Next Board Meeting

August 31 6:30 PM

Conference Call details TBD

Board of Directors

Jill Pelzel

President, Medal Finals/Equitation Committee

I am a lifetime member of CHJA and have been actively involved with the board for many years. I am involved in many aspects of the horse industry, including CHJA, USHJA, and IHSA. Besides teaching and training horses and riders for local and A competitions, I coach the CU Equestrian Team and run an active sale horse business. I enjoy volunteering on the Board and will continue to look for opportunities for CHJA to move forward in the industry and become and even stronger organization.

Rebecca Johnson

Vice President, Copper Penny (Chair), Licensed Officials, Equitation Committee/Medal Finals

I am very involved with CHJA as a trainer and show host and would like to assist the organization in meeting the needs of its members. I have served on the board in the past and found it to be rewarding and constructive.

Kristina McCombie

Secretary, Fall Finale (Chair), Copper Penny

I have been an active CHJA member for the past 20 years. I grew up doing the CHJA circuit starting in short stirrup and finished out my junior years in the Junior Hunters and big eqs. During college I rode intercollegiately for the University of Colorado, finishing 8th nationally my senior year. Currently I have an adult hunter whom I absolutely adore, and ride with CHJA president, Jill Pelzel at Fall River Farm. Day-to-day, I am a kindergarten teacher in Arvada, and absolutely love my career. I am actively involved with many parts of CHJA - from a horse show participant to show employee (I LOVE running the in-gate!). I feel I could bring an amateur lens to the board, and want to make CHJA a more cohesive group of riders, trainers, managers, and community members. I have ideas for new show classes and ways to connect our state end to end. As a recipient of the sportsmanship award and past winner of the Foxcreek Horsemanship Challenge, I would love to see our riders of all ages continuing to be recognized for their sportsmanship and horsemanship with additional opportunities throughout the year. And finally, I want to continue to support our incredible board with all the work they have done in the past and their plans for the future to make this one of the best local HJ organizations in the country.

Valerie Williams

Treasurer, Equitation Committee/Medal Finals (Chair), Licensed Officials, CHJF

I grew up riding and showing Hunters, Jumpers and Equitation in Colorado. For the past 30 years, I have been a resident trainer at Shiloh Farms in Golden under the business name of Flat Irons Farm. Here, I have been blessed to work with many wonderful students and their horses. During this time, I have also had the opportunity to view the accomplishments of CHJA from the prospective of a trainer, breeder, owner, mother and board member. I have had the opportunity to work with my fellow board members developing the Trainers Symposium Grant to further trainers’ education, the equitation committee, various positions on the Medal Finals Committee, as well as treasurer. I have enjoyed serving on the board for five terms and believe that the current board has been instrumental in effecting many wonderful changes to the system.

I believe Colorado is very fortunate to have an organization like CHJA that supports all levels of trainers, riders and horses. I look forward to the possibility of serving our community on the CHJA board in the upcoming term.

Alexia Honegger

Junior Committee (Chair)

I've enjoyed these last two years on the board working with the Junior Committee and being the liaison to the Colorado Horse Park. We have some exciting collaborations planned with Stock Show that I'd like to keep developing, and I enjoy representing the jumper voice on the board when division questions come up.

Amy Henze

Member Benefits

Amy Henze is a local trainer who brings over 22 years of experience and membership to the board. She currently owns and operates North Ridge Farm out of Longmont, and her clients enjoy competing in all three rings at both CHJA and A shows. She has a history of working with CHJA supporters like Foxcreek Mobile Outfitters, is pursuing her USHJA Trainer Certification, and has experience with riders from up/downs to Medal Finals and beyond. Amy has never served on the CHJA board, but seeks to bring fresh perspectives to the organization that does so much for her and her clients, and would like to give back to the sport that has given her so much.

Carol O'Meara

CHJF (Chair) , Rules and Specifications (Chair), Show Standards (Chair), Licensed Officials, Equitation Committee/Medal Finals

Carol is a past CHJA Board Member and is Rules and Specs Chair and Show Standards Chair. Contact her with any issues, concerns, or comments regarding rules and conduct of shows.

