Michael grew up in Florida riding and showing as a working student with Alan Korotkin at Castlewood Farm. In his junior years, Michael found success in both the equitation and jumper rings earning ribbons at many major finals. After turning professional in 2006 Michael took his first training job with the Korotkin’s, where he worked for 4 years. Following Michael's time at Castlewood, he held positions at several other successful top training barns on the “A” circuit including two years as Assistant Trainer at North Run and six years with Sweet Oak Farm. While at Sweet Oak, Michael's students earned gold medals in the Prix de States, Young Riders as well as the U25 championship at the National Horse Show.

Michael takes great pride in the fact that his riders have earned wins at Devon, Pony Finals, Indoors and the Winter Equestrian Festival - and thanks to their successes he was honored with the Leading Trainer Award during Junior Weekend at Harrisburg.

Michael’s dream was always to start his own business. In 2017, he opened Grafton Ridge and his style and coaching technique has already brought many successes to his students in the show ring and beyond. Michael believes a confident, educated rider is the one that wins.

Vanessa fell in love with horses at a young age while taking riding lessons at a small family farm in Stamford, Connecticut. Far away from the show circuit, she nourished her passion while riding anything she could sit on in the back-country woods. That pressure free equestrian environment gave her the tools to understand the horse and approach training in less conventional way that has shaped the way she trains today.

Vanessa earned a B.A. at UMASS Amherst where the head coach of the riding program connected her with eventing riders Karen and David O’Connor. Vanessa worked with the O'Connor Olympic horses as a groom for two and a half years. The time with Karen and David's horses provided an unparalleled educated in the highest level of horse care and barn management. That experience that has proven invaluable throughout her equestrian career.

Vanessa moved on to the Boulder Brook Equestrian Center in 2007 where she worked as a trainer for 13 years. In 2019, Vanessa decided to venture out on her own until her partnership with Michael and Grafton Ridge.

Vanessa's unique style which incorporates a mindful approach to the training of both horse and rider incorporates a positive and relaxed environment to the stables. Vanessa has worked extensively with Daniel Stewart and his Pressure Proof Academy. The Pressure Proof Academy is an equestrian sports psychology program, where they not only focus on physical coaching but mental training as well. She keeps active in the program as an assistant coach during training camps and is excited to be featured as a contributing author in his next book.

In an effort to find balance in her hectic schedule, Vanessa discovered yoga. After several years of dedicated practice, Vanessa along with her friend and co-creator Erinn Cayehal Chang developed EquestriOM, an innovative, sport-specific conditioning for equestrians. EquestriOm blends conventional training with yoga, breath work and mindfulness.

Vanessa is driven by her vision to empower riders both in and out of the show ring. The opportunity to inspire riders toward reaching their peak performance goals and spend every day with horses is a dream come true.

Krista grew up learning to ride in both Asia and Europe, before moving to New Jersey at age 11 and competing successfully as a junior on a national level in both the hunters and equitation. After aging out of the junior divisions, she continued to compete as an amateur while receiving her Bachelor’s degree at Skidmore College, and her MBA at Union. For several years she pursued a career in alternative energy, but eventually realized her true passion was in the horse world.

After turning professional in 2012, Krista got her start in training at Back Country Farm, and over the last eleven years she has worked as an assistant trainer and manager at several top programs, including Arcadia Farm, Findlay’s Ridge, and Brianne Goutal LLC. She has coached students from the pony divisions all the way up to the FEI and U25 level, with numerous championship titles and ribbons at the top shows in the country, including Devon, Indoors, Pony Finals, and Junior Hunter Finals.

Krista’s favorite aspect of the horse show industry is the opportunity to train students over the long term, helping them achieve their goals as they grow from the starting levels to the top tier of the sport. She has several past students that she worked with from their start in the pony divisions all the way through their wins in the equitation, junior hunters, and junior jumpers.