Serenity Cove Stables Staff
Erica Gowen - Owner/Director/Head Instructor
Hi, I'm Erica Gowen and I am the owner of Serenity Cove Stables. I have been teaching/training for over 20 years and my goal is to provide top-quality instruction and training to St. Mary's County with the help of our happy, healthy lesson horses. Allow me to tell you a little more about myself and my equestrian experience.
At the age of 9 I started my riding career with a focus in hunt seat equitation in upstate New York in the city of Rochester. At the age of 15 I was competing in the Empire State Show Series at the Advanced level. A few years later as a college student, I joined the Syracuse University Intercollegiate Equestrian Team. In my Sophomore year at Syracuse I qualified for Regional, Zone, and then National finals, which was held in Boulder, Colorado. At Nationals I placed 3rd overall in Advanced Hunt Seat Equitation on the Flat.
For my junior year I studied abroad in London, England and joined the Collegiate Team while I was there. Here I began my studies in Dressage at Trent Park Equestrian Center in North East London, and this was my equestrian focus for the following year. Upon returning to the United States I again qualified for IHSA Regional finals in hunt seat over fences as a member of the Syracuse team, but sadly was unable to compete due to illness (despite my protests!).
In 1997 I moved to Southern Maryland and started instructing and training in the area. After teaching and training out of local barns I bought a farm in Mechanicsville in 2001 and named it Crimson Clover Farm. In 2002 I recieved my CHA Level 4 certification in English riding instruction. After 5 successful years at Crimson Clover Farm, I sold it in order to expand our instruction/training/boarding operations. In 2006 my husband and I purchased our current facility in Leonardtown and named it Serenity Cove Stables. When I am not instructing, training, and managing day to day farm operations, I still find time to continue my own professional development by training under Debbie Hubbard, USDF Gold Medalist.
I compete primarily in rated show circuits, including the open Maryland Saddle Association Jumper circuit, open dressage competitions, as well as Open eventing. I also compete in A-rated Arabian shows where I qualified for National Finals in the Pure Bred Hunter Over Fences division in 2008. I plan to start competing my 3 year old Appendix Quarter horse in the Quarter Horse circuits in 2009.
I hold Membership with the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA), Arabian Horse Association (AHA), American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), Maryland Horse Show Association (MHSA), and United States Equestrian Federation (USEF).
Now that you know all about me, allow me to introduce the other fantastic instructors here at Serenity Cove Stables.
Karen Smith - Dressage Instructor
I began riding at 5 years old, on family owned horses. Arabians are my favorite!! My grandfather was a Pennsylvania farmer who had teams of work horses as well as race horses. My mother also rode extensively as a teenager. I live with my 2 children and husband on our 15 acre farm with my Arabian mare, with whom I do dressage and comp. trail.
1982-1986 Pony Club under BHSI instructor in Landover, MD. Youth equestrian camp counselor for 4 years.
1987-1989- began teaching lessons and riding/showing boarder's horses at Marlboro Horse Farm, Upper Marlboro, MD. Champions and Reserve Champions in Green/Open Hunter and Equitation.
1989-1991- Barn manager for El Naja Arabians, a breeding and boarding facility in LaPlata, MD. Began a successful comp. and judged pleasure trail riding career, achieving a score of 98/100 on my first 15 mile ride. In 93' I took my novice 4 year old Arabian to Grand Champion in her first year of competing.
1992- 2006- cont. training and riding with upper level dressage judges/coaches, as well as a steady schedule of comp. trail/ judged pleasure trail events. I attended 3 John Lyon's clinics and rec'd awards of achievement for each.
That year I also began working with therapeutic children and adults at Greenwell State Park's riding program.
October 2006- attended CHA certification clinic and received a score of 97/100 overall. Rec'd Level 3 certification. You may find my name and information at chainstructors.com
2006 to present- currently competing with my new green Arabian mare in dressage and trail ( Reserve High Point Intro Level at BeginAgain Show Series 07, champion Intro Level at HPEC show series 07, and Champion Novice Horse Division MAHA judged ride, 07. All in this horse's first year of showing ).
I have completed the USDF 'L' judges 3 part series program as a participating auditor, and I am in the process of completeing the USDF Instructor Certification program ( 3 part series) as a participating auditor. I was the dressage instructor for the MD Horse Council Horse Science School in June of '07.
I now train under a USDF 'R' judge and periodically under classical dressage instructor in Northern MD. I especially enjoy working with green horses, and OTTB.
Member of NARHA, CHA, USDF, USEF, PVDA and MAHA.
My goal is to develop a sensitive, secure rider with focus on a deep, balanced seat. I believe that we cannot be successful as riders with ribbons alone, we should constantly strive to achieve clear, correct, and compassionate communication every time we ride.
Helaine also hails from New York, but on the other side of the state on Long Island. She too has accumulated over 20 years of formal riding instruction experience.
In her youth Helaine competed in AHSA recognized B and C Equitation, Hunters and Jumpers, ASPCA McClay Medal, and AHSA Medal classes as a member of the Park Stables Show Team in Plainview, New York. It was at Park Stables that Helaine started her teaching career as a junior instructor.
From there, Helaine took a position as an instructor and trail guide at Bethpage State Park Polo and Riding Stables in Bethpage, New York (Long Island).
In 1999 Helaine started her work in Therapeutic riding as a cofounder of the first Therapeutic Riding Program in the Southern Maryland tri-county area at Greenwell State Park. In 2000 she earned her North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) certification. She also helped to start the first Special Olympics Equestrian training program in the tri-county area. In 2002 she received the Special Olympics Training for Life Award for her accomplishments.
Now Helaine brings her wealth of experience of teaching hunt seat equitation to our students here at Serenity Cove Stables.
Helaine Burch - Hunt Seat Instructor