Judi Novak, Instructor

A rider and competitor since childhood and an instructor / trainer for 3 decades, Judi Novak has worked with students and horses in Loudoun County for 23 years.  After graduating with a BA in Equestrian Studies from Lake Erie College in Ohio, Judi traveled to Ireland, where she studied under Iris Kellett in the British Horse Society AI program.  Later in Michigan, Judi partnered with a friend to own and operate a boarding / lesson facility with 30 horses and 120 students.  An opportunity to train with Olympic Gold Medalist Torrance Watkins prompted the move to Virginia, and after three years with Torrance, Judi went to work with Trip Hoffman in Chantilly, training and selling horses.  The years subsequent to that of free-lance work with competitive event horses and riders led to a 7-year position teaching in the riding department at Foxcroft – a private girls high school in Middleburg.  After the birth of their first child, Judi and her husband Mark moved the family to Purcellville from where she has worked part-time to coach both pleasure and competitive individuals for the last 15 years, 7 of which have been at Red Gate Farm.