Team
The Magnolia Team
Ownership
Artea and James Evans
Owners
With a BS in Animal Husbandry(Equine major) from UCONN, Tia’s lifelong passion for horses and a background in everything from 4-H, to UConn Equestrian Teams (Including Polo) to rescuing and retraining horses and mules, to USDF FEI competition, Tia brings expertise, dedication, and a deep love for these majestic creatures to every aspect of Magnolia Equestrian Center.
James is a seasoned jack of all trades including past lives in carpentry, construction and his current profession working on powerlines as a Linesman, he is committed to building, fixing and maintaining anything Magnolia Equestrian Center facility needs to offer top notch care, training, and facilities for both horse and rider alike.
Barn Management Team
Ben Weidig
Facilities Manager
Ben worked at the UConn Equine Units while he was an undergraduate in the Animal Science program and fell in love with it. He then spent two years at Five Oaks Equestrian Center and a year at ABF Equine. He has been managing Water's Edge Equestrian Center for the last six years and works with Jen to coordinate the care of the horses and facilities at Magnolia.
Jen Potamianos
Stable Manager
Jen has been with Magnolia for several years, first as a client and now in the role of stable manager. She manages the day to day care of the horses at Magnolia during the week and works closely with Ben on special projects and event support.
Jen is an active rider at Magnolia who has been working with several different equine partners to continually grow her time in the saddle and to build on her show experience.
Resident Instructors
Michelle Lewis
Michelle has a long history in the equine industry. She grew up trail riding and doing local gymkhana in Vermont and New York. In college, she studied equine science with a focus on equine breeding farm/business management. She interned at the breeding barns at WinStar Thoroughbred farm in Versailles, KY and has worked at high caliber show and breeding farms including Cedar Spring Morgan horse farm in VT. She has a wide variety of experience in several disciplines including hunt seat, western, driving, liberty and more!
Michelle’s lessons focus on having positive first experiences for both kids and adults. She has a strong focus on horsemanship from the ground up. She offers lessons in hunt seat, western and general horsemanship including ground work and liberty. She loves to teach our beginner ladies night sessions!
Michelle also manages our website, social media, events, marketing and billing.
She enjoys riding her Quarter Horse, River, on hunter paces, trail rides and doing versatility and liberty work.
Mary Jo Zanolli
Mary Jo Zanolli has over 30 years experience teaching riders of all ages and skill levels how to connect with and enjoy horses both in and out of the saddle. As her passion is dressage-she incorporates basic dressage principles into her instruction to help horse and rider develop balance, clear understanding of aids, and connection within their partnership.
While introducing new students to the sport and developing their skills in and out of the saddle to create well-rounded equestrians is her niche, she particularly loves working with riders on dressage basics.
MJ also utilizes ground poles, cross rails, trails, and hill/field work regularly in both her own riding and teaching as she believes cross training has immense benefits for horse and rider. Her enthusiasm for teaching and the relationship she develops with her students helps set riders up for a lifetime of love and appreciation for horses.
MJ Learned to ride at a Massachusetts eventing barn, at which time she was also an active 4-H Club member and competitor. Besides the open show circuit, MJ grew up competing in youth dressage and eventually the IEA team in college. As a young professional, she began to take a more serious approach to dressage- becoming a working student for Jennifer Baumert for several years. More recently MJ has trained with Rochelle McPherson and Heather Sweeney , as well as spent two winters in Florida with her horses in an intensive training program with Marsha Hartford Sapp. MJ’s equine partners Ella and Rylee continue to be a constant source of inspiration to improve her own riding and understanding of horses.
MJ is also a carded 4H and Open Horse Show judge and enjoys judging open and schooling shows in the tri-state area.
Erin Riordan
Erin has been a part of the Magnolia team on and off for the past 12 years, taking time in between to pursue her degree and career in critical care nursing.
Throughout her teenage years, Erin served as leadership in her local FFA and 4H. She grew up with horses of her own, focusing on western pleasure and trail with her devoted quarter horse, Scout. She especially enjoyed her previous work experience driving with draft horses and farming with horse-powered equipment.
Erin brings a well-rounded background in her knowledge of horses and takes pride in her experience in a variety of disciplines. In recent years, she has discovered her love for hunt seat and cross country jumping. If she’s not at the barn you can probably find her on a trail ride or hunter pace!
Erin’s lessons cater to riders of all ages and abilities, but she especially loves to teach the younger generation the basics and the importance of horsemanship from the ground up. She strives to help riders build their confidence in the saddle and make lasting memories with their equine partners!
Valerie Hodder
Val has been riding horses since she was a small child. She competed in reining in the early 90’s on her beloved mare Tuffy for several years and then began training horses for clients. She has worked with difficult horses and is passionate about helping every horse become the best version of itself.
Val spent her teens driving a team of ponies as well as a Saddlebred along the roads in her hometown often taking friends for Sunday drives. Her experience has many areas of focus with the main objective being a solid, safe partnership with the rider in the saddle and on the ground. Val competed in Western Dressage before changing course to Classical Dressage. She trained her Quarter Horse to FEI level and is a USDF Silver Medal recipient. Her heart horse, Moondog also performs piaffe and passage and earned a Bronze medal for a dear friend.
Val’s approach is quite different with the focus on the level of communication between horse and rider. To have a horse that is through in body and mind, relaxed and obedient is her prime objective.
Val loves to help horses with people problems, those needing a new approach. The mental and physical health play into each lesson and stretching through the body is paramount. Val will work with riders of any seat with Dressage basics and gymnastics as the basis for lessons. She has trained with many talented Dressage instructors including Olivia Lajoy Weltz who has given her much passion and insight into training.
Non- Resident Instructors
Contact directly for their schedule and availability to teach at Magnolia.
Jeri O’Keefe - Availability on Thursday Evenings - bluedogfarmct@gmail.com
Jeri's reputation precedes her as an exceptional 3-day eventer and dressage rider with over 50 years of experience. She is currently a United States Hunter Jumper Association - USHJA certified instructor and specializes in training the rider to understand and train the horse through classical methods and horsemanship.
Deborah Murphy - Deborahmurphy@gmail.com
Deborah loves teaching human and equine students about deepening their relationship. Her teaching style focuses on the individual needs of each horse and rider/handler to help them progress in an enjoyable and safe way. She loves to work with humans of all abilities and has much success in increasing confidence. Deborah feels that finding relaxation in horses and riders/handlers is of paramount importance. Deborah has extensive experience in ridden dressage, and classical dressage groundwork, and work in hand. Deborah is a USDF Associate Instructor, a Centered Riding (R) Instructor, a Sure Foot (R) Practitioner, a Reiki Practitioner - Master Level, and a Guild Certified Feldenkrais (R) Practitioner.