Retired Racehorse Project - RRP (Racehorse Retraining) - is a charitable organization created in 2010 to facilitate placement of Thoroughbred ex-racehorses in second careers by increasing demand for them and serving the farms, organizations and individuals that transition them from racing. The organization also serves as a resource and a voice for the 150,000 owners of over 650,000 off-the-track Thoroughbreds in America. RRP programs include the $100,000 Thoroughbred Makeover, Off-Track Thoroughbred Magazine, Retired Racehorse Resource Directory, and a menu of online and live educational offerings described at RetiredRacehorseProject.org.

RRP is led by its founder, Steuart Pittman of Dodon Farm Training Center, and a board of directors from inside and outside of the racing industry. The trainers and horses participating at Horse World Expo were selected from among the most successful contestants at the 2015 Thoroughbred Makeover in Kentucky.

Dave Rohrbach (Driving & Harness) - is the owner of Bee Tree Trail Carriage & Wagon Tours along side his wife Susie. Dave has worked with horses for over 30 yrs from showing saddle horses such as cutting, team penning, racing Thoroughbreds, and starting young horses. In 1999 he went for a carriage ride in Allentown PA and fell in love with these large horses. The sound of the shoes going down the road is so relaxing it will put you to sleep. Talk about slowing things down and seeing what you have been missing. So he bought a team of draft horses to have a little fun, well one thing led to another.  Seeing how much fun it was to have other people enjoy these beautiful,  relaxing rides he decided to start his own business.

Decades of involvement with horses from many disciplines including pleasure, speed events, cattle work, team penning and cutting, training race horses and starting young horses of all breeds, prepared Dave for his ongoing adventure in understanding the mind and body of draft horses. His vast knowledge of horses, hitching techniques, understanding of harness and the mechanical dynamics of carriages and various driving vehicles makes Dave the "go to " person for questions from horse people far and wide.

Since beginning his draft horse carriage business over 15 years ago and mastering the art of driving multiple hitche teams including unicorn, 4's, 6's, 8's and 10's, 3,4 & 5 abreast, 10 & 15 horse pyramids, tandem, random, quondam and "suicide" (5 horses in line) the rest is history. Dave and Susie, his wife, Bee Tree Trail and The Boys (a herd if gray, almost white, 17.2 hand Percheron geldings) are known worldwide. Bee Tree Trail carriages and exhibition hitches are featured at Expo's and fairs, throughout the country, on television (Extreme Home Makeover, Say Yes to The Dress, My Fat American Gypsy Wedding, TLC, MTV, RFD) in movies, special events, specialty weddings, and parades. Dave's hands on teaching style, information packed clinics and workshops always leave participants eager to learn more.

Bee Tree Trail Carriage & Wagon Tours is located in the base of the Blue Mountains just north of Shartlesville Pa. Dave does most of his business on the road traveling from state to state such as New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Ohio competing with his teams and conducting tours. 

Dom Schramm (Eventing) - At 26, Australian eventing rider Dominic Schramm already has international riding experience that sets him apart from many of his peers. A dedicated and determined athlete, Schramm has demonstrated that he is prepared to do what it takes to improve his skills and fulfill his desire to reach the top of his sport.

Hailing from the small outback town of Charleville, Australia, Dom developed an affinity with horses from a very early age. This 'country' influence is evident in his training approach and horsemanship today. Building on this background, Dom's passion for eventing has taken him all over Australia as well as to equestrian hubs around the globe, including the United States, England and Germany. He has been recognized by national selectors and was a member of the 2006 Australian Young Rider Eventing Squad as well as having experience at the three star level. Dom developed as a rider under the guidance of recent WEG competitor Christopher Burton for whom he worked as a working student for 2 years. A brave and hungry competitor, Schramm also possesses the patience, experience and knowledge to very competently start horses from the ground up.

Seeking a more internationally competitive atmosphere, Dom made the decision to relocate to the US in late 2010. Since then, he has been making an impression in US eventing circles for his riding ability as well as his enthusiastic and fresh teaching style. Aboard his new ride, experienced eventer, Cold Harbor, Dom successfully campaigned him through 2013 and achieved a noteworthy result at the Fair Hill CCI** in the fall. 2014 has seen Dom return to the 3 star level and his main priority is to navigate Cold Harbor to Rolex 2015 and strengthen his string of competition horses.

