Our Instructor’s biographies
JUDITH FANNIN
Judy started riding western at age 10. She competed mostly in barrel-racing and western classes, including reining patterns, until about 14. Then she was introduced to dressage and jumping, and was “hooked” !
Her husband Larry really thought the horse thing was just a phase and would soon be out of their lives, but he bought 10 acres where she started teaching hunt seat and dressage. Judy became involved with Clearwater Pony Club as a sponsor and loved the teaching part. She was then showing at the ‘A’ shows in the green and regular working hunters, as well as doing first level dressage.
When Janet (her daughter) was 14, she became friends with members of the Suncoast Pony Club who needed a 4th member to complete a rally team. Janet joined USPC and started as a D2 even though she was then jumping 3’6 – 3’9 at rated shows; while younger sister, Valerie, 10, joined as a D1.
Judy became DC of Suncoast, and after several years was asked to become Regional Supervisor of the Sunshine Region, holding the position of RS and VRS for several years. In 1987, Janet (still Fannin at that time) & Judy under the influence of Joan Ketchem, started the process of becoming National Examiners. At the time, they were the only mother-daughter on the list of National Examiners. Janet eventually became Judy’s boss for a 3-year period when she became head of National Testing. After 24 years as an NE, (now retired), she still loves the challenge of working with the young riders, and the camaraderie of the incredibly knowledgeable national examiners, which she then shares with our local club.
Judy was also National Chairman of the D & C Standards Committee, during which she helped bring the standards and the test sheets into agreement (they didn’t match!).
She also helped start the Fox Hollow Pony Club as one of the initial families.
Judy and her husband Larry still have the farm in Brooksville where they put on hunter-jumper-dressage horse shows, and horse trials, besides hosting the Fox Hollow Pony Club every month.
Alita (Bunny) Hendricks
Bunny is a graduate A member of Difficult Run PC, Virginia Region and Suncoast PC, Sunshine Region. She has worn several hats in Pony Club (all ASTM approved, of course), including being a National Examiner (>30 years), a Chief Horse Management Judge (>30 years), instructor/clinician, past member of the National Testing Committee, C3 Program, and Horse Management Committee a couple of times each, former chair of the Written Test Committee and D1-C2 Program Committee, rally coach and Festival Clinician as well. She served as RIC for Sunshine Region for a total of 5 years. In 2004 she was honored to be named a USPC Legend of Instruction and a USPC Festival Legend, as well as being honored with the USPC Founders Award in 2016.
In addition to her work with USPC, Bunny has actively participated in USEA Instructor Certification Program workshops for Flatwork and Jumping for ICP Level II (through FEI 1*), under Don Sachey and Phyllis Dawson (her Pony Club friend and Regional and National Rally team mate from the Difficult Run days). She attends USEA ICP Symposiums held in Ocala as well.
Currently, Bunny is the CVO (Chief Video Officer) of her company AllHorseTalk.com, a web site which produces and offers high quality equestrian education videos on all aspects of horse care and English riding disciplines.
She also has a successful business decorating Cross Country courses through the FEI 3* level and Stadium Jumping courses as well. A highlight was helping to decorate the Cross Country course at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, NC!
Bunny travels throughout the U.S. as a clinician specializing in USPC Upper Level Certification Preps, C3 through the A Eventing and C3-B Dressage and Show Jumping, and the HB and H-HM/HA Levels. As a popular clinician, she has traveled from the Carolinas to California, from St. Croix to Seattle, and many places in between! She has presented several workshops at the USPC Annual Meetings over the years as well.
As a junior, Bunny competed in Hunter and Jumper Shows, Eventing through Preliminary, and Dressage through Second Level, mostly at Frying Pan Park, Fairfax County, Virginia, which was next door to her home during her active Pony Club years. Later, she did more of the same as an adult in Florida.
Her current equine partner is Harry, a gray 16.2 OTTB, JC name SenseOfEntitlement.
Bunny lives with her mother Lillian, 2 horses, and 2 dogs at her Hunteridge Farm up on a hill in Trilby, Florida (yes, they really do exist!). She is a retired elementary school teacher and would like to remind you to “Be good to your horse and be good to yourself.”
Janet McCune
Janet started riding her first pony at the age of 10. She became a pony club member with Suncoast pony club when she was 15 as they needed a 4th member to complete a rally team. Throughout her career Janet has ridden H/J and eventers to preliminarily/ 1 star level. She is an USEF metal finalist.
Janet has been a trainer/instructor for Trouble Creek Farm for well over 30 years and continues to hold that position.
Janet and Peter Brick developed the Horse/Rider connection, and has held many clinics around the country and at the U.S. Pony Club’s Festival.
She has been a national examiner for over 30 years, and currently holds that position at all levels except specialty dressage B and A. Janet performs national examiner clinics around the country. She has been a past national examiner chairperson.
Janet is a current USEF recognized “R” judge. She has been a judge for 30+ years at the Pony Club East championship in the jumper division.
Janet co-manages horse shows and events at Fannin Hill Farm with her husband Robert, mom Judy and dad Larry.
Jane Mendelsohn
Jane’s first formal education with horses began at Red Raider Farm in Ohio with a Pony Club-like program. As a teenager, she rode at The Chagrin Valley Hunt Club as well as catch riding all the neighborhood horses she could get her hands on! At this time in her life her parents thought she’d “outgrow” horses, and although Jane didn’t have the opportunity to own her own horse, she gained an enormous education by riding so many different horses. This actually worked in her favor when riding on the Northwestern University Equestrian Team since the Intercollegiate format involves catch riding horses in competition.
After moving to San Francisco shortly after graduation from college, she soon realized that she was much happier working with horses than in Advertising and PR! Jane managed to get a job on a small Arabian Sport Horse breeding farm, Sierra Moun Arabians, starting young horses and some older broodmares. She also had the opportunity to ride and compete on an amazing stallion Starbounde+//. He was already showing PSG dressage and became my teacher in upper level dressage. There she also started, and fell in love with, her future eventing partner Starsearch SMA (aka Sparky), who she ended up owning.
Jane’s love of eventing blossomed during this time under the guidance of many talented people: Heidi Gretch-Riddle, Yves Sauvignon, Lorraine LaFramboise and Wayne Quarles to name a few. After the owners of Sierra Moun retired, she moved her training operation to Bright Future Farms, another Arabian Sport Horse breeding farm. There she started training young stock as well as working towards her Bronze and Silver Medal in Dressage on Starbounde+// and Eventing Sparky. During this time Jane also began her journey with the lovely stallion Ta’ez+// who she started and showed through 3rd level under the guidance of Creeky Routson USDF “S” judge and International FEI judge, author and classical horseman, Charles DeKunffy. Ta’ez+// and Jane were awarded the USDF Horse of the Year Award against all breeds for 1st Level Freestyle and competed at the California Dressage Society Regional Championships at 1st and 2nd level.
When Jane’s father became ill from cancer, she uprooted and moved across the country to be closer to her parents. She found herself in the lovely little town of Brooksville – a far cry from city life in San Francisco. Jane and her husband purchased “Sunset Valley Farm.” Out of respect for its previous owner, who loved it, they kept the name. She discovered what a vibrant Dressage and Eventing community Florida had and soon got to work building her training business. Jane continues advancing her own education by working with many wonderful clinicians.