Meet the Team

Camilla Vance

Owner

Camilla has ridden all her life enjoying several disciplines including, fox hunting, eventing, dressage, and trail riding. Camilla owns Old Goat Farm, Vass, NC where she stands her stallion, Dark Waterspoon 015 (Harry, barn name).

She manages the stallion by herself; “groom”, mother and minion as needed getting the stallion to all his appointment/competitions! She also trail rides him regularly. His outstanding temperament and trainability make him a joy to work around daily.

She believes there are many amateur riders who like her would enjoy this delightful combination of ability and trainability as well.

John Zopatti

Trainer

John Zopatti is a USDF Gold Medalist, winner of several USDF Regional Championships at the FEI levels and the four-time Gold Coast Dressage Association, Trainer of the Year winner.

John graduated from the USDF Judges L Program with Distinction. Along with his personal success, John is known for producing and coaching some of the top winning dressage amateur and young riders on the East Coast.

John creates a team approach with his students and key ingredient to his program is fun. Maybe it should be called serious fun because the results are consistent top place finishes for his students in every event from NAJYRC, Dressage at Devon, countless USDF Regional Champions and most recently the 2013 Inaugural US Dressage Finals where John’s long-time student, Kristy Lund rode away with the AA Intermediaire-II Championship.

http://johnzopatti.com/

Elizabeth Hart

Rider

Elizabeth’s passion for horses started at a young age following in the footsteps of her mother and sister. She has successfully ridden at Intermediate in Eventing and Grand Prix in Dressage.

Elizabeth laid the groundwork to excel at her true passion of dressage by learning her skills on a wide range of horses achieving her USDF Bronze and Silver Medal with her lovely new dressage partner, Lucido.

She went on to both earn her USDF Gold Medal and placed fourth at Intermediare 2 Division, Brentina Cup 2014 Championship on her wonderful and cheeky partner, Liberty.

A consummate professional who now trains a broad range of clients ranging from amateurs to professionals in both dressage and eventing.

We are extremely grateful to have such a wonderful partner for Dark Waterspoon with extensive knowledge and experience in dressage to help him grow through the FEI levels.