O'Connor Event Team (OCET)- Karen and David O'Connor (Olympic Event Riders)
Lauren Kieffer (OCET rider, 4* competitor)
Lauren has opened me up into an entirely new world of riding and horsemanship. If you ask me, she is a prodigy, and an absolute freak of nature. The way she communicates with the horses is so amazing to watch, and I learn so much from her every day. She has a very methodical way of teaching, and has a way of explaining things to me that brings me so much clarity and understanding that I'm able to ride to a much higher standard. I started taking lessons from her after about a year or so of working with OCET and I moved down to her barn to help with her dozens of horses. It is an honor to work with her, and I can not say enough good things about her.
Jacqueline Brooks (Olympic Grand Prix Dressage Rider)
Jackie is a two time Olympian, and has also represented Canada at the Pan-Ams, World Cup, and World Games. I started taking lessons from her this past winter in Florida in bi-monthly clinics. When I realized how much my dressage game had stepped up with her, I could not stop taking lessons. Based in Canada in the summer, Jackie now flies down to VA on a monthly basis to tune up the rest of us at OCET so that we stay competition ready. I consider her my yoga-instructor on horse back, as she has made me realize how to use parts of my body that I did not even know I could use. She has drastically changed the way I ride Calvin on the flat, and I will continue taking lessons from her for as long as I can!
Recent and Past:
Sharon White (top 4* event rider)
Sharon has been one of the most inspirational people in my life, and I owe her so much. I have never met a woman with so much strength and determination, and she also has the most positive attitude I've ever been around! She is the one who introduced me to eventing as a teenager, and was willing to teach me the ropes when I knew nothing. I was a working student for her for many many years, and her Last Frontier Farm is where I was taught my good work ethic! I have been riding and working for Sharon for years, and she is someone I will always continue to go back to for lessons and guidance. Go Team Orange!
Emily Beshear (top event rider)
Emily Beshear is a very prestigious upper level event rider, who is also an extraordinary coach and trainer. I started riding with Emily when I began attending the University of Mary Washington. From school, she was just under an hour drive away, and it was sure worth making every minute of that drive! Emily has taught me so much about my riding and my horses, and her lessons always push me to go the extra mile. She re-defined my 'eye' for finding a distance, and I have learned so many other invaluable lessons from her on and off the horse. Emily is a fantastic coach on the flat, and over fences, and always has the perfect exercises set up in lessons to work on my weaknesses. She is an amazing person, and someone I would always love to continue learning with as well!
Craig Thompson (top event rider)
I spent the summer of 2008 as a working student for Craig, and I learned an overwhelming amount of information in such a short period of time. Craig is an amazing horseman, and an even better teacher. He gave me confidence where I lacked it, and taught me about the best type of riding and fitness programs for horses, and taught me a lot about general horsemanship.
Gerd Reuter (Grand Prix dressage rider)
I first started taking lessons with Gerd when he was teaching clinics at Sharon White's farm. I then continued taking lessons with him while attending UMW when I found out he was located right near Emily's farm. Gerd is a USDF Gold and Silver Medalist, and he helped me drastically with my flatwork, and I continually improved my dressage scores at my events while taking lessons from him.
