Lisa Frick, Manager/Instructor
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Lisa
with daughter, Holly, riding Orlando, at a local show.
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Lisa
began her career with horses at age ten. As many young girls do –
she worked
for rides at local stables in her Maryland hometown. At age 14, with
much “sweat equity” under her belt, Lisa earned a job at
a local Thoroughbred breeding and sales farm, Country Life Farm. In
addition to daily barn care, Lisa attended to the farm’s broodmares,
assisted during breeding sessions, and participated in foal watches.
She also worked with newborn foals and yearlings, educating them on
basic ground manners. Animal Science courses at the University of Maryland
kept Lisa learning about horses as she pursued degrees in Business and
Journalism. After graduating from college Lisa started a career in Marketing
Communications while volunteering as a Youth Minister. When her six-year
old daughter asked to ride horses, Lisa returned to her passion. Melding
her parenting and youth ministry experience with her fundamental horse
foundation, Lisa welcomes beginner riders to Southern Oak Equestrian
Center. She teaches our Introductory Course, educating new students
on safety rules, grooming techniques, and proper tacking procedures.
Lisa also teaches beginner-level lessons and leads the Hi Ho Hunters
4H Club.
Lizzy Kramer,
Instructor
Lizzy
Kramer, is a dynamic instructor
who brings the belief that both horse and rider benefit from an enthusiastic,
creative atmosphere. Her teaching and training is based in the classical,
centered riding philosophy & is customized to focus on each rider’s
personal goals.
Lizzy’s background includes riding her childhood horses in the
hunter ring, competing on the east coast in various hunter circuits
and was actively involved in the NC 4-H Horse program. She also gained
valuable experience riding overseas with her older sister, an accomplished
dressage rider, who resides in Italy. Continuing to work with horses
while attending NC State University she began a part-time free-lance
instructor service. Following graduation from NCSU, Lizzy began traveling
to private farms / homes in the Triangle area to work with riders of
all levels as well as their horses. In 2003 she teamed up with Harward
Farms in Swift Creek, NC as the private lessons instructor & trainer
for their breeding program. Her passion for working with horses and
riders led to enrollment in Meredith Manor International Equestrian
Centre’s Riding Master program for the purpose of achieving a
teaching certification & riding masters. Lizzy graduated from Meredith
Manor in August of 2006 with honors. Her concentrations were in Teaching,
Riding (Jumping, Dressage, & Western), and Farrier Science. Lizzy
was the recipient of the “Excellence in Teaching” Award,
and was recognized for her Jumping achievements on a horse she trained
and preformed on in quarterly show masters. Lizzy is an active member
of the horse community, and enjoys coaching all levels of riders from
beginners to upper level competitors. She believes safety comes first,
maintains current CPR & First Aid certifications, and considers
education to be a lifelong process.
Hannah Mattis,
Instructor
Hannah began riding
at the age of seven. She trained and showed in the hunters/jumper arena
and participated in three-day eventing. Hannah trained with renowned
trainers, including Olympic Medalist Michael Plumb. She learned to break
and train problem horses under the direction of Paul Tillery. Hannah
also extended her skills by participating in clinics featuring a variety
of trainers, including John Lyons. Eventually, Hannah tried her hand
in the reining arena under world champion reiner, Brian Bell. Training
and showing in the reining arena helped Hannah develop extensive training
skills in lateral movements, spins, and speed control as reining has
been known as western dressage. Hannah took the skills developed in
the reining ring and applied them to the hunter ring. Hannah has spent
more than 8 years training and showing in both the hunter and jumper
arena. She has shown extensively on the C, A and AA hunter circuits.
She has trained under a variety of hunter/jumper trainers, including
Tracy Kerr, Herald Chopping, Jen Johnston, Marielle Ventura, and Rex
O’Brien. Hannah has experience both showing her own horses and
preparing green horses for the show arena and sale. Hannah was the 2005
Triangle Farms Children’s Hunter Champion and the 2005 Triangle
Farms 15-17 Equitation Champion. She qualified for Children’s
Medal Finals and was the NCHJA 2005 Year End Equitation Reserve Champion.
Currently a senior at North Carolina State University, Hannah provides
instruction to students at Southern Oak while continuing to ride, train,
and show.
Lauren Hill,
Instructor
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Laruen
Hill riding Seabourne's Billabong. |
Lauren’s
desire to ride horses began at a young age growing up on her family’s
Connemara breeding farm. She went on to compete some of the breeding
operations foundation ponies extensively in the hunter ring and was
a member of the United States Pony Club. She earned her C-2 rating and
attended Show Jumping, Dressage, Tetrathelon, and Combined Training
Rallies. She has trained with notables such as Canadian Olympian Harold
Chopping, South African Olympian Mark Stopford, French Canadian Olympian
Gilles Casavant, R Hunter Judge George Wallace, and 3-Day Eventer Laura
Patterson. During her junior and amateur career she successfully competed
at the “C” and “A” show levels where she earned
year end high point awards and equitation final titles. In 1999 she
was the NCHJA “C” Children’s Hunter and 15-17 equitation
Year End Champion and winner of the Triangle Farms Equitation Cup Finals.
In 2000 she was the NCHJA “A” Adult Amateur Hunter Year
End Champion. In 2003 she went on to win the NCHJA Brian Jones Adult
Equitation Medal Finals. Lauren graduated from North Carolina State
University in 2007 with degrees in Agribusiness Management and Livestock
Management. While attending, she held executive positions with the NCSU
equestrian team as sponsor chair and president. While riding for the
team she was the IHSA Reserve High Point Open Level Equitation Rider
in 2003-‘04 and 2006-‘07. In 2006-‘07 she was an IHSA
Open Level National Qualifier finishing as one of the top eighteen intercollegiate
riders in the nation. Currently, Lauren manages Seaborne Farm of Creedmoor,
NC. She oversees the breeding program, training young prospects for
the hunter show ring, and instructing a select group of students. Her
lessons focusing on correct hunter seat equitation and rider effectiveness.
Her classical methods allow for customized training plans to help each
rider achieve their goals. Lauren has produced horse and rider pairs
that are consistent winners of their respective levels at local “C”
shows. Her versatility as a rider, knowledge of horses, and attention
to detail make her an invaluable tool for the horse and rider wishing
to advance their skills or become more competitive in the show ring.
Crista Pritchard
Gardner, Instructor
Crista
brings to Southern Oaks over 20 years of experience in riding instruction.
During the late 70s and early 80s, she taught riding at Meredith College,
and competed in dressage through the third level. She served on the
NCDCTA board, and organized the Capital Dressage Classics and the 1987
Olympic Dressage Festival. From the late 80s into the 90s, Crista served
on the Little River Horse Trial Committee, the NC Veterinary College
Foundation Board, and was a Level D Chairperson for the Raleigh Triangle
Pony Club for three years. She competed in eventing through the preliminary
level, and taught freelance riding lessons in the Triangle area. She
also co-managed a barn in Apex, and at Fantasia Stables, she fox-hunted
horses and helped break in young thoroughbreds for their racetrack.
Currently, Crista is a freelance balance seat, dressage and eventing
instructor in North Raleigh, and works with all ages and levels. She
also coaches at some shows.
Carol Bijelic,
Instructor
Beth Morgan,
Instructor
Laura Sides,
Instructor
