BRIEF BIOGRAPHIES OF CANDIDATES FOR 2024-2025 PCHA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
HUNTER/JUMPER PROFESSIONALS
Incumbent. LINDSAY ARCHER– After growing up riding, my husband and I started Shady Lane Farm, a successful training stable in the SF East Bay. We focus primarily on Jumpers, but we also breed a few young horses every year. We value both top-level competitions as well as an affordable way to start young horses and riders. I am motivated to be on the PCHA board to give back to our horse community that has given me so much over the past 20 years. I hope that through PCHA we can work to promote better sport as well as work to make the entry level affordable.
Incumbent. EMILY ESAU WILLIAMS – Born and raised in San Diego, CA, Emily, comes from a family of horsemen. Emily had an exceptional junior riding career. From starting the pony hunter division on the west coast through wins in the Onondarka and PCHA 14 & Under Horsemanship Finals as well as the prestigious USET Talent Search Finals and WCE Jr/Am Medal Finals. Not only an outstanding equitation rider, Emily represented Zone 10 in the Prix des States competition at the Penn National as well as the NAYC in Bromont, Quebec, Canada. After attending the University of San Diego, Emily discovered her love of teaching riders while working for her dad. In 1997, Emily founded EE Show Stable. “I wanted to create a stable for the dedicated junior and amateur rider that strived to excel in the hunter, jumper, and equitation arenas.” Emily’s students have achieved success in all three disciplines. Wins in the PCHA 14 & Under Horsemanship Finals, GSDHJA Medal Finals, WCE Junior Amateur Medal Finals, CPHA Foundation Medal Finals and ASPCA Maclay Regionals as well as USEF Grand Large Junior Hunter Champion highlight the accomplishment not to mention Individual Silver and Team Gold medalist at the USEF Pony Jumper Championships.
Incumbent. DEVON GIBSON– I’ve been involved in the hunter/jumper/equitation disciplines since I was a teenager. I started with Judy Martin and have worked with many trainers in the past 30 years. I’ve had success in showing and training top hunters & jumpers as well as equitation riders. I also am venturing in to the reining world.
Incumbent. HAP HANSEN – PCHA Director. Trainer for over 40 years; has own training business in Rancho Santa Fe, CA. PCHA Grand Prix Rider of the Year 1984, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1995. Has been inducted into the show jumping hall of fame as well as the show hunter hall of fame.
Applicant. KATHY HOBSTETTER– Growing up on a cattle/Quarter Horse ranch in Colorado, we raised and competed reining and cutting horses, showing at Texas A&M, Colorado Stock Show and other venues. Arriving in California and falling in love with jumping horses, I opened a very successful Hunter-Jumper barn in Orange County, which built quickly to 82 horses in training before I got hurt and sold it to Robert Ridland. Taking Teams all over the world to compete was a love and passion – Brussels, Bogota, Canada, Antwerp etc. Governance experience includes Executive Director for West Coast Active Riders for 8 years, Board of Directors for California Professional Horsemen 9 years (currently South Vice President), Executive Director Equestrian Young Professionals 7 years, Zone 10 Hunter-Jumper committee member CHAIR or CO-CHAIR 2008-2021 and am really proud to have been appointed by the US Olympic Committee to 1996 USOC Show Jumping Director of the Olympic Festival.
My vision = Three Very short reasons for my interest in the PCHA Board again….
1) I believe the Western needs to be considered as equal as the Hunter-Jumpers and promoted as such. I believe that there is a very simple plan to help the PCHA western contingency grow and expand the western riding interest on the West Coast. The Ranch Riding organization has exploded and grown at an amazing rate, and I believe PCHA western interest can also do that. I have a lot of ideas that are easy to implement.
2) I believe the PCHA Hunter-Jumper contingency on the West Coast should be a voice for this side of the country to the ‘parent’ organizations in the East, our feelings and opinions here on the Pacific Coast should be heard. We should take an active part in having a voice to stabilize options here in the west so the top riders/barns don’t continue to go east.
3) I have always believed that PCHA should be the strongest organization and the leader here on the coast for members and businesses, no matter the saddle members ride in. I would appreciate your vote!
Incumbent. GEORGY MASKREY SEGESMAN – PCHA President 2022/2023. Owner/Trainer of Whitethorne LLC. Imports & sells/leases top-quality Hunter/Jumper horses. Creator American tradition of excellence class. Hosts clinics with top industry professionals at her home farm. Has competed at the Grand Prix level in the U.S. and Canada with her jumpers and locally in the dressage world.
