Reno, Nevada - October 24, 2016
- Maplewood Stables, Inc., is pleased to announce the addition of two new assistant trainers, as the nationally renowned Hunter/Jumper equestrian center expands its lesson and showing programs.
Ana Forssell and Marcella Lawwill accepted positions on the Maplewood team in October, joining Owner/Manager Julie Winkel, her son Grand Prix Show Jumper Kevin Winkel and Assistant Trainers Andrew Teer Jayne and Corrine Shaw. Maplewood's services include year-round lessons for all levels of skill, from beginner to advanced, horse boarding and training, as well as showing from local to international-level.
Ana Forrsell, a native of Northern California, brings a solid foundation of horsemanship and competitive experience, from ponies to the equitation to the upper levels of show jumping, to the Maplewood trainer roster.
Forssell, age 25, knew early on she wanted to help people discover the joy of horses and learn to ride and show, and she's been professional trainer since age 18.
"While growing up, I had the opportunity to show many young horses and ponies and learned what it takes to develop a healthy, happy and successful show horse," she said. "My focus is to help all riders develop the best foundation possible to build from so they reach their riding goals. My passion is to bring out the best in each horse and help riders love all the things that go into creating a winning team with their horses."
Throughout her life, Forssell has continued to expand her own horsemanship education, and a highlight was in 2012 when she finished second overall in the United States Hunter Jumper Association Emerging Athletes National Training Session. The elite competition encompasses horsemanship components and a Show Jumping Nations Cup to test a rider's knowledge in the barn and talent in the saddle.
Maplewood Assistant Trainer Ana Forssell
Forssell was then invited to the 2013 George H. Morris Horsemastership Training Session in Wellington, Florida, where each year 12 of the country's top young riders are invited to learn from the best horsemen in the country, including Olympic gold medalists and World Cup veterans. At the time, she was the first person from Northern California to be invited.
In addition to teaching lessons and training young horses at Maplewood, Forssell plans to establish an
Interscholastic Equestrian Team for Reno-area Middle and High School students. The IEA program is geared toward riders in grades 6-12 and riders need not own a horse to join or compete. The IEA program is open to students in public and private schools and includes barn teams as well.
After growing up in California, Marcella Lawwill, age 39, has traveled the world learning horsemanship and following her passion for horses. She's worked with and ridden for a variety of top Hunter/Jumper trainers and Grand Prix Show Jumpers, including Laura O'Connor and Wilder De Santo in the United States and Dietmar Gugler, Toni Hassman and Kurt Gravemeier in Europe.
At Maplewood, she will teach lessons, from beginners to advanced riders, as well as continue working in all aspects of the reproductive services at Maplewood, from breeding and foaling to handling and training the young horses from the ground up.
