About Us

Owner/Head-Trainer

I grew up in Loudoun County, right in the middle of horse country. My parents owned two lesson/boarding barns, and I was on a pony from the minute I could hold up my head! Almost every weekend of my childhood was spent at horse shows where my sisters and I would compete or at equestrian endurance races cheering on my mother! 

While most of my riding career has been in hunter/jumper, I have also competed in eventing, endurance and western gaming, such as barrel racing, pole bending and team penning. It only seemed natural that when it came time to pick a college, I would follow my passion for horses. I attended Hollins University and rode for their equestrian team. 

After college, I worked for an equine veterinarian but found my way back to my true calling, teaching riding lessons. I teach my students a strong foundation of strength, equitation and compassion for their equine partners. Nothing makes me happier than to see my students blossom into amazing, responsible and caring equestrians! 

Business Manager

Unlike most of my HMC Equestrian colleagues, I did not grow up riding horses. In fact, I started in 2017 when I decided to join my children in their weekly beginner lessons and figured I would see what happened! Well, my children certainly surpassed me in their riding abilities, and I have found many muscles I never even wanted to know existed in my body. Nonetheless, I have loved every minute of my mid-life crisis journey into the world of horses and am happy I've been able to help HMCE share this world with so many other people!

I grew up in Somerset, PA, and earned my BA in Government and German from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. I also earned my MA in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The George Washington University. I have always enjoyed working with people, especially students. I have also loved animals and spent much of my youth saving and rehabilitating wild baby bunnies, birds and any other creature our family's Springer Spaniel would discover in her pursuit of the ultimate chase!

This love and respect for animals has certainly come in handy as my family now owns more horses than there are people who can ride them! Parker, Maverick, Beluga, Kerrit, and Anton are all now part of the Folliard herd. 

Assistant Trainer

Kelsey began her riding career over 20 years ago with a pony camp and has been hooked ever since!  She was raised in Pittsburgh, PA, where she grew up riding and competing hunter/jumpers and western games, trail riding and spending every free moment working at the barn or riding and training her horses.  Kelsey attended Mercyhurst University where she was a member of the IHSA Equestrian Team and then earned her MAT from California University of PA in Secondary Education.  As a high school teacher, she loves teaching history almost as much as teaching riding lessons!

Assistant Trainer

Abigail has over 25 years of riding experience that spans multiple riding disciplines and the East Coast. Between the ages of 10 and 18, Abigail rated up to a B-level US Pony Club member and competed successfully on the A-rated Connecticut Hunter Jumper Association circuit in Short Stirrup, Child Hunter Medals, and Child Adult Hunters. She has had the privilege of training under USEF Hunter R-judges and Pegasus Medal clinicians, including the late Judy Richter.

Abigail’s experience goes beyond the Hunter ring; she has trained up to training level eventing and third level dressage, and taught balanced seat, hunters, and therapeutic riding in Connecticut. She has completed clinics in natural horsemanship methodologies for challenging horses, and has amateur endurance riding experience in Maine, and most recently, enjoyed riding across Iceland.

Abigail is focused on fostering communication, teamwork, and trust between the riders and horses she works with. She enjoys working with green horses from difficult backgrounds, and has helped several go on to have happy careers as amateur competitors and lesson horses. Abigail is familiar with the challenges that competition can present for riders, horses, and families, and is focused on helping students walk away with positive learning experiences with their horses regardless of whether they are in a lesson or show ring.

Today, Abigail competes with the HMC Equestrian show team, and can often be found on property working with her favorite, big personality HMC lease horse, Jersey Girl. 

  Abigail looks forward to working with HMC students and helping them achieve their equestrian goals!

Assistant Trainer

Hailey Gahan is a Canadian three day event rider. She picked up the infatuation for horses at the age of 6 and started competing in the eventing world at the age of 12. She was fortunate to spend two years working in New Zealand with accomplished event rider and horsewoman Donna Edwards-Smith. During this time, she gained invaluable experience in horsemanship, advanced grooming techniques, on-lining, and working with off-the-track thoroughbreds and young horses. 

For the past seven years, she has been based in the United States, working under the guidance of Allison Springer as her groom and transitioning into an assistant trainer role. This opportunity has greatly expanded her knowledge of equitation, flatwork and eventing fundamentals, and developing both riders and horses to achieve their short- and long-term goals. 

Growing up in a commercial riding barn, she had access to a variety of opportunities, including Pony Club, volunteering at summer camps, coaching, and working with some exceptional coaches. With a broad skill set and a deep commitment to continued learning, she is excited to share her knowledge with young riders or adults looking to develop their skills or return to the saddle.