Instructors

Dawn Bonin

Kari VanOstrand

Mary Jo Zanolli

Owner/Trainer

Instructor

Instructor

Dawn Bonin is a natural horsemanship trainer and recently achieved her dream of owning a farm. Having background in hunter/jumper, dressage, western pleasure and trail, led her to focus on natural horsemanship. She finds a common ground to improve relationships and communication through intuition and understanding, using as little devices and pressure as possible. Her goal for every horse and rider is to improve their relationship to be able to ride bareback and bridless. Dawn has been teaching people and horses of all breeds and disciplines to improve their communication through natural horsemanship techniques, having great success with “problem” horses and training issues, for 15 years. Dawn has jumped on board with the fast growing sport of Versatility, because of its ability to encourage people and horses to reach beyond their comfort zones to improve your relationship and athletic ability, all while having fun. Because that is really what got us all started with horses in the first place, isn't it? Dawn is available for lessons, training, clinics, and demos.

860-985-7611 (cell)

naturalhorse80@yahoo.com

http://www.dawnbonin.com/

Kari is grateful to have thirty years of experience with horses. At a young age Kari took interest in dressage and focused on it until she was a young adult and then pursued eventing for the next ten years. She then became drawn to natural techniques with horses on the ground and under saddle. That progression has led Kari to integrate her horse sense, intuition, experiences and education in dressage, eventing, and natural horsemanship techniques. Kari is a certified Master Equine Manager, certified equine sports massage therapist, a certified Reiki practitioner for animals and humans, and holds a MA in education and teaching. Kari has had the amazing opportunities of training with advanced level eventers, training with an Olympic event rider for three years, competing at USEA sanctioned events, and accumulating awards at the state, regional, and national level. However, connecting to and working with horses in the most authentic and meaningful way is what is most important to her. Kari’s respect, appreciation, and love of the horse along with providing people with positve experiences and skills to be the most effective, connected, and authentic horseperson drives Kari’s instruction and approach with horses. Her goal is to create and maintain a safe, happy, mutually respectful, authentic, and fun relationship between horse and human. Kari is available for groundwork lessons and riding lessons.

860-368-7229

epothekari@gmail.com

Dawn Bonin

Owner/Trainer

Dawn Bonin is a natural horsemanship trainer and recently achieved her dream of owning a farm. Having background in hunter/jumper, dressage, western pleasure and trail, led her to focus on natural horsemanship.   She finds a common ground to improve relationships and communication through intuition and understanding, using as little devices and pressure as possible. Her goal for every horse and rider is to improve their relationship to be able to ride bareback and bridless. Dawn has been teaching people and horses of all breeds and disciplines to improve their communication through natural horsemanship techniques, having great success with “problem” horses and training issues, for 15 years. Dawn has jumped on board with the fast growing sport of Versatility, because of its ability to encourage people and horses to reach beyond their comfort zones to improve your relationship and athletic ability, all while having fun. Because that is really what got us all started with horses in the first place, isn't it? Dawn is available for lessons, training, clinics, and demos.

860-985-7611 (cell)

naturalhorse80@yahoo.com

http://www.dawnbonin.com/

  Kari VanOstrand

Instructor

Kari is grateful to have thirty years of experience with horses. At a young age Kari took interest in dressage and focused on it until she was a young adult and then pursued eventing for the next ten years. She then became drawn to natural techniques with horses on the ground and under saddle. That progression has led Kari to integrate her horse sense, intuition, experiences and education in dressage, eventing, and natural horsemanship techniques. Kari is a certified Master Equine Manager, certified equine sports massage therapist, a certified Reiki practitioner for animals and humans, and holds a MA in education and teaching. Kari has had the amazing opportunities of training with advanced level eventers, training with an Olympic event rider for three years, competing at USEA sanctioned events, and accumulating awards at the state, regional, and national level. However, connecting to and working with horses in the most authentic and meaningful way is what is most important to her. Kari’s respect, appreciation, and love of the horse along with providing people with positve experiences and skills to be the most effective, connected, and authentic horseperson drives Kari’s instruction and approach with horses. Her goal is to create and maintain a safe, happy, mutually respectful, authentic, and fun relationship between horse and human. Kari is available for groundwork lessons and riding lessons.

860-368-7229

epothekari@gmail.com

  Mary Jo Zanolli

Instructor

Mary Jo Zanolli has over 25 years experience teaching riders of all ages and skill levels how to connect with and enjoy horses both in and out of the saddle. As her passion is dressage-she incorporates basic dressage principles into her instruction to help horse and rider develop balance, clear understanding of aids, and connection within their partnership.

While introducing new students to the sport and developing their skills in and out of the saddle to create well-rounded equestrians is her niche, she particularly loves working with riders on dressage basics. MJ also utilizes ground poles, cross rails, trails, and hill/field work regularly in her both her own riding and teaching as she believes cross training has immense benefits for horse and rider. Her enthusiasm for teaching and the relationship she develops with her students helps set riders up for a lifetime of love and appreciation for horses.

MJ Learned to ride at a Massachusetts eventing barn, at which time she was also an active 4-H Club member and competitor. Besides the open show circuit, MJ grew up competing in youth dressage and eventually the IEA team in college. As a young professional, she began to take a more serious approach to dressage- becoming a working student for Jennifer Baumert for several years. More recently MJ has trained with Vincent Flores, as well as spent two winters in Florida with her horses in an intensive training program with Marsha Hartford Sapp. MJ’s equine partners Ella and Rylee continue to be a constant source of inspiration to improve her own riding and understanding of horses.

Mary Jo Zanolli has over 25 years experience teaching riders of all ages and skill levels how to connect with and enjoy horses both in and out of the saddle. As her passion is dressage-she incorporates basic dressage principles into her instruction to help horse and rider develop balance, clear understanding of aids, and connection within their partnership.

While introducing new students to the sport and developing their skills in and out of the saddle to create well-rounded equestrians is her niche, she particularly loves working with riders on dressage basics. MJ also utilizes ground poles, cross rails, trails, and hill/field work regularly in her both her own riding and teaching as she believes cross training has immense benefits for horse and rider. Her enthusiasm for teaching and the relationship she develops with her students helps set riders up for a lifetime of love and appreciation for horses.

MJ Learned to ride at a Massachusetts eventing barn, at which time she was also an active 4-H Club member and competitor. Besides the open show circuit, MJ grew up competing in youth dressage and eventually the IEA team in college. As a young professional, she began to take a more serious approach to dressage- becoming a working student for Jennifer Baumert for several years. More recently MJ has trained with Vincent Flores, as well as spent two winters in Florida with her horses in an intensive training program with Marsha Hartford Sapp. MJ’s equine partners Ella and Rylee continue to be a constant source of inspiration to improve her own riding and understanding of horses.