Vick Russell is a third-generation equestrian trainer, still active with horses in his 70s. He owns Ly-Nard Hills Farm in Columbus, NC where he specializes in sale horses and training hunters and jumpers.

He has six children; four of whom are competitive equestrians. Vick has more than 60 years of experience riding and training horses, and continues to compete. He is the author of Vick Russell Competition System: The concise and in-touch reality of competition riding.

Unlike other equestrians, Vick didn't start with a pony, he started out with a horse. But all riders start somehere, with a horse or pony they long rememeber.

Kristen Vanderveen runs Bull Run Jumpers, a training and sales stable in Wellington, FL. She began managing the stables at age 18. Riding her current mount, Bull Run's Risen, since 2018 has led to a run of successes including winning the show jumping competition in 2021 at the Traverse City Tournament of Champions and claiming the Horse & Style Magazine Style of Riding Award. (The award celebrates a rider who stands out as respectful, dignified, and courteous.) In 2021 she received the Martha Jolicoeur Leading Lady Rider Award at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. Kristen is known for riding fast and for sporting a signature ponytail that makes her instantly recognizable in the ring.

A lifelong equestrian, Daniel Geitner has moved up from ponies to horses to owning his own stable with his wife, Cathy, in Aiken, SC. Riding and competing is a family affair. Their daughter, Lilly rides and is following in her parent's footsteps with wins of her own.

The results page on the stable's website shows a slew of recent wins for Daniel including a recent set of wins for the whole family.

May 10, 2023 - April was a successful month, with Cathy taking home the Leading Open Rider award at the Aiken Horse Show in the Woods and Daniel winning the $15,000 USHJA International Derby aboard Magnolia Lane Stables LLC's Coltrane and the $25,000 Aiken Spring Classic Grand Prix with November Hill's Jalanne at the Aiken Spring Classic Masters.

Daniel also had a top three sweep of the $25,000 Carolina Real Estate Grand Prix at the Aiken Spring Classic Finale: 1st on Hoekstra Stables's Katlin W, 2nd on Brewport Stables LLC's Cadir 5, and 3rd on Paige Drury's Fernhill 13. Madelyn Godard and Equus Events - Jean Paul Godard's MTM Conan G won the $2,000 NAL/WIHS Child/Adult Jumper Classic, and Ella Bragg took home the win in USHJA 3'3" Hunter Seat Medal. Circuit Championships were earned in the Green Hunter divisons by Daniel with Margaret Russell's Even Steven and Quassini.

At HITS Ocala Daniel and Mr. Manhattan won the $50,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.

In the $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3'6”-3'9” Hunter Derby, Geitner and Easy Money (Fairbanks x Stutbuch) owned by Laura Cramer, achieved an overall score of 185 and the win. Daniel also won the $15,000 UF Veterinary Hospital 3′ Open Hunter Derby, on Don Stewart's Story Hour

Easy Win For Daniel Geitner & Easy Money In The $20,000 Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club 3'6”-3'9” Hunter Derby At WEC – Ocala

He also calculates he has won more than 50 Gran Prix's and likely as many as 70-80.

All the success Daniel has enjoyed, started with one pony.