Our Trainers

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Jeri O'Keefe

Jeri is an accomplished trainer and instructor with over 40 years of experience in dressage, eventing and hunter/jumper disciplines. Jeri is a certified USHJA hunter/jumper trainer and is active in the Trainer Certification Program (TCP) continuing education program. She has competed and trained under George Morris, Dee Dee Hopper, Pam Goodrich, Ann Guptill and more. She has been teaching and training for the last 20 years in the hunter/jumper discipline. Jeri has been with Hunter Run Stables for more than 18 years. Jeri has trained and successfully brought multiple children and adults to Medal Finals and National Finals in her years as a trainer. 

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Leslie Poirier

 Leslie is a USHJA Certified Instructor who has been teaching for over 35 years. A graduate of UCONN's Animal Science program, she has owned and managed her own breeding and training farm as well as built a riding and schooling program with Dee Dee Hopper. She  initiated a successful IEA team while instructing at Full Circle Farm in Manchester, CT and has been teaching at Hunters Run for the last several years. Her students have achieved Finals wins and year-end awards at many levels. She brings her diverse equine background to her students. 

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Alicia Bessoni

Alicia has been teaching for over 20 years. She has coached multiple Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) teams in the last few years to regional titles and nationals. She is currently the coach of Central Connecticut State University's IHSA team and has been for the last 4 years. Alicia has a strong lesson program with many of her students helping at the barn to also better their horsemanship skills.