where I have been ever since. In addition to teaching, I serve as Waredaca’s Volunteer Coordinator and organize Expert Day monthly clinics. I am also a USEA ECP Level 1 – Training instructor.
I also train OTTBs (off the track Thoroughbreds)—my current two are now a schoolmaster guiding students through BN competitions and the other taking me to the AECs and our own 3-Day event. Despite an accident affecting his right shoulder muscle, he continues to excel in dressage. Working with horses and students has always been my passion, and I feel fortunate to be part of the Waredaca team.
Katrina Dodd, Waredaca Pony Club Center Assistant Administrator
Hi! My name is Katrina Dodd, Kat for short. I have been teaching at Waredaca since 2014, but have been teaching and riding for as long as I can remember. I love teaching and sharing my passion and knowledge with others. I am lucky to be able to do so – not many people can say their passion is also their job! Originally from Bergen, Norway, I started my life with horses at a small barn for training harness racers. At that point, all I wanted to do was be near horses and loved every minute of it. I quickly figured out though that sitting behind them in a cart was not for me. I wanted to ride! So from there on it was trail riding for several years before I discovered show jumping and my first mare, Miss Scarlett. After formal training in the UK with ABRS, I moved to the US and began riding at a local barn, Reddemeade. There, I became an instructor, camp director, and coach and started the JEL team (Junior Equitation League). I am a Clinic Instructor with the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). This takes me to North Carolina most years in May to certify new instructors. Since May 2016 I have taught solely at Waredaca and I love every minute of it. I coach for the Waredaca Pony Club, teach private lessons, and train several private horses. You will be hard-pressed to find a more supportive, welcoming, or positive place to ride. The community truly makes it a standout and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
Katherine Rizzo, Waredaca Pony Club Center Administrator
I started riding when I was nine years old right here at Waredaca and moved up through the lesson program over the years. When I went to college at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, I joined the school’s Intercollegiate Horse Show Association hunter team. I also started foxhunting while in school with De La Brooke Foxhounds W. I graduated with a BA in Studio Art and a second BA in Biology with a concentration in Environmental Studies and spent the summers teaching at Waredaca’s summer camp. I then moved to California where I received my graduate degree in Scientific Illustration from the University of California Santa Cruz. While there, I was the head coach of the school’s Intercollegiate Dressage Association team and the assistant coach of their IHSA hunter team. Upon returning to Maryland, I was hired by the Academy of the Holy Cross to run their Interschool Horse Show Series team, which practices at Waredaca, and was the team’s Varsity coach until retiring in 2014. Here at Waredaca, I am the Center Administrator for the Waredaca Pony Club. I actively compete in classical dressage, eventing, and jumpers and also foxhunt both locally and in Aiken, SC. I am currently a USEA ECP certified instructor and an “r” licensed Course Designer through USEF.