Meet Our Officials

President: Barb Stark
I have had a life long passion for horses, which has led me to SWFDA and my partner Wise Guy (Canadian Warmblood). I received my first pony when I was 8 and have been horse crazy ever since. I am an adult amateur rider and have enjoyed riding Wise Guy for the past 4 years. Dressage has been our focus, but we love to go trail riding as well as camping. I truly enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow dressage enthusiasts.

Vice President: Michelle Gerlach
Michelle Gerlach has been a professional dressage instructor and trainer for 20 years. During that time, she has continued her own education while bringing along young horses, teaching both adult amateurs and juniors, and competing through the FEI levels.

Over the years, Michelle has had many opportunities to further her own education. In the classroom, she has been through the USDF “L” Program and earned a USDF University Bronze Diploma.

On horseback, she has earned her Bronze and Silver medals. With several Regional awards to her credit on previous mounts Zenya and Nareiban, she has shifted her attention to her current Dutch horse, Udjang who is now showing PSG. Regular lessons are also a part of Michelle’s dedication to learning. Nothing is more important than having someone you respect keeping you on track with your own riding. During the 4 ½ months of Florida winter, Michelle takes weekly lessons with Kathy Connelly. Summers shift to monthly lessons with one of Kathy’s students, Adam Cropper. Clinics are also scheduled 2-3 times per year with Sue Madden-Mandas.

Young horses benefit from Michelle’s consistent nature. She handles them daily herself and rides tham with correct classical principles to make each one of them ready for their owners to finish up the levels.

Dressage is my passion and I'm enjoying it with my beautiful partner, Estrella, an Andalusian/trakehner cross. Thanks to our trainer, Michelle Gerlach, we're steadily marching up the levels, progressing from being barely able to canter to polishing our flying changes and learning zig zags. I'm very proud of my girl!

I've been riding since I was 7, but didn't discover dressage until two decades ago. A charter member of SWFDA, I served as the club's newsletter editor for 13 years. I love SWFDA for the camaraderie, fellowship and fun it provides.

After retiring from a 27-year career as a newspaper editor, I am now a freelance writer for equestrian publications, as well as a pet-sitter.

My husband and I are active in golden retriever rescue and recently adopted our seventh rescue golden.

Treasurer: Michelle Vastola
I've been riding for almost 13 years now. I started out at a Morgan show barn, hence my extreme luck in finding my little Morgan Spiderman. I've had Spiderman for almost 8 years and we've done just about everything before finally settling on Dressage these last two years. Riding has taught me that with really hard work and commitment, and a little luck you can be successful at anything! I started with SWFDA when my jumper trainer saw potential in Spiderman do be competitive at dressage, besides just using it to improve our jumper turns! My coming to be treasurer happened under the most regrettable of circumstances. It was in Missy's passing that we truly realized and appreciated all that she did. We have since had to pull together as a new and expanded group, realizing that we need to tell people how much they mean to us while we can. I've always enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with riding horses, even if we secretly (or not so secretly) want to beat each other.

I've been riding since I was a kid, but never had the opportunity to take lessons and show. I finally got that opportunity when I bought my thoroughbred when I turned 40. I fell in love with dressage and I’ve continued to work at it with my partner Finnigan. He is my third dressage horse and each one had something to teach me. My first dressage horse is now 25 and continues to live at my barn. He keeps Finnigan company. I've been a member of SWFDA since the early 90's and really enjoy the educational opportunities and shows the club offers as well as the fun and fellowship which is why I'm the social chairman & volunteer coordinator.

Meet Our Member Representatives

Sandy Meador: Phone: 239-472-6344 & Email: davincifarms@comcast.net

Committees:

Horse Show: TBA
Jr./YR: TBA
Education: Verna Saxer-Gibson & Anne Ross
Fundraising: TBA
Social: Karen McCulley