Meet the Team
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.
Currently, she is developing Szynergy. He is a 2018 Black Hanoverian gelding (Sezuan x Amperetta) acquired by Pura Vida Farm in 2021 with the goal of developing him for top sport. Right now he is in Wellington for the 2024 season until April
Young Horse Trainer: Danielle Akin Sintoni
Danielle is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist with a passion for bringing up young horses. Her career started as a working student for Conrad Schumacher's Farm, Hofgut Neuhof, in Dreieich, Germany. While she was there she worked for and alongside Conrad Schumacher, Ellen Bontje, and Sven Rothenberger. Back in the US she warmed up horses for Margie Goldenstiein-Engle at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington before opening her own farm with Rene in Ontario, CAN and then Newberry, FL. The facility in Ontario was accredited for AI to collect and freeze stallions for import or export.
Danielle's training system produces sound, willing partners that want to try their best because they are treated fairly. She has a very extensive resume including numerous Horse of the Year awards and bringing previously problematic horses to the upper levels. She is based out of Windswept Farm in Huntersville, North Carolina.
Dressage Trainer & Riding Instructor: Jennifer Heiskell
Jennifer Heiskell moved to Hillsborough from Atlanta, GA where she has been a freelance dressage trainer and riding instructor part-time. She also works from home as an Information Security Engineer during the day. In her younger years, she was a barn manager and assistant trainer for Dressage trainers including Jodie Kelly and Tami Batts for several years. Jennifer currently has her USDF silver medal and has over a decade of experience training young horses to FEI and beginner to professional riders in not only Dressage but also incorporating Dressage principles to riders in other disciplines as well.
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.
Assistant Trainer: Izze Long
Izze started working as an assistant to Kaitlin Blythe (Pura Vida's head trainer) in November after working for JJ Tate, Ashley Perkins, and Eliza Sydnor. She earned her USDF Bronze Medal and is working to earn her Silver Medal with her coming 7 year old KWPN gelding that she got as a 3 year old. She has a passion working with young horses and has been focusing her learning on this for the past couple of years since she made the decision to become a professional. She has goals of developing young horses to show in national young horse shows while also progressing her own horses to the Grand Prix. She aims to help clients by developing long term equine partners and teaching them to ride effectively and sympathetically. Additionally, She loves to work with pony club and other local organizations to instill classical principles in young riders that will stick with them for life!
Eventing Trainer: The Frame Sporthorses
Martin Douzant & Joe DeSantis
