Our Instructors & Staff

Allison King

  

 Allison brings to Southlands almost 30 years of horse experience, having spent her youth riding ”any 4 legged animal I could climb on”  and later focusing on equitation and  jumpers.   She then spent 4 years in OH, riding western babies and teaching all the “cow ponies” how to jump.  She rode and coached both the hunt seat team and the stock seat team. 

 
Allison became a Camp Director at the well respected Camp Catherine Capers (CCC)  in Wells, VT after finishing college, where she headed the Horsemanship Program for 90 girls, ages 8-17 and 60 horses.  She was involved in this program for 9 years, starting as a riding instructor and swim coach and finishing as Head of Hiring and Marketing, ”I learned so much about myself and other people that working at CCC has truly shape the person I am today.  This program has helped strengthen my values of caring, truth and integrity, The values of this program are ones I will cherish and take with me forever.”  
 
After finishing with the camp program, a friend asked Allison to become a business partner and they built their own farm, “we were involved from the ground up…. from choosing the land to designing the buildings.”  For 9 years we strived to build a program around classic training principles and focusing on Dressage and Showjumping.  During this time Allison really got “bitten by the dressage bug”, She has earned her Bronze and Silver medals through the National Dressage Federation, and gone through the USDF “L” judging program passing with distinction and “plans to continue into the National judging program (through the USEF) in the near future.” 
 
Allison truly loves teaching, when asked if she could only teach or only train which would she do, with out a doubt it would be teach…. “I truly LOVE the “Ah Ha moment! Whether it is nailing the rhythm of the posting trot for a beginner or controlling the balance of the canter for pirouettes, or a line of fences, that ah ha moment makes my day….” Allison is a lifelong learner, she figures that as long as she is learning she has knowledge to impart.  
 
Southlands offers such fantastic programs!  There is so much history in this place and this land is so beautiful.  The people involved in this program are so knowledgeable and caring, they have so much to offer the community. ” I am so lucky to be involved with such a wonderful group of people doing what I love!” 

  

Susie Williams

 dsc_04011Susie has been a part of the Southlands Foundation since she was 4 years old and knows more than anyone what a magical place it is; one that allows people and children to explore the limits of their potential through horseback riding. Watching theinstructorsusie growth of individuals and helping them to expand their personal boundaries is what Susie looks forward to every day. Teaching people to understand that their relationships with a horse can be a metaphor for their life is how she has incorporated her education with her passion. Susie feels truly blessed to come to work each day.
 
Mrs. Dows was Susie’s mentor, teacher, and beloved friend for 40 years and it is Mrs. Dow’s vision that she shares with her students. Susie trained with Harry DeLeyre for 3 years at the Knox School for Girls as well as numerous highly regarded clinicians through out her many years of riding.
 
 
Susie has a B.A in Sociology and Secondary Education, as well as an M.A in Secondary Education (Social Sciences) and has worked at Southlands in some capacity for over 30 years. She became head instructor of the foundation in 1991 and now holds the role of Equine Programs Manager. 

LucyRachel Donohue

lucy1LucyRachel Donohue began riding at Southlands over ten years ago. Her love for all things horses began as a very young child, getting her first taste aboard her mother’s horse and beginning lessons as soon as she could sit-up on her own. From the first time she stepped foot on the beautiful grounds of the foundation, Lucy knew Southlands was the place where she wanted to remain…and she did just that! After graduating from Hampshire College in 2007, it was only natural for Lucy to return to Southlands as a full time trainer, pursuing a career at the very farm that instilled in her the love and desire to make horses a vital part of her life. Specializing in young riders and ponies, Lucy knows firsthand how important riding and caring for ponies can be for a young child. Lucy has students of all ages and levels and affords each with enthusiastic and refreshing instruction.
 
 
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Lucy has a strong background in hunters and equitation, having shown in the pony ring as a young child and worked her waythrough the rankings to the medal/maclay classes and the amateur-owner hunters and everything in-between. Lucy’s students have been successful in everything from the walk/trot and short-stirrup to the jumper ring. However, Lucy finds it just as important to cater a detailed and awarding program to those who do not wish to compete. From head pony-camp instructor to costume-class coordinator to leading a team of gifted riders on the road at horse shows, Lucy never forgets the main objective and the main reason she has remained in the sport and in the business—to offer the incredible experience of successful horsemanship that has supplied her the strength and dedication to cope with all of the obstacles that one may face in life.

Pam Molyneux

Pam began riding at 7 and has continued to pursue her love of horses ever since. Pam grew up on Long Island where she learned to love fox hunting.  She spent a good part of her first riding life doing just that.  And, was lucky enough to get to hunt with Charlie Plumb (Mike Plumb’s father) with the Meadow Brook Hounds.
 
About 34 years ago, she and her husband, Ed, moved to Rhinebeck with the intent of continuing her riding.  From the mid 1970’s until the late 1980’s she not only continued to ride, she was a hunting member of the Rombout Hunt.  It was also at this time that she started Eventing which she continued through the 1980’s.
 
 It was in persuit of higher dressage scores while eventing that she became intrigued with dressage.  She managed to train her old Eventer to second level as she started her second Hudson Valley horse in training.  With this second horse (whose mother was Southland’s and whose father was Katharine Boyer’s Appomattox), she started her progression of dressage training under many local clinicians.  
 
While Pam continued her dressage education, she spent about 15 years studying under Debbie Shin Bowman.  Pam managed to compete through 4th level, and has continued to train ever since.  She teaches beginners to intermediate in balanced seat, and dressage from training up though second level.
 
Pam has been teaching for about 18 years, 15 of them with Southlands.  In 2008, Pam started a modest dressage program at TSF which seems to be growing every year.  She is also the manager of the dressage schooling shows and the combined training events that are held there each summer.