LEE HUGHES - OWNER/TRAINER
As a junior rider, Lee excelled in the equitation and hunter rings. Some of her accolades include earning reserve champion at Maclay Regionals, eighth at New England Medal Finals, and sixth at Maclay Finals. She was year end champion in the age group equitations and junior hunters multiple times for IHJA(Indiana) and IHJA(Illinois). She has her bronze medal for the USET and qualified and competed at all of the major medal finals, primarily on catch rides. She also trained, qualified, and competed her own 5 yr old jumper at the Young Jumper Finals East. Lee was fortunate to gain experience catch riding for numerous trainers and was a working student for Otis Brown, Tom Wright and Missy Clark. She learned invaluable horsemanship skills, training techniques, and the value of hard work and dedication that it takes to reach the top of the sport. She has had the privilege of clinicing and lessoning with some of the greats such as George Morris, Diane Carney, Patty Stovel, Don Stewart, Tammy Provost and Scott Hofstetter.
After years of working for top professionals such as Keri Kampsen, Jimmy Torano and John Bragg, Lee made the decision to open her own program in 2014. Promenade Farm was intially based out of Portola Valley, CA, but the program was moved to her family owned farm in Athens, GA in 2017. Lee opened Promenade Farm in order to provide her clients with a program that focuses on quality over quanitity. Lee has chosen to limit her number of clients in order to maintain the high standards of care and training that often times get lost in a larger program. The program focuses heavily on proper flatwork with an emphasis on equitation. The horses receive ample turnout and benefit from a good mix of ring training with trails and riding in the fields. Proper nutrition, and proper fitness keep the horses healthy, happy and sound. Lee has a passion for devleoping young and green horses and excels at producing horses that are junior and amateur friendly. She herself competes at the top of the sport with a multitude of hunter derby wins, and top placings in the grand prixs. Her students have been zone, national and state year end champions and have qualified and competed at medal finals. Lee has a consistent and reputable sales program and imports a number of quality horses throughout the year. She has a great passion for helping clients find their perfect horse and works with reliable professionals in order to find that perfect match.