HomeBoard Information

Board Information

The Board of Directors is elected annually, please contact any current board member if you are interested.

President

Lori LaFave

Lori has served on the VN Board for the past two years. She is passionate about growing our membership, and growing the participation in our schooling show program. She has been a member of VN for the past 5 years. After riding hunters and low level eventers in her young adulthood, Lori now rides dressage after many years as a trail rider while raising her children. She shares her equine life with her Irish Sport Horse – Duckie, and her daughter’s retired pony Ernie. In addition to the horses, Lori shares her home with two Dobermans, two cats, her husband and her two children in college. Lori is the founder and president of LaFave & Associates, and national political consulting firm, and she sits on the boards of two charities – VETSAID, and CCRS Education Foundation.

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Vice President

Jessie Ginsburg

has been on the Board of VADA/Nova for almost 30 years. She currently serves as a VADA/Nova representative to the VADA (state) Board and is the VADA Treasurer. During her years on the VADA/Nova Board, Jessie has served on various committees including the Schooling Shows and Education/Clinics committees. She has also served as Volunteer Coordinator and Awards chair. Jessie currently handles submissions for the VADA/Nova year-end awards program. Jessie has received the Diamond Achievement Award for earning all the USDF medals and bars and is an R dressage judge. She recently retired from her job with the federal government, and hopes that this will allow her more time to ride, compete, judge, and contribute to VADA/Nova.

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Secretary

Michelle "Sheli" King

has been on the VADA/Nova Board for about 20 years, including a three-year stint as President. She is a member of the Clinics and Education, Ribbons and Prizes, and Licensed Show committees. Sheli is one of VADA/Nova’s representatives to the VADA Board, and is currently VADA President. She is also a member of the USDF’s Dressage Technical Delegates Committee and both the USDF’s and USEF’s Rules Advisory Groups (serving as chair for the USDF Group), as well a USDF Region 1 Participating Member (PM) Delegate. After retiring from the federal government with more than 32 years of service, Sheli received her license as a USEF Dressage Technical Delegate (TD) and was promoted to a large R TD in 2022. She has officiated at competitions from Massachusetts to Florida, throughout Illinois and Iowa, at several Regional Championships, and at the US Dressage Finals in 2022. She enjoys spending as much time as she can with her PRE gelding “Tamus II” (aka “Mouse”) and spends her winters in Florida.

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Treasurer

Lisa Rice

Lisa has served on the VADA/Nova Board since 2018; she has served on the Executive Committee as Treasurer since 2021. In 2023, Lisa assisted in spearheading, designing and launching the new Volunteer Bucks program and Storefront on the VADA/Nova website. She also serves on the Schooling Show and Licensed Show Committees, does her best to keep track of the schooling show supplies and ribbons each year, and volunteers when possible at various other VADA/Nova shows and activities. Lisa started her 40+ year riding life in the Eventing discipline and made the switch to dressage in 2012. Lisa currently has three horses; “Falastur” (aka “Bert”), a 17 year old Hanoverian gelding, who is retired and living the good life out in Boyce VA at Shadowfax Farm with 12 of his BFF’s; and “Konigin der Nacht” ( aka “Sofie”), an 18 year old Oldenburg mare, also retired but living in the manner to which she is accustomed in Delaplane VA. Her newest equine family member is Kynynmont Kinley, a 4-year-old Connemara/Hanoverian cross. Lisa retired in 2017 after a 36 year career in the labor movement, and when not riding, enjoys travel, movies, yard work, helping with chores at her barn, and time at home with her husband Bob and their dog “Juno”.

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Melinda Freckleton

Is a lifelong rider, with an early focus on dressage. After graduating from Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine Melinda moved to Catlett in 2003, and joined VADA/Nova at that time. She has been a farm owner, running Firestar Farm with her wife, Jenny Spain (USDF Gold medal rider). Firestar Farm is a 14-stall boarding facility that has been home to many home-grown Grand Prix level horses, and been the base for several FEI level trainers. Professionally, Melinda is a full time veterinarian with her own Firestar Veterinary Services. Her team serves the NoVa area with personalized primary care for horses, ponies, donkeys and mules. The practice emphasizes detailed preventative medicine, advanced dental care, and general health care. Despite a busy professional and family life Melinda rides regularly. She earned USDF Bronze medal this year, with all scores earned on Morgans. She lives in Catlett with her wife, teenage daughter, 3 dogs, 1 cat and many horses, including her Morgan horse, Raptor (Coachman's Legendary). Melinda and Raptor are aiming for 4th level next year.

Judith Grass

Has been riding since 1968. She started in hunt seat, evented, and eventually ended up riding dressage. Judy also drove and sometimes competed in Pleasure Driving and Combined Driving. She has been a member of VADA/Nova and a regular volunteer since 1992. Judy owned and operated Compass Rose Farm until April 2025. For 25 years Compass Rose Farm regularly hosted dressage shows and combined tests. Judy joined the VADA/Nova Board in 2006. For many years she maintained the VADA/Nova website and did other Internet administration for VADA/Nova. Now that web management has been outsourced, she is finding other tasks to do. She currently has two pampered, retired horses.

