CVF RIDING & HORSEMANSHIP STAFF

Our team of lesson and camp riding and horsemanship instructors share the philosophy that riding should always be fun and safe – and they know how to provide a positive experience for every level of rider.  If you are looking for additional services—horse training, coaching at horse shows on the road, buying or selling horses and ponies, Chagrin Valley Farms-based trainers can help you transition to the next level.

Aubrey Fait

Head Trainer & Director of Horsemanship

Aubrey is a professional hunter/jumper trainer and instructor with a proven track record of building, growing, and managing high revenue-producing lesson programs, coaching students to success at top national shows, and matching clients to horses in pursuit of their goals. She has guided clients from their first pony to their first Pony Finals, and from their first horse to their first International Hunter Derby.

Not only is she passionate about helping her students grow and meet their goals, but she also has the experience necessary to chart their paths to success. Throughout her career, she has had the opportunity to take clients to major shows and finals across the country, including venues like Saugerties, Kentucky Horse Park, Ocala, Chicago, Aiken, and Devon, to name a few, and has coached students successfully from the local level through the “AA” rated level.

Francis Lamas

Assistant Trainer

Francis brings a wealth of experience to our program. Having grown up on a horse farm, she helped train horses, teach students, and care for the horses alongside her mother. Her background includes dressage and Hunter/Jumper, and she has competed at prestigious venues like WEF and HITS in jumper and equitation divisions. She also competed in IEA and placed fifth in the nation. Francis is passionate about working with horses and helping students excel at all levels.

Barbara Pobuk

Instructor

Barb comes to Chagrin Valley Farms with 20+ years of experience within the equine industry. Throughout her more than 20 years of equine experience, Barb’s passion for this industry shines through her amazing accomplishments during this time. She managed large show, breeding and boarding facilities, developed and taught a wide variety of programs and competed, winning an outstanding number of awards. Barb began her equine career straight out of high school working at a hunter/jumper show barn (Hunter Hill Stables) in Fort Wayne Indiana. Here she dove into her teaching career while gaining barn management experience working under the Owners/Trainers Robin Bode & Ed Bunsold. One of her most educational experiences took place at the Freeland Farms Arabian Stables where she managed their breeding program. Working side by side the barns Argentina Veterinarian she assisted in multiple embryo transfers.  Spending  time at McDonald’s Stables working under the guidance of her life long friend Nora McDonald-Yaney, Grand Prix rider & Trainer.  Barb was able to add to her knowledge in the hunter/jumper  arena with Nora.  Traveling to Spokane Washington she had the honor of working side by side trainer, Betty Hirst at Double Eagle Stables, a hunter/jumper and dressage barn. Honing her skillset along with Bettys exceptional tutelage, Barb competed throughout the states of Washington and Idaho, earning the Washington State Horseman’s Associations President Cup for High Point English Rider/Horse. Barb also assisted in the teaching of the PE class for Horsemanship at Gonzaga University. Topping off the highlights of her career, she has been blessed to have ridden in clinics with former Olympic team member George Morris, Dressage clinician Reiner Klimke, Dressage clinician Steve Knickenberg just to name a few.