Alan Griffin

Alan aboard Inpetto

Alan Griffin, Head Trainer
Sherry Gagliardi, Assistant Trainer
Kelsey Buchanan, Assistant Trainer
Natalie Gizzi, Assistant Trainer

David Bermudez

Alison Potter

Dr. Robert Madison, President
James Buchanan, Vice President
Amanda Gunthel, Treasurer
Sue McGraw, Secretary
Nat MacDonald, Secretary
Susan Knapp
Alison Potter
Dr. Max Gahwyler
Theresa Bowling

Alan Griffin
General Manager and Director of Riding

Alan Griffin hails from Ireland. He began his competitive horse show career at age 13. He was highly successful showing pony jumpers, and was a member of the winning team at the Dublin International.

His successes continued as he moved up to horses. He was a member of the Junior European Championship Team, where he represented Ireland at Hickstead and at the finals in Belgium. He was a member of the Young Rider International Team representing Ireland at the Wales and West, Hickstead, and the finals in Austria. He was the winner at the International Young Rider Championship at Millstreet International.

Since arriving in the United States, Alan has continued his work with horses at the highest levels. He the continuation of his career in the US began by riding with World Cup rider Molly Ashe at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, and then went on to work at October Farm in Greenwich, Connecticut as Barn Manager and Rider. Alan has continued to ride and train with other professionals and at numerous prestigious facilities in the Fairfield-Westchester County area, notably with Olympian McClain Ward, as well as with Molly Ashe, and at Three Phase Equestrian Farm, Lionshare Farm and Vail Farm. Alan has competed throughout the East Coast accumulating numerous wins including the $25,000 Classic in New Jersey.

Most recently, Alan showed, prepared and trained for Soundview Farm and Comfortside Farm. His sound riding and training skills earned many championships in 2005. He trained the summer Circuit Champion at HITS in the Amateur-Owner hunters. He competed in the Regular Working Hunters on Night Cap, and earned high rankings in the Zone 1 year-end awards and the National Standings.

Alan plans to continue his winning ways in all aspects of the hunter, jumper and equitation arenas as Manager at Ox Ridge Hunt Club.

Sherry Gagliardi

We are fortuate to have Sherry Gagliardi back with us. She has a tremendous knowledge of the business and is known for her hard work and dedication to the horses and the students that she teaches.

Sherry grew up in North Salem, NY and started riding when she was 5 years old. She has worked with many top horsemen including Scott Stewart here at Ox Ridge Hunt Club in the 1990's, where Sherry acted as assistant barn manager and full time show groom. She has worked for Ray Maloney at Cedar Lodge Farm and at Fox Hill Farm for Jane Grenci. Sherry also worked at Beval Saddlery from 1993 to 2006. She has also studied Animal and Equine Husbandry at SUNY Cobleskill.

Kelsey Buchanan

Kelsey grew up in Darien, CT riding at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club as a child. She then spent her Junior years training & competing with highly respected Kip Rosenthal. From 2002-2005 she qualified & competed at New England Finals, Maclay Regionals/Nationals, USEF Finals, PHA Medal Finals and CHJA Masters Medal Finals. In 2004 she won the CHJA Masters Medal Finals riding “Almost Famous.”

Kelsey has traveled to Belgium, Europe where she showed several sales horses at Stephex Stable. She ended her Junior career competing in the High Junior Jumper division riding her horses “Ovilien” & “Ground Clearance,” qualifying & making the year-end Prix de States team. Kelsey has won high ribbons in equitation, hunter & jumper rings, thus bringing a broad range of knowledge & experience to the table with her students.

Natalie Gizzi

We welcome Natalie, as she is the newest addition to our staff and program. As a child Natalie trained at Arcadia Farm, displaying competitiveness in the Pony Hunter divisions. She decided to take time off from riding to focus on her education at The University of Vermont. After graduating, she immediately got back into the saddle. Natalie then competed in the High Junior A/O Jumper divisions. As a result of displaying high levels of technique in the Jumper ring, Natalie earned top ribbons. Now she has turned professional and is competing at Grand Prix level. We are fortunate to have Natalie on board!

Alan, Sherry, Kelsey and Natalie all bring a high level of professionalism and a love of horses, training and teaching to Ox Ridge.