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Meet our Pleasant Valley Family
Greg ,Lori, and Cleo
Pennington with their
horseConcerto
Proprietors of Pleasant Valley |
Pleasant
Valley Performance Center had its beginnings in 1986 when the 70 acre
estate was purchased by Greg and Lori Pennington for their 11 show
horses. In 1998 the farm took a different direction. With mostly
gentle rolling hay fields and only two paddocks, the farm began its
transformation into a full care boarding facility. The transformation
that took place over the course of the next seven years required a
tremendous amount of work, sweat and tears. This has resulted in what
the farm is today--a complete boarding facility and much more.
Greg and Lori continue to enjoy their
horses as well as their growing business. Lori, a registered nurse by
profession, is particular about horse care and continues to oversee all
aspects of the horse care, barns and farm. Greg, a veteran of the car
industry, is equally passionate about the farm and horses in general.
Both Greg and Lori love to travel and share a second love of the ocean
and its mysteries unfolded through scuba diving. They share their farm
and home with their six-year-old Airedale, "Cleo," as well as their
six horses.
"Our clients and their horses are our
greatest concern. We take careful measures to reassure that all
our customers feel safe, comfortable and secure while they are on our farm.
It is of great importance to us that our clients
remain worry-free about their horses' care while they are away. We work hard at making our farm into
our customers' farm so that they too may share in all its beauty.
Pleasant Valley is a place of
tranquility and freedom to be enjoyed by all disciplines."
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Patty MacKenzie
Graduate of Averett University B.S. Equestrian Studies/Business
Administration
Patty started riding 14 years ago at the Guilford Riding School in
Connecticut where she developed strong jumping and dressage skills. She has been teaching for 7 years the
basics of horsemanship through first level dressage as well as
jumping.
Patty is a graduated from Averett
University where she continued to gain a better understanding of the
equine industry, the art of dressage, the thrill of jumping and
eveting. While at Averett, Patty participated in the Intercollegiate
Dressage Team, Combined Training Team and Drill Team. She also had the
opportunity to ride and study with Jean Paul Pare and participated in
USDF workshops with Cindy Sydner.
When teaching her students, her focus is
in strengthening the rider's ability through flat work. She has
taught individuals of all ages and levels and consistently places her
students in the top 3 at shows.
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Suzy Floyd
Instructor/Trainer
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Suzy has more than fifteen years experience teaching and training in
Dressage. She has successfully trained several horses to the FEI levels
and her students have completed through Fourth Level. She has gained
her knowledge by training extensively with several world-renowned riders
and coaches including three Dressage Olympians. She has also
participated in numerous USDF Instructor Workshops. She has received an
USDF University Diploma and has been invited to attend two USDF National
Trainer’s Forums. Additionally Suzy is a long time student of top
dressage coach Kathy Connelly and Spanish Riding School legend Karl
Mikolka.
Working Student Positions held with:
Michael Poulin-Olympic rider, trainer and S judge
Edith Master- Three time Olympian and S judge
Heidi Ericksen- 1988 Team Alternate and R judge
Completed Apprentice Trainer Program with Gail Hoff-Carmona- Grand Prix
rider, Trainer, S judge and top sport horse breeder.
Completed one year apprentice with Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel- Highest
ranking German Reitlehrer (F.N)
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Jean Paul Pare
Instructor/Trainer
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Jean Paul has been instructing in Ontario
and Quebec since 1982 and has been riding for over 40 years.
He currently conducts monthly clinics at the Potomac Horse Center and
quarterly at Pleasant Valley Performance Center.
Since 1968 he has continually studied in Germany, France, Portugal, and
the United States. Jean Paul has the rare ability and skill to
determine how the riders position and balance works in congruence with the horses'
anatomy to effectively reach successful and desirable results. |
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Genevive Anderson
Instructor/Trainer |
Genevive has been riding for 20 years and
during that time has studied under Todd Bryan, Michael Poulin, and
Lorinda Lende. She has participated in clinics with Lars Peterson,
Stefen Peters, Betsy Steiner, Michael Barisone, and Linda Zang.
Genevive has competed in FL, NC, VA, MD, and PA, and in 1998 took 5th
place at the USDF Regional Championships at First Level. In 2005, she
placed 6th at Regional Championships at Fourth Level and earned PVDA high
score at Fourth Level. |
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Suzi Hek
Instructor
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Suzi Hek started
riding at age 8 and bought her first horse at 15 which she competed in
hunter/jumper shows and competitive trail rides. While acquiring a BS
Degree in veterinary medicine and a Horsemasters Certification in
college, she became involved in combined training and dressage. She also
spent six months in England accomplishing the BHSAI Certification.
Suzi feels Sally
O'Connor to be her most influential instructor and has trained locally
with Evelyn Susol and Suzy Floyd. Currently she is riding her Quarter
Horse cross gelding in a Dressage Quadrille show team. But, also rode a
beautiful Andalusian stallion in a Pas de Deux and six horse Quadrille
Exhibition to promote the Andalusian breed this past summer.
Her teaching
combines Sally Swift Centered Riding basics with a balanced seat
emphasis. Her students show in dressage, combined training and hunter
shows. She also has students who only trail ride and want to improve
their riding ability or further their horse's training.
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