VALARIE SIEMER, HEAD TRAINER

Valarie Siemer has been a well-respected horse professional for over 25 years. Valarie started riding at nine years of age in hunt seat and dressage with another renowned trainer, Colonel Kimball. She began showing Morgan horses as a teenager at Freedom Acres Farm in Tampa, where she added saddle seat to her repertoire. She taught riding and driving lessons to beginner through advanced riders. Valarie also worked concurrently with other trainers to broaden her skills. She showed Arabians for several years in-hand and over fences. She also learned and participated in breeding and foaling operations at the farm. In 1995, Valarie's business and clientele grew out of Freedom Acres Farm and moved to a larger local facility, aptly named Valarie Siemer Training Center. With increased growth and positive business changes, the entire operation moved to a custom, personalized facility in Odessa, known as West Coast Morgans, Inc. West Coast Morgans is home to thirty horses, primarily Morgans. The Morgans in training with Valarie compete throughout Florida and as far north as New England, as well as the Morgan Grand Nationals in Oklahoma.

Valarie has extensive experience training horses, from starting youngsters through post-accident retraining. She has trained all types of breeds, including Quarter Horses, Thoroughbreds, Saddlebreds, Tennessee Walkers, and Appoloosas. At West Coast Morgans, she trains horses from youngsters in hand to driving and under saddle. She and her clients have taken numerous top awards in all disciplines from saddle seat, pleasure driving, hunt seat, carriage, dressage, western, and trail. Her honors in the Morgans horse community are extensive. She has won several World and National Championships and National Trainer Awards. Her reputation on a national and local level is that she presents quality horses and has a tremendous sense of sportsmanship. In open competition against other breeds, her clients usually end up in the top ten percent of their classes.

Valarie represents her clients well and treats them with honesty and respect. Her integrity and work ethic offer positive examples to her clients and staff. She is the mother of three boys, and wife to a College Dean. She remains active in her church and local community. She also volunteers with the Florida Morgan Horse Association and contributes to national publications on Morgan horses.

We are glad to have her at West Coast Morgans.

ANNE WINOGRAD, TRAINER AND INSTRUCTOR

Anne Meredith Winograd graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 1990. A member of the top intercollegiate riding team in the country, Anne achieved honors as a hunt seat rider. Anne started riding as a child, and showing at eight years of age in New Canaan, Ct. In 1981, she won the Reserve Champion honors in the region against several hundred other children. She showed in open hunter/jumper competitions until moving to Tampa in 1981. She then competed throughout West Central Florida riding western and barrel racing. After graduating college, she moved to Boston and worked full-time for the management consultant firm, Bain & Company, Inc. She also taught beginning riding lessons for the Ken Edwards Riding School in Danvers, MA.

Anne has always been an industrious, goal-oriented person. She became one of the first equine physical therapists in the country, certified in equine sports massage. While co-barn managing the Longview Equestrian Facility, a 76 stall hunter/jumper barn in Danvers, MA, she trained and showed her Arabian stallion. Returning to Tampa in 1992 with three Arabian show horses and a Thoroughbred school horse, Anne taught riding lessons, promoted her equine massage business, and worked with her own horses. She also worked part-time as a veterinary technician for a local practitioner. She has since become a highly respected horsewoman for her skills in equine health care and physical conditioning.

Anne met Valarie Siemer when she asked to come and address the conditioning and sports therapy needs of the Morgan show horses at the barn. After working with Valarie and the Morgan horses, Anne took special notice in the extremely well-mannered and popular breed. The Morgan breed offered all disciplines for all disciplines for all levels of rider. Subsequently, Anne become more closely associated with Valarie Siemer and her clients, eventually marrying Morgan horse owner Glenn Winograd in 1997.

Anne showed several years under Valarie Siemer Training Center in the sport horse divisions throughout Florida, earning Florida Morgan High Point Awards beginning in 1995, while employed full-time in the health care industry. Leaving United HealthCare as the senior Corporate Technical Writer, Anne wrote on a freelance basis, and in 1998, began work as Valarie's Assistant Trainer and Instructor. She continues to train and show, is a certififed Equine Appraiser, and teaches a wonderful group of beginners through intermediate riders and drivers. Additionally, Anne has developed interests in several cottage industries including, hand-made saddle slip covers (www.AHorseor2.com), volunteer website development and support (www.FMHA.net, and THSA Academy program), and creating the concept for the future www.PrivateHorseProfessionals.com website. She is also working with a national manufacturer to launch a line of equine skin care products.

Anne coordinates all of the business management of West Coast Morgans, Inc. with assistance from Valarie Siemer and husband, Glenn. Anne & Glenn have a daughter, Rachael and two dogs, Duchess and Raisin.

LORI DOUGLAS, INSTRUCTOR AND HEAD GROOM

Lori started showing Morgan horses throughout New Jersey, New England, and Pennsylvania as a young child under trainer William Powell. She won several high point awards in saddle seat, even showing yearlings successfully in-hand. After her family moved to the Tampa area, she rode American Saddlebreds with Evelyn Stevens and Gerald Moores. She showed her horse Wild Card successfully throughout the Southeast in the 3-gaited Pleasure division.

