MEET THE STAFF

Kimberly LaFave, or "Ms. Kim" as we know her is the Proprietor and Program Director of Copper Ridge Farm. A graduate of George Mason University (BA, English) she has been actively volunteering with young people since 1991, from academic tutoring to conducting conflict resolution workshops through the National Coalition Building Institute. She is currently the Youth Leader for the Lovettsville Charge of the United Methodist Church and attends seminary at Earlham School of Religion. She also leads the Sign Language ministry for Bethel United Methodist Church and teaches "Godly Play" a Montessori-based Elementary aged Sunday School program. Wanting to combine her love of horses with her desire to provide quality, fun and educational experiences for young people led to the development of this camp. She lives at Copper Ridge Farm all year with her family, including husband, Greg, and home educated daughter, Emily, who serves as the lead instructor for the riding program.

Emily LaFave has been riding and working with horses for the past nine years. She received instruction which emphasized the importance of a quality, balanced seat. As a result, Emily has had the privilege to explore and enjoy a number of disciplines, both English and Classical Western Stock Seat. She has integrated this philosophy into the instruction she provides to clients at Copper Ridge Farm. Emily started out doing pony hunters. She has been a member of the United States Pony Club since 2000, where she has excelled in Combined Training, Dressage, Show Jumping and Games. She is currently rated at a traditional C-3 level, and will be pursuing her B rating in the Spring. She has also excelled in horsemanship and hippology as evidenced by her success with the Loudoun County 4-H Regional and Virginia State Hippology and Horse Judging Competitions.
Among Emily's many accomplishments are

USPC Virginia Region Junior D Quiz Champion 2001
USPC Capital Region Junior Games Team Champion 2004
USPC Capital Region Senior Games Team Champion 2005
USPC Capital Region Dressage Champion 2006
USPC National Dressage 2nd Place Musical Freestyle 2007
USPC National Show Jumping Individual High Point 2008
USPC National Show Jumping 2nd Place Equitation 2008
International Fjord Evaluation & Show High Point Junior Rider Champion 2008

Emily is consistently in the ribbons in English hunters, jumpers and equitation. She has trained under clinicians Wendy Murdoch and Ron McLoughlin, as well as eventing instructor, Matt Flynn. She also appears in Wendy Murdoch's "Simplify Your Riding" Series DVD. Currently, she enjoys eventing her thoroughbred, Teddy, and has a number of client horses in training at the Beginner Novice through Preliminary levels.

Amy Wilkinson started riding 12 years ago at the Great Falls Horse Center, where she trained in dressage with Melanie Walker. She became particularly interested in working with ponies and has trained numerous ponies and horses in dressage, hunters, jumpers and eventing. She gained much experience as a working student for two Advanced level event riders. Currently, Amy is a B-level Pony Clubber, preparing for her HA in the Spring. Among her achievements, Amy has attended United States Pony Club Nationals in Eventing, Games and Show Jumping.

Contact camp@copperridgefarm.org or call us (571) 246-2278