Lauren Merkle
Trainer
I was born and raised in Howell, Mi, and have been around horses all my life. Growing up, my mother was a riding instructor to beginners and recreational riders, so I spent a lot of time in the barn, learning as much as possible. From a young age, I groomed for my uncle at horse shows, traveling to local, regional and world shows.
My successes began early with a walk trot National Championship, and six years later showed my own horse to a World Championship in Ideal Pinto Western. From there I started training and giving lessons as my youth show career came to an end, and successfully helped many recreational riders reach their goals or work through difficult situations with their horses. Realizing that I would eventually like to get back into the show arena prompted me to start seeking apprenticeship and working student jobs in an effort to further my own skills and become a more diverse rider. Although I come from a strongly western oriented background, I hope that jumping, dressage, and the world of the english sport horse will take my riding to new levels.
Ben Jaqueth
Breeding Manager
I was born and raised on our family farm in
Ohio
where we raised
cattle and crops. I started thinking about horses as a career at
the age of ten when I started working for a pony ride company. While
working for them, I learned handling, anatomy and proper care of the
hooves. T hen in high school I was in FFA and started helping our
neighbor take care of their horses in exchange for riding lessons.
After
high school, I went to The Ohio State University Agricultural
Technical Institute where I majored in Equine Production and
Management. While at college, I took classes in equine anatomy,
nutrition, health, and basic and advanced breeding classes. I also
worked for the schools equine facility where I was able to get
addition hands on experience in semen collection, processing, AI,
and foaling by working with the breeding manager. I then did a three
month internship at a trail ride facility in
Colorado
where
I spent the day taking guests out on trail rides that ranged from one
to four hours. I then graduated in 2004 with an Associate of Applied
Science Degree in Equine Production and Management with a
specialization in equine reproduction.
After
graduating I got a job at a standard bred breeding facility in
Ohio, where I worked in the
stables and assisted in the breeding shed with holding mares and
administering shots. I also worked with the babies and handled the
weaning process.
I took
the breeding manager position here in December of 2007. I take care
of collection, processing and shipping, AI, and
foaling.
Silvia Geyer
Trainer
Horses have been a passion of
mine ever since I can remember. Being born and raised in Austria,
horses were all around me. When I was younger, I knew I wanted
to work with them for a profession. I seriously began to pursue
working with them as a career, in 1999 and I enrolled at the
Professional School of Agriculture - Specialized Department of Horse
Economy in Austria. During my third year, I completed a full
year of practical training at two different stables. The first six
months were with the upper level dressage trainer and show rider
Isabella Willibald, and the next six months at Friesian stable
HTC-Hellmayr. In 2003, I graduated with honors and was ready
to put my training to use.
I then went to work for Trakehner Gestüt Gorlo, one of Germany’s largest and internationally
acclaimed breeding farms. Here I started young horses under saddle and prepared them for, and showed
them at competitions. In addition, I advanced the skills of mature horses, enabling us to compete at
higher levels. The experience and knowledge I gained at this farm, in addition to my formal training,
established a strong base for a career in training and competition.
Toward the end of my tenure at Trakehner Gestüt Gorlo, I had a strong desire to learn to train for
and compete at the higher levels. It was at the specialized Practical Training Program designed and
conducted by Olympic Rider Ingrid Klimke where I felt I could rapidly learn new skills. Under the
guidance of Ms. Klimke, I was trained in the Classic German riding method and I was able to feel what
it is like to ride experienced schoolmasters. We frequently worked with younger horses and I learned how
to bring them to the top.
I met David and Kevin in Spring of 2005
while I started their stallion Blitz und Donner under saddle.
They were pleased by my work with Blitz and offered me a job on
their farm as a trainer. Inspired by their passion for horses, and
intrigued by the idea of working and living in America, I gladly
accepted their offer.
