Biographies of Red Hills Officials, Designers, Builder, Announcer

Cross Country Course Designer
Captain Mark Phillips (GB)

An Olympic Gold Medallist at the 1972 games in Munich, Germany, Capt. Mark Phillips today is a pre-eminent equestrian course designer and teacher. Thanks to his excellent reputation, his services are in great demand across the United States, Europe and Australia. As a member of the 1972 British Olympic equestrian team, Phillips captured the gold on Great Ovation, the horse that won him the Badminton Horse Trials title in 1971 and 1972. He went on to win the world's greatest three-day event two more times -- in 1974 on Her Majesty the Queen's horse Columbus and on Lincoln in 1981.

After riding for the British team at the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988, he retired from competition. Since then, he has served equestrian sport as a top-level designer and instructor. He has designed the four star course at the Burghley Horse Trials, the course at the Gatcombe CIC, which serves as the British national championship, and many others, including the Red Hills cross-country course in Tallahassee. He is the AHSA/USCTA National Course Advisor; under his guidance, safety and quality have improved immensely at U. S. Cross-country courses.

As Chef d'Equipe to the U. S. Equestrian Team's Three-Day Event Team, Phillips has applied his unique talents for understanding horses and riders to the fullest. Under his guidance, U. S. Riders have returned to a level of international success that has been absent since coach Jack LeGoff trained U. S horses and riders in the 1970's and early 1980's. Among Phillips' success stories are an individual silver medal at the 1994 World Championships in the Hague (Dorothy Crowell and Molokai) followed by individual gold and team silver medals at the 1995 Pan American Games. (Bruce Davidson and Heyday won the individual gold.) A team silver and individual bronze medal (Kerry Millikin and Out and About) at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games proved that Phillips has indeed brought the U. S. Equestrian Team back to the top of its form.

FEI Veterinarian
Steve Fisch, DVM (FL)

Steve Fisch has been a horse enthusiast since early childhood. He was a jockey before pursuing his DVM degree from the University of Georgia, where he graduated in 1982. He is president of AVS Equine Medical & Surgical Hospital in Tallahassee. AVS Equine Hospital is the only full service equine medical and surgical referral hospital within 150 miles of Tallahassee.

Steve's special interests are diagnosis and treatment of equine lameness and reproduction. He is certified in equine acupuncture and qualified in 2001 as an FEI veterinarian. He has been a volunteer veterinarian for Red Hills Horse Trials every year since the first (1998) event.

W. Joseph Fisch, DVM, joined his dad in the AVS Equine Medical & Surgical Hospital in June 2004. Steve's wife, Kelley, and daughters, Jessica, Casey and Zoey all enjoy many varied horse activities.

FEI Associate Veterinarian
Michael B. Sigman, DVM (GA)

Dr. Signam earned his B.S., M.S., and D.V.M. at the University of Georgia.  Since graduation in 1976, he has been in private practice in Covington, Georgia, having both an Equine and Small Animal Clinic.

Dr. Signam has been an FEI Veterinarian since 1997.  He assisted in the 1996 Olympics and has served as Veterinary Delegate or Associate Veterinary Delegate at Beaulieu Classic CIC***, Fox Hall CCI***, Camino Real CCI* and CCI**, Gallway Downs CCI* and CCI** and Virginia CCI*.

Mike competes at horse trials at the lower levels.  He is married to Cathy who assists in all the family equine activities .  Their son, Michael, evented as a young rider in the 90's and their daughter, Mary Bess Horton, is presently doing upper level eventing and teaches riding to numerous youngsters.

Dressage Judge and Member of the Ground Jury
Karen Winn (KY)

Karen Winn grew up riding hunters in Princeton, New Jersey. She majored in Animal Science at the University of Massachusetts, where she was active in the Intercollegiate Horse Shows and their Equestrian Drill Team. After college, she taught riding at the University of Kentucky, and later at Midway College, both in central Kentucky. Karen operated a public boarding and training stable for some time, specializing in starting young horses for the racetrack. During this time, Karen was also an active competitor in both combined training and FEI level dressage, and president of the Mid South DCTA.

Karen returned to the college at the University of Kentucky, where she earned a second degree in Accounting. Following five years as Business Manager for the American Hanoverian Society, she went to work for the national office of the United States Pony Clubs, Inc., where she currently acts as Director of Finance and Administration.

Karen received her Dressage judge’s license from the AHSA in 1979, and subsequently was licensed as a Combined Training Judge and Technical Delegate. She currently holds a “R” rating in all three categories, and in addition is an FEI licensed Eventing Judge. Karen frequently officiates throughout the US, but still finds time to occasionally compete her Thoroughbreds in dressage and eventing, and her Coonhounds in dog shows.

Dressage Judge and Member of the Ground Jury
Brian Ross

Photo and bio coming

FEI Steward
Trish Gilbert (MD) 

Both a FEI and USA Equestrian Technical Delegate and FEI and USA Equestrian Course Designer, Trish Gilbert has amassed a long list of equestrian credentials:  she was long-listed rider for the US Equestrian Team, has competed through International Level and tried out for USET 3-Day team in the 60's, is a graduate "A" Pony Clubber, has served as a FEI Steward at the 1998 Olympic games, the 1995 Atlanta Cup and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Her service to the United States Equestrian Team and the United States Pony Clubs at an Executive level is well known and in 1998 she was awarded the United States Pony Clubs Founders Award for outstanding service.  Trish has organized the Blue Ridge Three-Day Horse Trials at her farm, Church Mouse Meadows, from 1971- 1981 -- these trials were the selection trials for Olympic and World Championships.  In addition, she organized the Fair Hill International CCI from 1988-1998.