Matt Smith (Reining, General Training) - While attending college, Matt Smith worked in the cattle ranching industry in northwest Colorado. He began training reining and roping horses and competed in the Mountain States rodeo circuit. After graduating college, Matt and his wife Kim moved to south central PA where Matt also trained cutting horses. He now works and resides at Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions where he is the Equine Director. Throughout his lifetime he has run multiple horse programs and is an accomplished blacksmith. He has developed a simple, common sense approach to training horses and has the ability to communicate a complicated process in an easy to understand way. He has been coaching students professionally in Western Horsemanship and Reining. Matt is passionate about teaching and equipping his students to excel not only in training abilities, but as skilled professionals who conduct themselves with integrity and character.

Nichole Smith (Reining, General Training) - Nichole began working and riding at Briggs Stable in Hanover, MA when she was 11 years old. While there she was able to gain experience riding, training and showing hunter under saddle. She also worked as a riding instructor. A year after graduating high school she attended the School of Discipleship at Miracle Mountain Ranch in northwestern, PA where she continued her education in English and Western horsemanship.

Nichole has been a professional riding instructor and coach for nine years. She is recognized and licensed by the state of MA as a riding instruction professional and is certified as Master Instructor through the Certified Horsemanship Association. She is currently teaching advanced Western and English horsemanship and horse training skills to college level students through the School of Discipleship at Miracle Mountain Ranch where she is also the Equine Department Manager.  She is a skilled horse trainer and an excellent communicator whose passion is to communicate advanced horse training methods in an easy and uncomplicated way. Her love for people and teaching makes her personable and compassionate towards others.

Burt Staniar, PhD (Penn State Equine Sciences) - is a faculty member in the Department of Animal Science at Penn State. Dr. Staniar's research at Penn State focuses on how nutrition influences healthy growth and metabolism of the horse. Dr. Staniar's research has focused on the metabolic implications of feeding horses diets with different dietary energy sources. He is particularly interested in the chemical communication that occurs between different tissues and cells that allow them to respond appropriately or inappropriately to the nutritional environment. In this context, he studies the somatotropic and gonadotropic axes, he investigates the patterns of glucose, insulin, non-esterified fatty acids, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, and a host of other factors. Ultimately, Dr. Staniar hopes that his research helps to improve the health and performance of horses.

He and graduate students in his lab are now working to understand how different feeding management strategies impact metabolic health, skeletal development and growth, and gastrointestinal integrity. The objective of this work is to identify nutritional strategies that can be used to reduce the risk of health problems that are a serious concern to the equine industry including gastric ulcers, laminitis, and colic. In addition, Dr. Staniar teaches and advises undergraduate students at Penn State's University Park campus. He particularly enjoys his work with the Penn State Equine Research Team, a group of approximately 50 undergraduate students that participate in many of his research trials.

Sara Strauss (Horse Rescue) - In 2008, Sara joined Days End Farm Horse Rescue (DEFHR), in Howard County, Maryland, the nationally-recognized, 58-acre facility for abused and neglected horses. Having earned her B.S. in Animal Science from the University of Maryland, she came to DEFHR already an accomplished rider and trainer with a background in Dressage and Natural Horsemanship. She brought to DEFHR a wealth of knowledge using a variety of training techniques and from her experiences under several trainers.

Sara's presence was felt almost immediately at DEFHR as she works with the 50-70 horses that are under the farm's care at any given time. All horses progress well under Sara's improved program and adoption numbers have steadily increased. In early 2009, Sara broadened her experience by completing an apprenticeship with Kenny . In addition to working with Harlow, Sara has also worked with well-regarded trainers Tara Jones, Scott Purdum, David Beard, Charlie Powers, Craig Cameron, and Julio Mendoza. She continues to interact with these and other experienced trainers to ensure her professional development and the quality of DEFHR's rehabilitation program.

Dr. Ann Swinker (General Horse Care) - Associate Professor in Equine Sciences, Penn State University and Horse Extension Specialist, has been involved in the horse business for over 35 years. Ann began her career managing Arabian Horse Stables in southwestern Pennsylvania. During that time she was involved in breeding, training, marketing, importing and showing purebred Arabian horses. From 1990 to 2001, Dr. Swinker served as the Extension Horse Specialist at Colorado State University and professor of Equine Science. 

Dr. Swinker has received several awards from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents and American Society of Animal Science. She was named "Horse Person of the Year" in 2001 by the Colorado Equine Council. She serves on the Pennsylvania Equine Council board of directors, PA Farm Bureau, American Horse Council's Unwanted Horse Coalition and is a member in several other equine related organizations. Dr. Swinker has served on several graduate research committees. Her research activities have addressed several management and environmental issues such as stable air quality, small acreage management, composting and manure management, water quality, behavior and reproductive issues. She has served on numerous extension, university and professional society committees.

