Meet the 2010 Olympic Dream Program Participants and Chaperones

Brian Hafner (CA)

Brian has been riding competitive dressage for the past ten years.  Originally from Minnesota, he moved to California to further his Dressage training.  In 2008, he began working with his current trainer, Laurie Falvo Doyle.  Briand and his 11 year old horse, Lombardo LHF, have been a pair for the past six years.  In 2009 they led the Region 7 North American Young Rider Team to a team gold medal, being the top scoring horse and rider pair.  The pair also took home the Individual Bronze and Freestyle Silver medals.  Brian and Lombardo continue to work together and are working towards competing in the Brentina Cup and on to Grand Prix.  Brian is currently based in central California, where he is beginning to build a training clientele.  When Brian is not riding, he continues to work on his Bachelor's Degree in Business.

Kristen Schwaegerle (NH)

Kristen fell in love with horses and riding as a young child, and spent the next several years eventing and advancing through the levels of Pony Club.  In 2008 she became the second person in the country to receive their Dressage A rating.  Over the years, she rode and trained a number of challenging and unlikely horses to successful show careers, each of which taught her a great deal about horsemanship, riding, and life.  Kristen's focused career in Dressage started in 2006, when her mother puchased a 6 year old Paint horse and was further facilitated by her partnership with Diwandre, a mature schoolmistress, in 2008.  Kristen has since competed to Intermediare I with Diwandre and has trained Jester from Training Level to schooling Grand Prix. 

In May 2010, Kristen graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, and a B.A. in Journalism.  While in school, Kristen balanced her academic commitments with training multiple horses, managing a small family farm, and volunteering as an EMT.  Kristen has won several year-end awards and in 2009 whe was honored to receive The Dressage Foundation's Amanda Ward Scholarship in addition to winning the Region 8 Young Rider Championships.  Kristen looks forward to continuing to train horses with the goal of competing in the Brentina Cup and at Grand Prix.

Mimi Stanley (ND)

(Photo Courtesy of Bob Tarr)

Mimi is a 20 year old North Dakota Native with a passion for Dressage.  She and her family own and operate Prairie Rose Farm and Training Center in Bismarck, ND where she trains, teaches, and shows professionally.  With her mother, Karla Stanley, as her coach and trainer and an occasional clinic she has worked on her dressage education.

In 2003 she won three Top Tens at the Arabian Youth Nationals in dressage with two horses that were raised and trained at Prairie Rose Training Center, PR Merrylegs and PR Stephanite.  In 2005 she purchased EA Cygnus, a Grand Prix Arabian gelding, as a schoolmaster and began a successful partnership.  Together they completed “Cyg’s” USDF Horse Achievement Awards at Prix Saint George and Grand Prix.  Mimi competed her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals on Cygnus and Merrylegs.  In 2008 she was a working student a Tempel Farms for the spring and had the opportunity to ride in some of the performances.  In 2008 Mimi won seven USDF All-Breed Awards and was Jr/YR Horse of The Year at Grand Prix.  She was also an alternate for the Olympic Dream Trip.  In 2009 Mimi won two National Championships at Intermediate II and Grand Prix Freestyle and the Arabian Sport Horse Nationals.

She is currently training at Prairie Rose Training Center and will be competing her own and client’s horses throughout the season.  She has competed the first four sessions of the L Judges Program with intentions of judging in the future.  She also completed her Associate of Arts in Business Administration from Bismarck State College and will be continuing on to pursue a Major in Agribusiness at North Dakota State College.  She plans to continue riding and training during college.  Mimi’s long term goal is to compete Internationally in dressage.

Christine Stephenson (CA)

Christine, 22, lives and trains in Laguna Hills, California. She is a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist. In 2006 she competed in the USEF FEI Junior team championships and was on the silver medal team. In 2008 she was on the Region 7 North American Young Rider Championship team. The region won the team gold and Christine placed 8th individually. Last year she and her current horse, ”Markant”, were a part of the Region 7 NAYRC team where she won a second consecutive team gold and placed 4th individually in the freestyle. They were also a part of the 2009 USEF Young Rider National Championships and placed 4th overall with an average score over 68%. Christine’s 2010 competition goal is to qualify for the Brentina Cup Championships in Gladstone, New Jersey. Another personal goal was achieved with being accepted into The Dressage Foundation's Olympic Dream Program. She is very excited to have been awarded the unique opportunity to expand the knowledge of her sport.

Ann Guptill (CT) - Chaperone

Ann giving instruction to a Dressage student.

Ann is a professional dressage rider, trainer and instructor. She is a USDF Certified Instructor and USDF Instructor Certification faculty member. She has won numerous regional and national titles at all levels of Dressage, with her career highlights including the 1987 Pan American Games Team Dressage Silver Medal, and 4th place finishes at the US League Finals for the Dressage World Cup in 1990 and 1991. Ann competes a variety of breeds and types of horses in dressage and enjoys teaching students of all levels at her Fox Ledge Farm in East Haddam, CT (www.foxledgefarm.net).  In addition she and her husband, Ed Iarusso, operate Equestrian Arts Productions (www.equestrianartsproductions.net), a musical freestyle company that has produced freestyles for other Pan Am Games medalists including Christopher Hickey in 2007 and Carol Lavell in 2003.

Annie Morris (NY) - Chaperone

Annie has been riding since she was six, and focusing on Dressage almost immediately.  She grew up in Arizona, working with many different types of horses including her own Arabian gelding that she got at age four and has trained herself through Grand Prix.  She has competed through Prix St. George and has received her silver medal.  She also is a certified USDF Instructor through 4th level.  Annie has been training with Lendon Gray for the last three and a half years, arriving in New York as a working student but now as an assistant trainer and the barn manager of HW Dressage (formerly Gleneden Dressage).  She’s ridden in clinics with several amazing teachers including Lilo Fore, Debbie McDonald and Conrad Schumacher and plans to become an international quality trainer.

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