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

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.

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.

STEPHANIE BODA, INSTRUCTOR & CAMP COUNSELOR

Stephanie Boda comes to WCM via William Woods University in Missouri. Originally from Wisconsin, Stephanie has travelled and shown Morgans to great acclaim with several Top 10 placings at the Morgan Grand Nationals in Hunt Seat and Western Equitation. From representing the Morgans at the Midwest Horse Fair to participating with the Wisconsin Morgan Horse Club parade unit, her experiences have been in and out of the ring. She comes with essential knowledge of horsemanship, farm and health management, first aid, and basic business management. With experience teaching beginners and intermediate riders, she is highly competent and prepared. Stephanie works hard to provide quality, professional instruction and always with a contagious smile. We are very happy to have her as part of the WCM staff.

OPEN Working Student/Groom position

WCM is currently looking for someone wanting additional horse experience part-time (Tuesdays -Fridays from 9-4), in exchange for helping groom and take care of our show horses. Getting horses ready for work, and undone, bathing, clipping, maintaining the equipment, helping with the vet and blacksmith, and other miscellaneous barn work is needed. The hours/days can be adjusted and the reward is tremendous horse and training knowledge. Ultimately, getting paid to travel to shows in the future. Speaking spanish is helpful. Please contact Anne Winograd for more informaiton about joining our fantastic team.