Joyce and Mike Vassallo, Owners

Joyce and Mike Vassallo are long time horse lovers and owners from Illinois. Joyce has a background in both eventing and dressage and is a member of many years with the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association. With her focus now squarely on her dressage, Joyce has trained with Natalie Lamping at Lamplight Equestrian Center, in Wayne, Illinois, Patti Becker at Fireside Farm in Camp Lake, Wisconsin, and more recently with Jennifer Malott Kotylo from Chicago, Il., and Jennifer Baumert from Cloverlea Dressage in Columbus, N.C.. Joyce attended the Betsy Steiner Equilates Series, which brings Pilates into the saddle, and is a certified Equilates instructor. Her interest in Pilates also extends outside of the arena, where she has completed the Core Dynamic Pilates Program and is a Pilates instructor. Together, Joyce and Mike share a desire to provide a peaceful and nurturing home for their equestrian friends and their equine companions.

Melissa Betz, Barn Manager

Melissa began her life with horses at age 12 in Pony Club, from which she graduated with a C3 rating. She has pursued the sport of eventing, competing up to Preliminary. Her dedication to the horse led Melissa to receive her B.S. in Equine Business from Clemson University. This foundation of experience is bolstered by a long career working with horses in a variety of capacities. Melissa has worked with foals, weanlings, and yearlings at Diamond F Farm, a breeding facility, managed a 30 horse riding stable, Twin Tree Farm, for many years, worked at Clemson University's Equine Center, home to 180 horses, and was an associate at the Cliffs Equestrian Center, an upscale boutique barn with less than ten boarders. In addition, Melissa specialized in starting young riders and beginning adults at Twin Tree Farm, giving over 100 students their start in the saddle. This long and varied history has given Melissa a wide range of equestrian experiences. Moreover, she possesses a strong attention to detail, work ethic, and sense of responsibility for her charges. A horse under Melissa's care is treated like one of her own.

Jennifer Malott Kotylo, Instructor

Jennifer Malott Kotylo is a lifelong FEI dressage rider, a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, certified Core Dynamics Pilates teacher, certified Equilates instructor and Echart Meyners Balimo practitioner. She teachers and coaches dressage riders and eventers, regularly writes for various equine publications and is currently enrolled in the USAE "r" judging program.

She has worked with Patti Becker at Fireside Farm, and regularly clinics with Mette Rosencrantz, a former member of the Swedish Equestrian team, Conrad Schumacher, and Christine Traurig, US Olympian. Her current show horse is a 12 year old Hanoverian gelding, who she competes at Prix. St. Georges and Intermediare I.

A past president of the Illinois Dressage and Combined Training Association, Jennifer Malott Kotylo is the current editor of their newsletter, The Scribe. In 2000, The Sentinel, a Midwest-based newspaper for the horse industry, named Jennifer Jennifer Malott Kotylo "Horseperson of the Year." In 2001, the Pantano Society awarded her their first scholarship for adult continuing education. And in 2003, the IDCTA awarded her their coveted "President's Award."