Springfield Stables | Trainer Bio

TRAINER BIOS
Springfield Stables has two highly regarded hunter/jumper trainers that operate out of our facility. We encourage you to read their biographies below and visit their individual websites for more information regarding their training services.

DENISE LENN | OLDE WELBOURNE
Denise has been involved with horses her whole life. She had a successful career as a competitive rider and started training children to ride when she was just 16. Today, she works with kids who own their own horses, as well as those who don't.

Denise works with older students, too. She coached Camilla Cleese - daughter of British comedian/actor John Cleese and his second wife, American actress Barbara Trentham -
to a fifth-place finish at the American Horse Shows Association finals in Harrisburg, PA Dynasty.

Denise's career as a trainer was probably inevitable. It's in her blood. She's the third generation
in a distinguished equestrian family. Her maternal grandmother - Louise Bedford, of Baltimore, MD - along with Joan Hamill, of Wayne, Ill., brought England's popular children's Pony Club to the United States shortly after World War II.

Her father, Charles Dennehy, a National Show Hunter Hall of Fame honoree, is a former member
of the U.S. Equestrian Team. Her mother was once an American Horse Shows Association Horsewoman of the Year. There's a silver-framed picture at Springfield of Denise's mother and her horse at the Chicago Amphitheatre setting a 6-foot 6-inch U.S. high-jump record - one her father broke by establishing a 7-foot 3-inch record in Canada. After the Dennehys married in 1957, they started Royal Oak Stables, on the site now occupied by Neiman Marcus, in Northbrook. Over the years, they put five horses on U.S. Olympic Teams, taught children to ride and took them to compete in horse shows.

For more information about Denise Lenn, please visit the Olde Welbourne website.

NIKKI JEWELL | GEM STONE FARM
Owner of, and head trainer at Gem Stone Farm, Inc. Nikki has specialized in the Hunter and Jumper disciplines since 1994. She is an active member of the professional equestrian community, serving as the Zone 5 USHJA secretary from 2001 to 2009. She currently serves on the USHJA Scholarship Task Force. Nikki also has years of experience in training and developing young horses to become solid performance horses. She has trained many students and horses to excel in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. Her student, Caitlin Maloney, qualified for and attended the Medal Finals and the Maclay Regionals. Nikki has a solid team of professionals and colleagues that assist in keeping the horses and riders healthy and competitive at every level.

Nikki comes from a diverse background of horsemanship. Spending most of her youth in hunter, dressage and event training. While attending college in KY she managed and trained at an eventing barn and worked with pony club. After graduating from college in 1993, Nikki worked with Trainer and Judge Jeff Wirthman and Arcadia Farm, a top A level Circuit Show stables of the time where she gained invaluable experience in developing individual training and management programs for each horse designed to help them to perform at their best at the top levels. In 2000 Nikki opened Gem Stone Farm in Lake County, IL.

Nikki believes in utilizing many cross training techniques in addition to proper flat work including swimming, ground work, long lining, lunge work and free jumping to keep the horses fit and happy. She feels that being fit and happy is imperative for horses to perform well. Nikki's interest and investment in the 'art and science' of equine management and training goes well beyond simple hobby or avocation. Nikki holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Equine Administration and in Business Administration from the University of Louisville. In addition to her considerable Hunter and Jumper credentials, Nikki has thirteen years of direct experience in barn, breeding and equine facilities management.

For more information about Nikki Jewell, please visit the Gem Stone Farm website.