Daniel Schiefen

Nominating Committee (Chair)

Hello I am Dan Schiefen and I would like the opportunity to serve on the CHJA board of directors. I have over twenty five years experience in the Colorado horse industry. I am a life time CHJA. I would like the opportunity to give back to an organization that has given me so much. Thank you.

Jen Lewis

Licensed Officials, Nominating Committee, Equitation Committee/Medal Finals

I have been a member of CHJA for so long that my membership number is in the very low 100’s. I grew up riding and fox-hunting in southeastern Pennsylvania, then got to Colorado as fast as I could. Thirty-five years later I have worn many hats for the hunter jumper sport, including: past board member, Equitation committee, competitor, trainer, owner, mother and “r” judge. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help the Colorado Hunter Jumper community, keeping in mind that horse and rider welfare are my top priority.

Jennifer Duffy

Junior Committee, Member Benefits Committee (Chair)

Most of my horses and students grow up at the CHJA shows. It is an incredible venue for students and horses to gain show experience. One of my OTTB's Connor was Open Jumper Champion as well as Horse of the Year in 2011. If elected to the CHJA board of directors I would like to grow and improve CHJA's services to its members by improving our show standards, offering more clinic opportunities and scholarship programs. My horses, students, and pretty soon my daughter all compete at CHJA shows and I would like nothing better than to help build and grow what is already a great organization!

Kris Nixon

Licensed Officials, Nominating Committee, Strategic Planning, Fall Finale

I have been involved in the hunter Jumper industry in Colorado for my entire life. My mother was a trainer when I was a child, and she was one of the founders of CHJA. I have previously been on the board, for twelve years, and was President for nine of those years. I owned and ran Noontide Farm in Parker for twenty years, and have now moved into judging across the country. I feel my experience, both past and present would be a valuable asset to CHJA.

Linnea Throckmorton

Strategic Planning Committee (Chair), Licensed Officials Committee, Show Standards Committee

As the third generation of the Throckmorton family dedicated to horses, Linnea has a long history of equestrianism with over 20 years in the industry herself. She showed competitively across the nation through her junior years, and interned at a showjumping barn in Germany at a young age. Her time in Germany instilled the importance of a classical approach with the horses, and she has brought both young horses and students up through both the jumper, equitation and hunter ranks with this perspective.

She joined the CHJA Board to help represent more of Northern Colorado and be actively involved at all levels of the sport. Because her father is a USEF licensed course designer, she has grown up knowing the front and back end of competitions. Balancing her time as a first time mom, trainer and an active competitor, she hopes to pool her experiences and knowledge of shows to bring creative solutions. It is her belief that if a “business isn’t growing, it’s dying." Because of this progressive mentality, she wants to see the sport continuously promoted.

Lisa Munro

Marketing (Chair), Sponsorship

My name is Lisa Munro and I live in Longmont, Colo. with my husband – Will, horse – Cat, cat – Horse, and our 7 month old, Carter. I’ve been riding and actively involved with horses for over 20 years and have been competing with my heart horse, Cat, for 14 years. Cat and I competed throughout the CA show circuit through high school, participated in Zone 10’s EAP in 2009 and then rode for Fresno State’s NCAA equestrian team from 2009-2013. In 2016, after moving to Colorado from California, I started Horse d’oeuvres, a horse treat business that has been a childhood dream of mine. In 2017, I co-taught a nine week study session for the USHJA horsemanship quiz challenge with my trainer, Kristin Jacob, where we had four girls pass level one, two girls pass level two and our barn winning the zone 8 USHJA stable challenge. In September of 2017, I was listed on the The Plaid Horse Magazine’s 30 under 30 list for my success with Horse d’oeuvres and the USHJA horsemanship quiz challenge. I would love to offer to CHJA my passion for horsemanship, experience as a college athlete and amateur competitor, and continue to support such an amazing organization who has made me feel so incredibly welcome to Colorado.

Sarah V Watson

Sponsorship (Chair), Marketing, Fall Finale, CHJF

Having served two terms on the Board, I am hoping to have another two years to continue the work I have started with our club to head it in a forward direction with horsemanship and sportsmanship.

