Meet the Team
Breeder/Owner: Ellen Ziemer
Jerry Waddle and Ellen Ziemer were classmates at the Ohio State Veterinary School and married their Senior year. Ellen completed an internship and residency in large animal medicine at the UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine. She worked at New Bolton Center following her residency and in 1993 moved to North Carolina. Horse breeding grew to a serious passion and ultimately a full time job. She transitioned from eventing to dressage and has an equal passion for horses and ponies. She is dedicated to bringing US breeders to the level of international competition.
Breeder/Owner: Jerry Waddle
Jerry worked as a veterinary oncologist and part owner of a small animal emergency and speciatly hospital until 2018. In 2019 he joined Ellen fulltime in Pura Vida Farms.
Dressage Trainer: Kaitlin Blythe
Kaitlin operates Kaitlin Blythe Dressage in Rougemont, NC and Loxahatchee, FL in the winter. Kaitlin specializes in developing young horses up the levels, and teaching their owners to ride them effectively. Kaitlin has goals of representing her country on international teams, and is developing a string of horses with the potential to do so. Kaitlin’s accomplishments include training multiple horses to Grand Prix level, numerous plannings at the Festival of Champions and the National Young Horse Championships, earning team and individuals medals in U25 Nations cup competition, and winning the 2017 U25 Grand Prix national championships.
Dressage Trainer: Rachel Chowanec Kaney
Rachel Kaney started working with Lendon Gray when I was 8, and moved in to be her working student at 12. She had a very successful YR career with multiple top placings. She has been lucky enough to develop a few young horses up to GP. Rachel has her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals all with distinction. Her passion is developing happy horses up through the levels, and is has been working with Charlotte Bredahl since 2019.
Natural Horsemanship Trainer: Jim Thomas
Breeding and Barn Manager: Harmonie Williams
