Meet the Team
We are a diverse and committed team with over 300 combined years of equestrian experience
Our Founders
Bernie Traurig
Bernie has represented the United States Equestrian Team both at home and abroad on many occasions. He has reached the top of the sport in all 3 of the International Equestrian Olympic disciplines: Show Jumping, Dressage, and Eventing.
He was inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2010 the California Professional Horsemen’s Association honored him with their Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also awarded the USHJA President’s Distinguished Service Award. He served as the West Coastʼs associate Chef d’ Equip to George H. Morris, the former Chef d’ Equip of the United States Olympic Equestrian Team.
Having been educated by some of the world’s best master instructors, Bernie is now one of the most sought after clinicians in the country today. Bernie is also the President and Founder of EquestrianCoach.com.
Caitlin Traurig
Caitlin was raised on a horse farm in Northern California and is a lifelong rider. She had success as a junior competitor in the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. She enjoyed a satisfying stint as an amateur competitor on the A circuit.
For the last ten years Caitlin has been the chief editor, CFO and secretary for EquestrianCoach.com.
Our Board Directors
Denny Emerson
Denny is an eventer, trainer, coach, author, leader and activist. He has been profiled as one of the 50 most influential horsemen of the Twentieth Century. He is the only rider to have ever won both a gold medal in eventing and a Tevis buckle in endurance. Denny was inducted into the United States Eventing Association (USEA) Hall of Fame in 2006.
He received the USEA’s Wofford Cup for lifetime service to eventing and the American Riding Instructor Certification Program (ARICP) Lifetime Achievement Award.
His leadership roles include USEA (twice president), the USET (vice-president of Eventing for seven years), the USEF (on the Executive Committee) and Chairman of the Breeder’s Committee of the AHSA.
Caci Massaro
Caci Massaro is a lifelong horse lover and Thoroughbred enthusiast. She earned her Undergraduate and Masters degree at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. She started her career in Advisory Services at KPMG, she has since worked with executives in the consumer, tech & media spaces to roadmap and craft innovative growth strategies that have sustained positive effects on businesses and the people they serve. Her philanthropic endeavors include work with Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, AIESEC Global Development in Vietnam.
Alex Alvarado
Alex began his riding career at the age of 17 and showed a tremendous natural talent for the sport. He is now pursuing his passion with the hope of representing his country in international competition. His ultimate goal would be to compete at the Olympic level on a horse that was bred, raised and trained entirely by his family-owned Rancho Las Tres Cruces.
Michael Endicott
Michael is the owner and trainer at Pegasus Show Stables, Rancho Santa Fe, California. Purchasing and training elite horses and coaching clients has been his profession for decades. Moreover, he has won both at the National Grand Prix level and at the International level at World Cup competitions. Currently, he is the chef d'Equipe of the US Young Riders Team on the West Coast.
Jane DaCosta
Jane is the founder and Executive Director of the Metropolitan Equestrian Team (MET), a 501(c)(3) non profit organization established in 2010. MET supports student-athletes with equestrian mounted activities and academic achievement programs through college preparation, college scholarship opportunities and various educational programs. Jane is also a Graduate student at New York University Stern School of Business enrolled in the Executive MBA Program.
Michael Bernstein
Michael is a CPA/Financial Consultant
and the Charity’s accountant. His company, Bernstein Financial Services has been providing quality individual and business tax preparation for over 20 years.
Tiffany Teeter
Tiffany has spent her life as a rider, trainer and judge. She has owned and ridden numerous national hunter and jumper champions. Tiffany has bought, trained and placed hundreds of Thoroughbred horses during her long career. Deceased 9/2023.
Corporate Liaison
Grace Rankin
Grace’s equestrian education has been touched by Beverly Jovais, Lyn & Sarah Mullins, Buck Brannaman, Tina & Ali Cornish, and Brittany Massey. She has competed successfully in the 3’ AO Hunters and Equitation divisions and now is transitioning from horses to teaching horsemanship guiding equine-assisted retreats, and the training and sale of green ponies as her profession. She has a bachelor’s in Animal Science and is growing her understanding of human behavior via a Masters in Psychology program at Dominican University.
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