Dr. Swinker has authored several referred papers, abstracts/proceedings and popular press articles. She also conducts many workshops, presentations and clinics each year. Today she and her husband Dr. Dan Kniffen own and breed Arabian and Trakehner horses and raise Hereford cattle in Spring Mills, PA.

Bernie Traurig (Hunter, Jumper) - As a Horseman, Bernie is renowned for not only his riding talents but for his teaching and coaching gifts. As a competitor, Bernie has represented the United States Equestrian Team both at home and abroad on many occasions and reached the top of the sport in all 3 of the International Equestrian Olympic disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing. In 2009 he was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. In 2010 the California Professional Horsemen's Association honored him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2012 he was awarded the USHJA President’s Distinguished Service Award. He is recognized as a legend in the sport.

As a teacher and trainer, Bernie is one of the most sought after clinicians in the country today. His talent for teaching goes back to his roots where he was fortunate enough to have been educated by some of the very best Master Instructors this country and the world have to offer. He served as the West Coast's associate Chef d’ Equip to George H. Morris, the former Chef d’ Equip of the United States Olympic Equestrian Team. After amassing over 50 years worth of training and riding techniques and experiences with thousands of horses, Bernie is driven to give back to the sport that has given him so much fulfillment and success.

Suzette Truax - was born and raised on a small training and boarding equine operation in central California. She received her B.S. in Large Animal Science from Delaware Valley College where she was a member of the livestock judging team and field hockey team. Suzette is employed as a Natural Resource/Grazing Specialist with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. She provides on farm assistance to farm owners and operators on environmental resource concerns and how to implement practices to improve those issues on their operation. Prior to employment with NRCS she worked as a farm hand on a large equine and cattle breeding operation in Fulton County Pa., where she was in charge of pasture management.

Lew Trumble - is employed by Penn State Extension, has been a professional in the hunter industry for over 25 years, and has shown extensively across the country. Lew also helps with local 4-H horse clubs and Pony Club, believing education is the key to good horse people.

Nicky Wetzelberger (Youth Rider Activities) - was born on a small farm in Maryland and grew up in an animal-loving family. From a young age, she learned the importance of opening her home and her heart to animals in need. After college, she lived abroad, where she saw countless animals in distress, and set a goal of going into animal rescue when she returned to the U.S. During her time overseas, she taught at international schools and also spent time teaching children in afterschool centers. She worked as the volunteer and outreach coordinator at a humane society in Maryland before finding her way to DEFHR where she works today as the Community Outreach Director. She is passionate about being part of the solution to a problem through teaching, animal welfare and volunteerism.

Jeannie Whited (Side Saddle Riding) - has been riding aside for over 20 years. Sidesaddle riding, far from being a thing of the past, is growing in popularity. Today's riders, men as well as women, are attracted to the sidesaddle for its history, versatility, novelty and security. 

Jeannie is an International Side-Saddle Organization (ISSO) certified instructor. In 2005, she was awarded Regional Representative of the Year for her work in Northern Virginia. Her students include show-bound juniors as well as adults on the USEF A-circuit, but primarily those riding just for the joy of it. Jeannie's first loves are Hunters and Dressage, but she also learned Western and Saddleseat aside. Jeannie teaches both English and Western riders, on the flat and over fences, her specialty being beginning sidesaddle riders. While emphasizing safety for horse and rider, ISSO helps you discover the fun and art of riding aside. 

Bud and Gwen Wills (Horse Camping and Trail Riding) - Bud and Gwen grew up on the back of a horse. Bud spent about 20 years raising, training and showing Arabian horses. He also judged various breed shows and was active in 4 H work in Pennsylvania. In recent years, Bud worked as a licensed horseback big game hunting guide in the northern mountains of New Mexico.

Becoming concerned about the loss of public lands to the equine user across the country, Bud and Gwen got involved with the Pennsylvania Equine Council, PEC. The PEC is a grass roots volunteer organization that represents the equine owners in Pennsylvania. Bud serves as the State Trail Chair for the PEC and Gwen as the Trail Stewardship Program Director.

No longer involved in showing they have enjoyed trail riding throughout the country. They ride and pack mules using their mules as part of educational programs and to do trail maintenance by packing gravel, tools and materials for a more land friendly approach to trail work. Both Bud and Gwen are Leave No Trace, LNT masters. Traveling throughout Pennsylvania, surrounding states as well as national Trail Conferences they present LNT/ Ride Smart land ethics and out door skills programs.

