Just like any successful program we can’t operate alone. Below is a list of the members of our team. Below are people that we appreciate and would like to introduce you to because we have found them to be an asset to our program.

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NEW TEAM MEMBER – Lori Nelson

Lori Nelson is a Pilates Method Alliance Certified Instructor and owns her own Pilates studio located in the chiropractic office of Dr. Kenneth Toy in Temecula, CA. about 5 miles from our facility. She earned her B.S. degree in Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas and has used this formal education to enhance her understanding of the human body . Lori has been an intricate part of the Stepping Stones Program. Lori’s skills have helped balance riders and build coordination which is vital in developing an independent seat and to be able to build and maintain the balance of our horses. Lori not only works with our students but she keeps our head trainer Dacia in great health minimizing the wear and tear that professional riders are prone to. Lori is also an avid rider which makes her role as a pilates instructor even more beneficial because she understands the job that she is building her students for. As we do at Stepping Stones, Lori trains with a very positive and detailed technique that makes you feel instant gratification from the work you are putting into building your balanced body. We would like to encourage anyone who wants the most out of their riding to consider working with Lori in addition to their riding lessons. Please contact Stepping Stones for any interest you may have in our hosted horseback pilates sessions and clinics that will be paired with studio work or contact Lori direct to set up an appointment or clinic for your own facility.

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Kristina Novak

Kristina Novak

Not only is Kristina Novak a very accomplished amateur hunter rider, breeder, and farm owner but she also ads a very important role to our equine business. She is an Equine Appraiser who gives us a value not based on our emotions for our horses. This provides as a huge resource for understanding the current market and our horses as investments. She puts a wonderful package together explaining the value and providing comps and projections perfect for our investment portfolios. Novak’s experience in both the Equine and the real estate market help her to fully understand value.

She is a huge asset to us for her professional skills, riding ability on our show team, and her friendship.

Please visit her website for a full list of her services: www.KristinaNovak.com

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VETERINARY SERVICES

Dr. Chris Huth at Temeku Equine Veterinary Hospital is very dedicated to our program. He is located less than 1 mile from our program and and is not only an amazing veterinarian but a great friend. His family’s professional and personal support for us, our horses and our athletic career goals makes him the perfect fit for our program. He is excellent in sports medicine and keeps our horses at the top of their game. Dr. Huth has excellent horsemanship and personal skills as well as having an amazing ability and feel for preventative medicine, diagnostics and treatments. We work with him for all our performance horses needs in the US and internationally. Please call him for any US or international pre-purchases, Lameness Evaluations, Acupuncture, Breeding, Dentistry, or routine healthcare for any breed and discipline. (951) 595-5767 www.temekuequine.com

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DIANA MURAVEZ

In 1976 Diana Muravez began the study of Dressage. Her teachers through the process were Jurgen Mainzer, Gerhard Politz, Dietrick Von Hopfgarten, Alexsandra Howard and Mary Wanless.

Diana had earned the USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold medals on self-trained horses. She has ridden in Europe as well as the US and demonstrated an exhibition ride for the 84′ Olympic games.

She began teaching dressage in 1978 and believes seat and position the cornerstone to developing a harmonious relationship in riding. Harmony with the horse being of utmost importance.

Today Diana must limit the number of private students due to her busy schedule as the Treasurer of California Dressage Society, secretary of many dressage shows, and scoring at many more shows. She does however, teach clinics every month and invite full training clients into the Stepping Stone Program at SCEC where she and head Trainer Dacia Peters work together bringing dressage horses along as well as working with the jumpers to improve balance and power for their course work. For availability in the Stepping Stone program at SCEC please contact head trainer Dacia Peters.

Please contact Diana for information on participating or hosting a clinic DianaLoire@aol.com

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FARRIER SERVICE and MUCH (a)more: MARIO IMPERATO

Mario Imperato provides our farrier services and much more. As an amateur rider in show jumping and dressage with a background riding race horses Mario is a HUGE asset to our team. Mario not only has his horses in our program but shows (wins) consistently with us. Mario has an expert eye on balance and conformation. He knows and understands the horses competitive needs and their biomechanics. Mario has exceptional horsemanship skills and an inventive creativity that solves problems in a precise fashion. Every Veterinarian who has x-rayed a horse’s feet after Mario has worked on them boasts his ability to see and feel balance to perfection. Most of Mario’s clientele are top dressage, Show jumpers, and hunter/jumpers who many compete internationally. Please Contact Mario to make an appointment (951) 440-2801

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GROOM EXTRAORDINAIRE – LUIS

Is our head groom and is who keeps everyone looking ready to win their competitions. He knows and cares for our horses as if they were his own and his hard work is very much appreciated. He is very much involved in the progress of our horses and helps in the process of starting our young horses by being very patient and firm at the right times and helping us legging up for the first time. From the first bath to the first time clipped to the first time tied it is a group project and we enjoy working with him.

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SANDRA J BRUNET

Sandy is responsible for providing us our balanced Diet at Stepping Stones and has introduced us to many great products. Our Introduction began with Chaffhaye who we are now sponsored by and who is mentioned below. After working with her with this product and experiencing her passion for the people and horses around her we branched off to a new path with her as our hay broker through www.VolwoodFarms.com and tied our Chaffhaye and grass hay together with products from King Feeds We have a very balanced diet and excellent service not only from someone who we appreciate her friendship and support of our program but someone we respect and trust with our fuel for our horses.

Bio

Not only is Sandy a very successful business person but has earned a degree in Chemistry with advanced studies in Biochemistry and Business.

After more than 20 years of serving the pharmaceutical and research communities, Sandy’s lifelong passion of preventing illness instead of treating it, led to the creation of The Holistic Horseman. She is dedicated to educate the public and equine professionals about the use of natural solutions to prevent and speed recovery from injury and illness for riders and their equine partners.

Please contact Sandy @ 1-800-573-1461 to get on track with top complex products delivered and paired in a balanced and easy way.

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CHRISTY SICA L.M.T.

“Our Riders are Athletes” and need to be treated with care and at least as well as our horses. Christy Sica keeps our riders and other professionals in one piece though her therapeutic techniques allowing the riders body to move and flow WITHOUT pain as we expect our horses to.

Christy Sica is a Licensed Massage Therapist and Acupuncturist. She received her Associates Degree in Occupational Studies, specializing in Medical Massage. She also received her Master’s Degree in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
She has recently relocated to Southern California and is very excited about continuing her practice working with athletes and others who are passionate about their well being, and who understand how important it is to keep themselves well maintained for optimal performance.

Being an athlete all her life she understands the high demands that training can take on the body both physical and mentally. She has seen many injuries due to over training and not replenishing the body correctly.

She specializes in correcting the musculoskeletal disorders, using certain techniques involving deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy, active isolated stretching and applying topical liniments that are all made with natural Chinese herbs that decrease inflammation and increase proper blood circulation throughout the body.

Christy has worked with professional athletes in the past at PGA tours and U.S. Open events. As a therapist it is important to understand the high demands that athletes put on themselves and to work with all of them individually educating them on how crucial it is to be at their peak performance for a successful and exciting outcome.

“The end result is only as gratifying and exciting as noticing the journey that brought you here.”

Please contact Christy to make an appointment (561) 445-7740

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