Staff

Willie Tynan

Our Trainer

Willie Tynan is a highly experienced Grand Prix rider, competitor, and trainer from Kilkenny, Ireland.  He has an impressive show jumping record in both Europe and the United States which includes placings and wins at all levels aboard a multitude of different horses.  Though Willie is predominantly a rider, he enjoys instructing eager, dedicated students.  Willie believes that the propensity to learn and the willingness to make and fix mistakes are keys to success for both horse and rider; he is fully devoted to helping his ambitious horses and students reach their potential.  The knowledge and experience that Willie possesses is certainly not limited to show jumping.  Willie has participated in multiple disciplines and types of riding, which include eventing, hunting, breaking young horses, and training horses of all levels.  Additionally, Willie has spent a vast amount of time with veterinarians and farriers, and thus is privy to many equine ailments and treatments.  Willie is devoted to bringing all of his skills and knowledge together in order to ensure the success and happiness of his horses and students of all levels. 

Though Willie has not been in the United States for a great deal of time, his American show record is both long and impressive.  In 2007, Willie enjoyed success at the Culpepper, Cleveland, and HITS-on-the-Hudson Grand Prix competitions.  In 2007, Willie placed 11th in the Gold Cup Qualifier at Cleveland, placed 7th in the Cleveland Welcome Stakes, won the Welcome Stakes at the NCHJA annual show, placed 10th in the NCHJA Grand Prix, placed 6th in the Welcome Stakes at Culpepper, and was 3rd in the Culpepper Grand Prix.  In 2008, Willie competed on the HITS, Ocala show circuit and enjoyed much success throughout the entire winter.  Willie placed 6th and 7th in two different Grand Prix competitions in Ocala, he won the Seven and Eight Year Old Championships, and was Reserve Champion of the level 5 competition.  Willie also earned many top placings on multiple horses in the level five’s, level six’s and level seven’s.  Willie looks forward to continued success with all of his horses and students in the upcoming show circuits.  

Julia Briskin

Our Barn Manager

Julia Briskin is a three day event rider with more than ten years of competition and training experience.  She has competed at the upper levels on multiple horses throughout the East Coast.  Julia enjoyed success throughout her entire junior career and secured awards such as the number one Preliminary Young Rider in the United States (2003, 2004), the number one Intermediate Young Rider in the United States( 2005, 2006), and the number two Advanced Young Rider in the United States(2006). 

During the spring season of 2005, Julia placed 3rd and 5th at the Virginia Horse Trials CIC** aboard her gelding Enzo and her mare Stina.  Later in 2005, Julia was the individual Bronze Medalist in the North American Young Rider Championships CCI** as well as the Team Silver Medalist aboard her mare, Stina.  Julia soon thereafter moved her mare up to the Advanced level and placed second in their first Advanced Horse Trials at Plantation Field.  Julia again placed third at the Virginia CIC** aboard Stina in May of 2006, and then completed her first CIC*** at the Lamplight Equestrian Center. 

In 2007, Julia and her young horse In it to Win it won the Morven Park CCI,* as well as secured two additional wins at qualifying events.   Julia has trained with some of the best event riders in the world, including Major Jeremy Beale, Bonnie Mosser, Phillip Dutton, Buck Davidson, and Leslie Law.  Julia began competing in the show jumping world in November of 2007 in the Child/Adult Classics, under the instruction of Willie Tynan, and she will continue to expand her show jumping skills. 

Sarah Gray