Tracey Powers

Member Benefits, Nominating Committee, Copper Penny

Tracey Powers holds an Equestrian Science degree from William Woods University as well as the USHJA Certified Trainer certificate. She also coaches Interscholastic (high school teams) and was National Champion Middle School in 2006. She is the Equestrian coach for Colorado College and University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, as well as the US Pentathlon Coach (coaching in London and Rio in 2012 and 2016).

For local Colorado she has had winners in pony hunters, and equitation (to include winning pony medal at Devon and second at pony finals ), junior hunters and back in the day First Year and Second Year hunters as well as “Horse of the Year”.

Jumpers - she has had multiple kids / wins in children’s/ adult jumpers to include USHJA Central Regional Championships Gold medals - And Young Riders

Betty Weber

Ex Officio, Historian

I have been affiliated with CHJA for a long time. Throughout this period of
time, I have always promoted a fair and level playing field of competition for exhibitors,
always concerned for the safety of the rider and the welfare of the horse. I will continue
to do so.

I have had the opportunity of working on a National Level with the AHSA,
USET, and USEF as Zone 8 Chairman for two terms, and have been Zone 8 Vice
Chairman numerous times, and a member of the National Hunter Jumper Council while
it was in existence, and am a licensed USEF “R” Steward. On a local level, for the same
period of time, I have served on the CHJA Board of Directors as the elected Secretary,
and have served on almost all of the committees.

Alexis Nichols

Staff: Marketing Manager

Betsy Cvetic

Staff: Webmaster

I am currently a business member of CHJA. I was an adult amateur member of CHJA for many years with my son Chris Lozyniak. I competed as an adult amateur in hunter and jumper divisions at both Group I and Group II level shows in Colorado with Tracye Ferguson. My son Chris competed actively in pony hunters, also with Tracye. Even though I am no longer an active competitor, I am a passionate horse person, and am thrilled to be serving you as your webmaster. I welcome your input, and am always here ready to help. If you need assistance with the website, don't hesitate to call me at 720-652-4828.

Franci Martin

Staff: Awards and Year End Banquet

My name is Franci Martin (Taub) and I live in Denver with my husband, son, two dogs, the ever living fish, and my mare Sugar. I have been riding for 39 years and grew up in Ohio competing on the A circuit. In 2010 I started The Grey Tail benefitting The Baco Fund. A new and used tack shop where the profits support The Baco Fund, a non-profit 501 c 3. The Baco Fund helps horse owners with emergency vet bills. I am a huge supporter of local 4-H groups, Westernaires, CHJA shows, and IEA.

I have been the CHJA banquet manager for several yeas. I love planning the end of the year banquet for the CHJA members. Please contact me if you have any banquet questions. I always look forward to planning another great event for the CHJA community.

Kirsten Turner

Staff: Member Support Manager

I've been a member of CHJA for the past several years. I am both a long time horse owner and a mother of competitors.

I've thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to be CHJA's point counter these past few years and am looking forward to the challenges of the upcoming competition year. I strive to have the points posted both accurately and timely. If you haven't already, you can friend CHJA on Facebook to see posts of when the points for a particular show have become available on the CHJA website.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding points, please don't hesitate to contact me at membersupport@chja.org.

Terri Sassano

Staff: Finance Director

Terri was originally from New Jersey. She moved to Colorado at the age of 6, and grew up in Grand Junction. Terri got her first pony after moving to Colorado, she has been horse crazy ever since. The horse craze is multigenerational. Her mom and daughter also love horses and participate in equine activities. Terri stayed in Grand Junction after graduating high school and attended Mesa State College where she received her Bachelor of Science in accounting. She has been a CPA in public practice for over 20 years, and founded Streamline Accounting, Inc. in 1994. She operated Streamline for over 20 years in Grand Junction, before making the move to Erie, CO in 2016. Terri received a real estate brokers license in 2013, (no longer active), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation in 2014. She is a member of the AICPA, the world's largest member association representing the accounting profession, and was a presenter for Lorman Education Services for a couple years.