Trish holds a warm spot in our hearts as she was the first Technical Delegate for the Red Hills Horse Trials in 1998 and for the following two years.  We are delighted to welcome her back!

Event Announcer
Nigel E. Casserly (WV)

Nigel Casserly has been a lifelong horseman since he started to ride at the age of eight, which led him many years later to form National Equestrian Communications and start his professional announcing career in 1976.Since then he has announced and provided the P. A. Systems for CDI's, CDI-W's, CAIs, CSIs and CCIs all over America.

Nigel has announced at the Rolex Kentucky 3-day event since 1977 including the 1978 World Championships. Nigel's announcing credits include the Washington International Horse Show, the Pan American Games in 1987, and the Equestrian Special Olympic World Games and Volvo World Cup Dressage Finals in California in 1995. In 1993, Nigel provided the PA systems and announced for the World Pairs Driving Championships in Gladstone, N. J., and was the announcer for dressage and the three-day events at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.   Nigel currently provides sound and announcing for four of the eight Grade I steeplechase meets in this country.

Dressage Judge and Assistant Technical Delegate
Gretchen Butts (MD)
 
Gretchen Butts has an extensive equestrian background and competes currently at the Advanced/Three Star FEI 3 Day Level. In addition to competing, Gretchen has organized the Waredaca Combined Training Event since 1979 and is a current FEI "C" Eventing Technical Delegate, a USAE "R" Eventing Technical Delegate and a USEA "r" Eventing Judge. Butts has served as a past member of the Board of Governors and Vice President of Education for the United States Eventing Association. Gretchen holds the position of Chief Jump Judge for the Fair Hill CCI*** (since 1989) and served as Chief Jump Judge for the 1996 Olympic Three Day Event in Atlanta, Georgia.

Gretchen holds a BS and MS in Nursing and a MA in Management/Human Resources. Married to Robert Butts (27 years), she is the mother of Stephanie, a sophomore at the University of Delaware and Devon, a sophomore, at Glenelg Country School. Both daughters are active Pony Clubbers and Eventing competitors. Stephanie was a member of the winning two star team at the 2002 NAYRC. If the above is not enough to keep Gretchen busy, she spends her spare time long distance running, (at least one marathon a year!), swimming and sailing!

President of the Ground Jury

Sandy Phillips

Red Hills welcomes Sandy Phillips as President of the Ground Jury for the CIC-W*** and the CIC**.  Phillips, an international Eventing and Dressage Judge, has ridden internationally in both Eventing and Dressage.  She competed at the World Championships and Olympic Games with Marco Polo representing the U. S.A.  She was a member of the winning British Nations Cup Team at Hickstead CDIO in 1996. As a member of the British Dressage Team, Phillips competed in the 1999 European Championships and in 1998 at the  World Championships.

Sandy received British Citizenship in 1996.  She was selected as first reserve for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.  Sandy is married to Captain Mark Phillips,  Chef d'Equipe of the US Eventing Team and Red Hills' Cross Country Course Designer.

Dressage Judge

Joan M. Humphrey

Ms. Humphrey came to dressage through the combined training ranks by way of Mexico and thenKentucky.  She was an enthusiastic student of Maj. Bela Buttakay, Andy De Szinay and Kob Ryan.  She received her dressage "r" in the 1970's and progressed through the levels to her dressage "S" in the 90's.  She held her CT Judge's card for many years and was on the Kentucky Rolex jury in the 1980's. 

Dressage captured her fancy and she trained and showed her mare, Windrose of Valhalla, through FEI and currently owns her daughter Failte.  Joan is a member of USDF's "L" Program faculty and is a popular judge throughout the United States and Canada.

Stadium Course Design
Fuzzy Mayo

William L. "Fuzzy" Mayo, President of Jumps By Fuzzy, Inc. is entering his 37th year as a horse jump builder.  His business began with a personal need for jumps for his own horses, became a summertime money maker and developed into a career after earning an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University in 1971.  Jumps By Fuzzy, Inc. currently serves about 90 horse shows a year throughout the United States with jumps, portable stabling, and judge and course design services.  Many exhibitors buy his used jumps for a competitive edge in training at home.  He is a USEF licensed grand prix course designer and has served as a course designer for the Kentucky Rolex stadium jumping.

Technical Delegate
Roger Haller (GA)
Roger Haller has been a Judge, Technical Delegate and Course Designer since 1967.  He has officiated in 46 of the 50 states, and nine foreign countries.  his judging career has included 13 National Championships for seniors and young riders.  He has been the Technical Delegate of Britian's famous Badminton and Burghley Horse Trials eight times, as well as the Central American and Pan american Games.  Roger has also served as Technical Deligate at the CCI*** Foxhall Cup near Atlanta.

In 1996 he designed the Olympic Three Day Event in Atlanta, and in 1978 the World Championship in Lexington, Kentucky He was a Civil Engineer for 23 years before deciding to focus on his planning and design work.
We welcome Roger and his lovely wife, Ann, back to Red hills.  Ann has coordinated our Cross Country Control for several years.  The Hallers reside in Oxford, Georgia.

Cross Country Course Builder
Hugh Lochore (GBR)

Construction of the Red Hills Cross-Country courses was masterfully accomplished by Hugh Lochore of Inverness, Scotland. Lochore's course building skills are founded from early experiences building Pony Clubs courses ( that eventually became Two Star Events), from his parents who both rode internationally, and from his Engineering Studies at Newcastle University.
Currently registered on the FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale) list of Cross Country designers, Hugh has competed through the Three Star (*** - Advanced) level and placed second in the Preliminary Division at the 1999 Red Hills Horse Trials.

Rusty Lowe, EMT-P, Safety Advisor

Photo and bio coming

Pat Maykuth, PhD, Veterinary Coordinator

Photo and bio coming.