For over ten years, Lori has worked with Valarie Siemer as the Head Groom and back-up coach at the horse shows throughout the country. Her knowledge of presentation and turnout is immeasurable to the WCM team. We are thrilled that she has made several evenings a week and Saturday time available in her busy schedule to help share her knowledge with our teriffic group of up-and-coming students.

KIM READ GRAFF, College Certified Riding Instructor & Trainer

Kim is a fantastic addition to our team. She comes with an impressive professional equine resume. She is a 1978 graduate of Meredith Manor, certified as an instructor and trainer. Like Valarie Siemer, Kim was a student of renowned trainer Colonel Kimball, and also rode with Ruth Gimpel. Kim has trained horses and taught riding lessons internationally at the Singapore Polo Club and Bangkok Equestrian Center in Thailand. She's also spent time riding cross country jumpers with England's Olympic Champion, Tony Hill, at his stable in Devon, England. After living overseas, Kim returned to the US where she owned and operated a horse farm in north Tampa for 9 years. During this time she re-trained Thoroughbreds off the race track, placing them in new disciplines, mostly Hunter or Dressage, with loving new owners. In addition to these experiences that taught her how to recognize the needs of horses and their owners', Kim invented several horse products. One of which, the Safesoak bucket, put her on national TV (RFD TV) in a 'Product Spotlight" production.

She comes to WCM with over 40 years of riding experience. Kim always has a smile and good advice to share. Her expertise in hunt seat and dressage contributes to her balanced Saddle Seat perspective. Her enthusiasm and creativity is boundless when it comes to caring for horses, and her students. The horses and riders all benefit from the high level of detail in her work. We are excited to have her on the WCM team.

CLAIRE KARST, INSTRUCTOR AND GROOM

Claire is currently in college and working on transferring to William Woods University for a Bachelors in Equine Studies degree. In the meantime, she helps at the farm with summer camp, teaching, and working with Valarie Siemer, our Head Trainer. While we will be sad to see her go next year, we are very glad to have Claire with us, as she contributes nicely to the WCM team. Her attention to detail is tremendous, and she brings with her great knowledge and experience with all facets of the Saddle Seat discipline. She is already a wonderful equine professional, and we are grateful for her time with us.

LINDA HAMPTON, GROOM

Linda has recently returned to horses and to her Valarie's side. Linda has been a successful barn owner, horse owner, has shown extensively in several divisions and loves the animals. She joins us part-time during the week to help Val prepare horses for work, and fills in the gaps where help is needed. Her experience with Morgans is a huge asset to WCM and we are very grateful to have her back in our lives again.

ALIX FIORINO, INSTRUCTOR ASSISTANT AND CAMP COUNSELOR

Alix is a college student at Hillsborough Community College, looking forward to transferring to William Woods University for an Equine Studies degree in the not too distant future. She comes with a fantastic resume of riding and showing hunt seat in the open-breed industry. Her background includes a great deal of teaching, from beginner riders on up. She is currently adding some saddle seat experience, and we are looking forward to her showing in that division as well. She is a great teacher and will be back to help with WCM Camp again. During the school year, she comes out and helps get the novice students tacked and untacked as well as started in the ring with warm-up exercises. This is an incredible help with lesson scheduling, as well as random farm management issues that arise.

BRITTANY SIMMONS, SENIOR CAMP COUNSELOR AND INSTRUCTOR

Our past Summer Camp leader who left to pursue wonderful liberal arts education in TN, returns to run the WCM Horse Camp program with her excellent staff of Junior Counselors. Brittany has a great deal of hands-on showing experience in the western divisions, and teaching lessons. She is soft-spoken leader with a tremendous work ethic and positive attitude. We are thrilled to have her at the farm around her whenever she is back in town.

TAYLOR EKOVICH, CAMP COUNSELOR AND INSTRUCTOR

Taylor is one of our advanced riders who has great experience as part of our WCM Camp and Birthday Party Crew. She brings experience showing at the national level in the English Pleasure and Hunter Divisions, and lots of energy and a great love of horses to our program. Currently in high school, Taylor manages teaching a limited number of lessons and working on her own training projects for additional experience.

CASEY STEIN, CAMP COUNSELOR AND INSTRUCTOR

Casey is one of our very first WCM riders, and has been a key part of our WCM Camp and Birthday Party Crew. She shows throughout the country in the Classic Pleasure Saddle and Driving divisions. A savvy horse owner already, she is an excellent teacher and has great patience with the kids and animals. She sets an excellent example to all those around her. Also in High School, Casey is working on her riding and driving skills while doing some a la carte training to add experience to her equestrian resume.

SHARON BROWN, SALES AGENT

We are pleased to announce that Sharon Brown has officially joined the WCM staff as our new Sales Agent. Sharon has assisted WCM in many capacities over the years from searching the web for prospects, to online marketing. We are looking forward to utilizing her skills to help WCM clients buy and sell their fine horses. She has a diverse horse background ranging from the dressage ring to the team roping arena. Sharon has an unwavering love of the Morgan breed and is always happy to talk "Morgan". We are excited about Sharon coming on board and are looking forward to providing our clients a stress free and pleasant buying/selling experience.