Through the PEC they have developed a Trail Stewardship Program. The various educational programs are being accepted by the State and Federal agencies as one means of keeping Public Lands open to the public. This involves trainings for both volunteers and agency personal.

By combining years of experience Bud and Gwen also present trail user programs, which suggests a common sense approach to the use of equine in the trail setting. From planning your excursion to tack and equipment suggestions to make your ride a good experience for you, your equine of choice as well as others you may meet on the trail.

Brendan Wise (Classical Dressage, Working Equitation) - has been playing with horses since a young child and has always had a love for the horse greater than anything else in this world. He has devoted his life to the study and the teaching of Horsemanship in the Classical Tradition. Brendan has spent years learning from many disciplines including Natural Horsemanship, Dressage, Reining, and Racing. He has combined his experiences and successes in all of these disciplines, as well as a constant intense study of the old Masters, in order to develop his skills as a horseman.

Though still a young man, Brendan has had the honor of studying under many of the greatest mentors and teachers of our time. His desire is to share the knowledge that he has gained from his personal experiences, and the wisdom of other great horseman and horsewomen with everyone that he can, in the hopes that he may make an impact on the lives of many horses and riders. Brendan seeks to follow the wisdom and principles of the Classical Masters, handed down from teachers like Nuno, Xenophon, Baucher, La Gueriniere and Phillipe Karl. Natural Horsemanship and French Classical Dressage are at the very core of Brendan1s personal horsemanship.

Brendan has a passion for the proper training and conditioning and maintaining the integrity of the horse1s mind and body. Though Reining has always been a passion for Brendan, more recently his heart has fallen in love with Working Equitation. For Brendan, it is the perfect practical application of Classical Dressage at its finest. He also enjoys training and perfecting the art of bridleless riding. Don1t miss the opportunity to watch one of the greatest young horsemen of our time. Come join us as we dance!

Sylvia Zerbnin (Theatre Equus Performer) - is living every little girl’s dream. The woman in the spotlight surrounded by a spellbinding herd of horses at liberty. Sylvia transforms liberty work into the ultimate equestrian performing art. “I’ve been with horses my entire life. It’s in my blood,” says Sylvia, a ninth generation performer who’s captivated audiences throughout Europe, North America, and South America, since her debut on stage at the age of five.

Most recently the star of the acclaimed equestrian spectacle Cavalia (2008-2011), Sylvia’s gift for orchestrating nine Arabians at once in her mesmerizing Grande Liberte performance, has earned accolades from widespread media ranging from the Los Angeles Times to CNN to Arabian Horse World. “I am blessed with a gift for reading horses. It’s about the bond,” explains Sylvia, who grew up around her family’s horses. Studying their behavior at rest and play became her equine classroom, inspiring Sylvia to adopt liberty as a chosen way of communicating with horses.

“I listen to what they tell me,” remarks Sylvia who uses only body positions and a handful of verbal cues to communicate with 8-10 horses on stage, one third of which are stallions. Born in Sarasota, Florida, Sylvia grew up with her parents on tour. Her father was a wild animal trainer. Like her mother, a famous trapeze artist, Sylvia took to the air as a girl, but horses were her true passion. At an age when most teens get a driver’s license, Sylvia was professionally training and performing with liberty horses. “Being a trapeze artist helped me. Horses are agile. They’re like dancers,” notes Sylvia. Another parallel is the absolute focus required to work with numerous horses at liberty. “Timing is everything,” she notes. Sylvia calls the horses themselves her greatest mentors. She coined the phrase Grande Liberté (French for grand liberty) specifically for liberty exhibitions involving more than six horses, her specialty.

Honored with numerous awards including the prestigious Cup of Monaco, presented to her by Monaco’s Prince Rainier, Sylvia has performed for nearly 10 million people in her career, to date. She appeared at landmarks such as Madison Square Gardens in New York, Playa De Americas in Mexico City, Molsen Center in Montreal, and Los Angeles’ Staples Center, before touring with Cavalia.

Now launching a dream, that has been a lifetime in the making, Sylvia is developing seminars and clinics, which have never before been offered to the public, to share her knowledge of liberty training. “My dream is to help educate the equine world,” adds Sylvia, who has a farm in Ocala, Florida, where her headquarters is based. Seminars and clinics will be available throughout the country, as well as in Ocala. Look for Sylvia and her Arabian horses also to continue their signature Grande Liberté exhibitions at select equestrian events in the months ahead.