Anne Harrington

Always knew that horses would be part of her life, but she didn't have the opportunity to ride regularly until she was in college and competed on the St. Lawrence University IHSA team in hunter equitation. Over her career, she took her riding passion to a number of overseas assignments (Belgium, Hungary, and Russia) where she had her first formal training in dressage. She settled in Northern Virginia nearly 40 years ago and has owned four horses during that time, competing in dressage, eventing, and jumping. Dressage has been her passion for the last 15 years and she has been an active member of VADA/Nova, competing and volunteering, especially as a scribe, as often as she can. After retiring from a long career in the government, she put her name forward as a Board candidate in 2017. She has served on the Board since then, filling a number of positions including Vice President, Secretary, and Membership Chair. She is particularly interested in developing educational activities for the VADA/Nova membership, communications, and representing members in the southern part of the VADA/Nova region. She has owned and retrained off-track thoroughbreds for several decades and believes strongly in the breed’s potential as a sporthorse.

Jess Howard

Moved to West Virginia in 2002 to continue her career with the National Park Service. Dressage, eventing, combined driving, hunter jumpers, foxhunting, historical reenacting- before working to own a horse of her own- Jess took advantage of every horse opportunity that presented itself. She served as captain of two college equestrian teams, won the Justin Morgan, evented successfully (before children) through Novice level and earned her USDF Bronze Medal on her Mustang/Arabian, Wildfire. Today Jess currently rides at Fourth level with the USDF Silver medal in sight, all while starting a youngster at Intro. She is a member of the USEF, USDF, Arabian Horse Association, and National Dressage Pony Cup. Jess is the proud mom of two boys- jumping into their world to become the first certified female football official in the Eastern Panhandle (WV) and certified basketball official. In her spare time, Jess is a professional equine and sports photographer, an artist, a correspondent for the Spirit of Jefferson, and serves on the Parent Advisory Committee to the Jefferson County Superintendent of Schools. Jess is a natural leader. She questions when no one else will and is solutions oriented but only through collaboration. She looks forward to the opportunity to add value to VADA/Nova.

Sonya Hunt

Has been a VADA/Nova member since 2006. VADA/Nova has been an important part of her life for many years, and she wants to help it thrive for years to come. Her degree is in engineering, but she most often finds herself applying her education to simplify problems and help find solutions. She enjoys helping others discover dressage as an essential tool as well as a sport and wants to assist VADA/Nova in serving this important function. Her current horse, “Tap”, is an Irish Draught Sport Horse and she is the also USDF liaison for the Irish Draught Horse Society promoting Dressage among their members.

Debbie Meade

Started riding as a teenager and after taking breaks for family and career started riding again after adopting an OTTB rescue (Bythe Grace of God) in 2007. She had many adventures with this horse including baby dressage, trail riding, and dabbling in working equitation. When he passed away in 2019, she knew she wanted to continue with dressage and got her next horse, a Knabstrupper (Pacificus), who is fondly referred to as the "chestnut appaloosa". He has been a great equine partner who is always willing to work hard but also loves to get out of the classroom and hit the trails. Debbie has been a VADA/Nova member for over 10 years and likes both volunteering at shows and competing. Outside of horses, Debbie enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 grown sons, and 2 grandsons. Debbie works full time in the engineering field and hopes to use those skills to help VADA/Nova with the many tasks that are needed to run the organization.

Rebecca Quinn

Has had a lifetime love of horses. With the purchase of a horse in 2017 for her daughter, she has become very involved in the dressage community. Serving on the VADA/Nova Board, she has taken over the responsibilities of the quarterly newsletter, Piaffe & Passage. During the past year, she has served on the Schooling Show and Awards Banquet Committees and enjoys volunteering at Schooling and Licensed shows. Rebecca is also helping to recruit new junior members and working to get them more involved in our organization.

Rachel Rice

Has been riding for over 30 years in Northern Virginia. She rode hunt seat through high school and then was able to start in dressage with a neighbor's OTTB. She now runs a lesson barn in Alexandria, and in 2025/26 served as head coach for their inaugural Interscholastic Equestrian Association Dressage Team. She also serves as an officer on the boards of Fairfax4Horses and the Hunters Valley Riding Club. She works as the Volunteer Manager for the VADA/Nova shows, as well as the Virginia Dressage Association shows, including Dressage at Lexington and Region 1 Championships.

Mariah Lively- Youth Board Member

is a dedicated dressage rider and active member of VADA/Nova. She has competed in the Youth Show for the past two years, also competing in licensed and schooling shows presented by VADA/Nova. She loves the experiences and the friendshipsit's helped her build. She loves the chance to connect with other passionate riders.

A USDF Bronze medalist, Mariah trains and competes with her partner, Range Rover LGF, as she works towards earning her Silver Medal in the 2026 show season. She also brings years of horsemanship experience from the Cassanova Warrenton Pony Club, where she's developed strong leadership and teamwork skills. Mariah is eager to bring fresh ideas to the board, especially focusing on creating new opportunities for youth riders and strengthening the sense of community within VADA/Nova. Mariah would love to go into the medical field after she finishes college. She's currently finishing her high school degree as a homeschool student.

Grace Quinn- Youth Board Member

started riding when she was 8 years old, when her great grandmother purchased a horse for her. She did not know the time, energy, and cost of owning your own horse, but was so excited to make this leap. Over the past nine years, Grace has leased and owned four horses and has developed a true passion for dressage. Since becoming a VADA/Nova member eight years ago, she has enjoyed competing and volunteering, and won Junior Volunteer of the Year in 2024. Grace will be studying to become an Equine Veterinarian at college and is looking forward to representing the Juniors on the Board.