(L to R): Wendy, Jessie, Kate, Hannah, Lindsay, Jess, Maggie, Courtney, Meg
Officers
Lindsay Reichard, President: Lindsay has ridden horses all of her life focusing in the hunter-jumper ring. She rode through college as part of a nationally ranked team at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Equestrian Studies with a minor in Equine Business Management. After college, Lindsay went head first into the industry working as an assistant trainer in Atlanta before embarking on her own program. She is the owner and head trainer of Windsong Equestrian in Scarborough.
Jessie Schnell, Vice President: Jessie has been riding and working around horses since age 10. She teaches and trains through Schnell Equestrian in Standish, Maine with her two OTTBs Frolic and Monkey. Outside the equine world, she is a veterinary medical consultant for IDEXX Laboratories and achieved her Master of Science in veterinary medicine.
Wendy McCann, Treasurer: Wendy has over 30 years experience with horses and is a part time ARIA certified Hunt Seat instructor. She teaches riders at her facility, Few Acres Farm, in Auburn. She also teaches students with their own horses in various areas of the state. She began teaching in 2007 and began her horse sitting business, Maine Horse Sitting, one year later. With the exception of a one year hiatus, Wendy has been a part of the MeHJA since the very beginning, including serving in various officer roles. Wendy lives in Auburn with her husband and three children.
Courtney Guertin, Secretary: Courtney has been riding and involved with horses since preschool, and bought her first horse after finishing college with her Masters in Occupational Therapy. In addition to being an OT, Courtney recently became certified in the Wilson-Meagher Method of sportsmassage and was able to expand her horse knowledge, skills, and community. She has been a part of the Lucky Clover Stables family for over a decade, and has seen and experienced first hand how important and influential a barn community can be. She loves to learn new skills, really enjoys talking/speaking, and she thinks she tell funny jokes.
DIRECTORS
Meg Fox, Points Secretary and Social Media Manager: Meg has been around horses all her life. She grew up in the Saddleseat world and showed and groomed for her aunt on the New England rated pleasure circuit. After taking horsemanship for multiple semesters at UNH, and then taking a break to start her family, she returned to horses and began her Hunter career at Lucky Clover Stables. As a member of the MeHJA board, Meg works to help increase membership and interest in the opportunities provided by the organization, and share insights from the perspective of an adult amateur and life-long horsewoman, so all members can have a positive experience in the Maine Hunter Jumper community.
Kate Bennett, Sponsorships and Fundraising Coordinator: Having ridden since the age of 6, Kate has loved horses for as long as she can remember! She is the co-founder of Maine Equine Sports where she loves teaching and training through a science based R+ approach in the jumper sport. Previously, she ran Kate Bennett Horsemanship and managed and worked at a variety of farms throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Kate has learned from many different trainers and clinicians in a wide variety of disciplines. She graduated from SMCC with an Associates Degree in Psychology and has completed IEAP’s level 1 Certification in Embodied Equine Psychotherapy.
Hannah Ouellette, Events Coordinator:
Jess Douglas, TIP Manager: Jess fell in love with horses at a young age and has always had them be a part of her life. She owned her first horse at age 15, a sweet older OTTB mare. In college, she joined the IHSA team where she began showing competitively for the first time and fell in love with the comradery. She also minored in Equine Studies. Ever since IHSA, she has always loved being a part of a team. She has competed in the MeHJA circuit for many years in hunters and equitation as an adult amateur. She works as a registered nurse, and also provides massage and bodywork to horses locally with her business Evermotion Equine. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, and her adored OTTB Noah.
Maggie Seitz, USHJA Outreach Manager: Maggie has been riding horses since she moved to Maine when she was 7, with a primary focus on hunter/jumper. She showed in Maine as a child and was a part of IHSA during undergraduate studies in upstate NY. After putting competitions aside in graduate school, Maggie found a good fit with Schnell Equestrian back home in Maine. She now competes in the adult amateurs and recently began leasing a young and upcoming OTTB.
Kate Bennett, Sponsorships and Fundraising Coordinator: Having ridden since the age of 6, Kate has loved horses for as long as she can remember! She is the co-founder of Maine Equine Sports where she loves teaching and training through a science based R+ approach in the jumper sport. Previously, she ran Kate Bennett Horsemanship and managed and worked at a variety of farms throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Kate has learned from many different trainers and clinicians in a wide variety of disciplines. She graduated from SMCC with an Associates Degree in Psychology and has completed IEAP’s level 1 Certification in Embodied Equine Psychotherapy.
Hannah Ouellette, Events Coordinator:
Jess Douglas, TIP Manager: Jess fell in love with horses at a young age and has always had them be a part of her life. She owned her first horse at age 15, a sweet older OTTB mare. In college, she joined the IHSA team where she began showing competitively for the first time and fell in love with the comradery. She also minored in Equine Studies. Ever since IHSA, she has always loved being a part of a team. She has competed in the MeHJA circuit for many years in hunters and equitation as an adult amateur. She works as a registered nurse, and also provides massage and bodywork to horses locally with her business Evermotion Equine. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dog, and her adored OTTB Noah.
Maggie Seitz, USHJA Outreach Manager: Maggie has been riding horses since she moved to Maine when she was 7, with a primary focus on hunter/jumper. She showed in Maine as a child and was a part of IHSA during undergraduate studies in upstate NY. After putting competitions aside in graduate school, Maggie found a good fit with Schnell Equestrian back home in Maine. She now competes in the adult amateurs and recently began leasing a young and upcoming OTTB.