GRS Staff and Instructors
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Jill Walter RobinsonHeart and soul--that can only mean owner/instructor Jill Walter-Robinson, a woman who has been teaching riding and managing stables (and only that!) since 1972. In the Peace Corps in West Africa in 1969, Jill discovered a horse that had walked out of the jungle behind her hut. The tribal chief who lost the horse allowed Jill to care-for and ride him. When she returned to her home in New York, Jill took the hint and enrolled in an instructor certification course taught by Frank Chapeu. Soon after, Jill was Olympic rider Debbie Dolan's early instructor, and has taught and managed at Sweet Briar College, VA, The Farmington Polo Club, CT where she taught hunter rider Shashine Bell, and The Maryland Horse Center, where she directed a state-certified equestrian career course. Jill is a one-woman phenomenon, also eventing her thoroughbred J.C. Chips at Preliminary Level. |
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Tracey SoboleskiTracey Soboleski is a highly experience rider and instructor. In addition to 10+ years of riding and eventing, Tracey is a Connecticut state certified public teacher in the Madison school district. Tracey's unique training style is evident by her energy and enthusiasm for the sport of riding. She provides the structure and discipline necessary to learn all levels of riding, from basic and to advanced. |
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Ellie GillespieEllie Gillespie is beloved instructor of the Mini-Mights. Her love of children and horses is evident in her firm but gentle teaching style. Ellie's abilities are evident by the number of senior riders at the Guilford Riding School, many of whom started as Mini-Mights in her classes. In addition, her daughter Augusta, was a long time GRS rider and instructor. Ellie lives in Madison with her husband and 2 dogs. |
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Workers and ApprenticesOur volunteer Workers and Apprentices are a group of young people who all ride at the Guilford Riding School. Each Worker has two apprentices who assist them in getting the horses ready for the lessons, grooming and tacking, and their care and feeding after the lessons. All Workers and Apprentices are required to take and pass our unique Apprentice Program, giving them the skills they need to be safe and efficient working with our twelve School Horses. We pride ourselves on our family atmosphere, and insist that our clients and staff behave according to the old values our society seems to be moving away from. The sign above our door reads "Love, Laughter and Friends Welcome Here". If you have any questions during a visit or lesson, ask any of our workers -- they'll know the answer, or get it for you! |
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Dale Walter-RobinsonDale Walter-Robinson manages the business side of GRS; he does the bookkeeping, insurance, promotion and public relations, and maintains the physical plant. Jill and Dale met at Sweet Briar College in 1979 and have been married for 30 years. Dale is also a freelance writer -- appearing over the years in Writer's Digest, Northeast Magazine, the New Haven Register, where he was the music writer from 2000-2006. He can usually be seen with his Chesapeake Bay Retriever 'Riley', the other love of his life. He also enjoys restoring old things, like the 1931 Gramm Howe fire engine on the property, and riding motorcycles. |
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Felicia PelsisFelicia Pelsis is one of our most dynamic, gifted instructors. She has been riding at GRS since she was 7 years old, and is a fearless eventer. Her teaching style and method make timid kids brave and bold kids more subtle. You'll love her! |
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Juli LovingtonJulianna Lovington is our All-American over achieving talented instructor. She has been a rider at GRS since she was 10 years old, and competes a difficult but athletic horse named Gulliver, usually in the ribbons. Absolute connection with your child is her forte -- thus building their confidence and trust in the horse. |
