Message from the Head Trainer

The Kent Riding Program offers you the opportunity to develop and grow your passion and interest in riding in a co-educational setting. You have the opportunity to develop your equine skills in a variety of disciplines from the beginner to the most advanced.  Kent’s riding program offers training and expertise in equitation, jumpers, hunters, and combined training. We have facilities that support our diverse disciplines. You’ll be able to take advantage of 2 indoor and 3 outdoor rings, a grand prix field, a grass hunter field, and a cross country course designed for beginner-novice through training level eventers.

You have the choice to bring your own horse or to work with one of our “equine professors.” Our school horses set the standard for quality. Many have competed at the top of their discipline and offer a schoolmaster experience for their riders.  Others will teach you how to ride from the beginning.

When you ride at Kent you will have the best of our program and the best of your training program from home. If you come to us with an existing trainer we will work in partnership to create a program that builds on your experience and will best develop your riding skills. Kent’s training philosophy has its roots in classical horsemanship with the belief that the fundamentals must be achieved. It is not possible to create competent riders without the basics. Without straightness and forwardness and the ability to ride with a balanced seat and an independent leg, the rider will not progress. The great horsemen have mastered these fundamentals. There are no secrets, just hard work.

Mr. Michael O. Page, Head Trainer

	1950s	AHSA Medal Finals + ASPCA Maclay 3rd place
	1960s	3 Olympic Games 2 Silver and 1 Bronze Medal 3 Pan American Games – 4 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze Badminton – 10th Overall Individual
	1970s-80s	Coach Canadian 3-Day Team, Montreal Olympics Chef D’Equipe U.S. 3 Day Team, 2 Olympics, 2 Pan American Games, 2 World Championships
	1990s-today	Kent School Head Trainer Induction to United States Eventing Hall of Fame Judge for NCAA Varsity National Equitation Finals Chairman of the AHSA Equitation Committee Chairman of the AHSA Nominating Committee Chairman of the USET Nominating Committee Director of USET Judge AHSA/ASPCA Maclay National Finals 7 times Judge IHSA Intercollegiate National Finals 4 times Watch Michael Page ride Syndication at HITS Saugerties in 2010

 

Ms. Cara Wheeler, Assistant Trainer

Attended Cazenovia College in Cazenovia, New York Graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Management with a specialization in Equine Business Management in 2016. Was a member of the Hunterseat portion of the Equestrian team at the college all four years, competing as an open flat rider and intermediate over fences rider.  From her sophomore-senior year of her time on the team she earned the Coach's Award each year.   Has been riding since she was a young girl and has worked in the equine industry for the past ten years, including being a working student for the Cazenovia College Equine Business Management Program Director, head exercise rider at Watching Hawk Arabians, and at Kent School Stables as an intern in the Summer of 2015 and continuing full time after she graduated college as Assistant Instructor beside Michael Page. Her junior show career includes mostly the lower hunter and equitation divisions in the Syracuse, NY area and she is now competing in the jumpers and hunters with a couple of our school horses.  She specializes in teaching the complete beginner to intermediate rider as well as starting to help Michael teach and instruct the advanced riders.  She not only teaches but helps manage the barn, horse care, and exercise/ training rides for the school and student horses.

 

Barn & Administrative Staff

Kara Ferreira Riding Program Coordinator Contact Kara

Linda Smith Facilities Manager