Tom Poulin - Resident Trainer

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.

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Gillian Margaret (Bower) Vallis - Owner/Manager/Marketing

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. 

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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.

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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, Indiana, 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.

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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. 

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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.

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Kerry Thomas - Founder, Thomas Herding Technique

Kerry M. Thomas is the founder of Thomas Herding Technique and is a pioneering researcher and service provider in the field of Equine Athletic Psychology.

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Lissa Pohl- Facilitator and Coach

Lissa Pohl holds an A.S. Degree in Sign Language Interpreting, a B.S. Degree in Nutrition from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington (1985) and a Masters Degree in Psychology with a focus on Transformational Leadership from The Union Institute & University in Montpellier, Vermont (2006).

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Karin Glassman - Instructor

Karin brings 40 years experience as a riding instructor to Pine Knoll. After earning her B.H.S.A.I. (Horsemasters) at the Potomac Horse Center, she studied at the original American Dressage Institute, where she was introduced to the principles of Body Discipline originated by Tom Poulin. Karin went on to teach riding at the college level while serving two years as Assistant Director of Riding at the University of Massachusetts, four years as Director of Equitation at Wilson College, and ten years as Director of Equine Studies at Delaware Valley College. She also coached private lesson students, consisting primarily of adult amateurs.

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