Incumbent. ROBIN SERFASS- I have been a PCHA member for over 50 years. I have managed horse shows for over 35 years, including Portuguese Bend Horse Show which hosts the PCHA Horsemanship Finals for 30-plus years and served to the PCHA board for over 20 years. A cum laude graduate of UCLA and have owned and operated Equestrian Enterprises, Inc. since 1989. I have competed as a junior and amateur/ owner h/j competitor and won a PCHA Championship.
Applicant. KELLY VAN VLECK – Kelly has professionally trained horses and riders for more than 30 years. She specializes in hunters, jumpers and equitation. Kelly is widely recognized for developing confident, elegantly precise riders and for bringing out the best performance in her horses. In addition to successfully competing at horse shows throughout Northern and Southern California, Kelly’s accomplishments include: Zone 10 Chef d’Equipe at NAYRC in Lexington, KY (silver medial jr team), produced many winners of regional Medal Finals (Nor Cal, CPHA, PCHA, WCE) coached students to several top ten finishes in the Platinum Performance/USEF Talent Search West Coast Finals and achieved numerous Zone 10 and PCHA year-end award Championships with students and horses at all levels
HUNTER/JUMPER AMATEURS
Applicant. ABIGAIL STELLER– Abby grew up riding in Northern California with Cindy Brooks. She attended The Savannah College of Art & Design where she studied Equestrian Studies. Abby now resides in Southern California, where she rides with Elvenstar. She competes in the hunters and the equitation.
Incumbent. GINA GROTH – PCHA Treasurer, Amateur/Owner exhibitor on the PCHA “A” Circuit. Has been an owner/rider in shows for over 35 years. Winner – LAHSA, Foxfield, PCHA Adult Horsemanship Class Finals and PHA West Equitation Championships. Graduate of California State University-Northridge with a degree in Business Administration and a specialty in accounting.
Incumbent. PEGGY MUNKDALE- Peggy has 20+ years of working HR and finance. She assists several small businesses across the US managing their employees, finances, project budgets and overall growth. Peggy has ridden for 30+ years in the hunter, jumpers and equitation rings. She would like to continue to support the amateurs with PCHA.
WESTERN – PROFESSIONALS
Incumbent – RENEE J. BAKER – GENERAL EXPERIENCE: I have been showing and riding all breeds of western and English type horses for the past 48 years. I have been judging western and English open horse shows for the past 36 years and designing trail courses for the past 31 years. I am currently a registered judge with U.S.E.F., Inc., in the western division, reining division and Morgan horse division. I also hold an ETI judges’ card, I have served on the Board of Directors for the Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association for the past 23 years. PCHA Western Chairman and also serving on the Executive Committee. I have been vice-chairman of the Western Council for U.S.E.F., still on the Western Committee and also serving on the awards committee for U.S.E.F. I have been on these committees for 24 plus years. Also, CPHA Western Director, along with being a past CRHA Director. Carry membership cards in the following organizations: U.S.E.F., Inc., Pacific Coast Horse Shows Association, National Reining Horse Association, International Arabian Horse Association, American Quarter Horse Association, Pacific Coast Quarter Horse, National Reining Horse Professional, AQHA Professional Horsemen, CA Reining Horse Association, CA Professional Horse Shows Association, American Morgan Horse Association, Equestrian Trails International, and National Snaffle Bit Association.
Incumbent. PONCIE HERRMANN- Owner/operator of Track One Events, an event management exhibitor, and ranch owner. An active horse show secretary for the past 19 years in multiple rated horse shows throughout the country. Organizational partner in several fundraising events directly related with the equestrian industry.
Incumbent. PAMELA TURNBULL- Professional trainer for 30+ years. Worked for PCHA office 10 years. On the board for numerous years. Multiple Championships in PCHA/AQHA/APHA. Top 10 at all 3 worlds.
WESTERN – AMATEURS
Incumbent. GEORGIANA RODRIGUES – PCHA 1st Vice-President and past PCHA President. Has served on the PCHA Board over 30 years. Member of the PCHA Executive Committee, Western and Reining Committee and Western and Reining Amateur Committee. Has shown Western Horses for most of her life. Chairman of PCHA Jack & Linda Baker Reining Classic
HUNTER JUMPER HORSE SHOW MANAGERS
Incumbent. SALLY HUDSON – PCHA member for 31 years. Current member of the PCHA Board of Directors. Current Secretary of PCHA. Past Co-Chair and Vice-Chair of the Zone 10 Hunter Committee. Zone 10 Jumper Committee coordinator for Young Riders, Prix des States and Pony Jumper Championships. She has a degree in Agricultural Business Management Holds licenses as a USEF Jumper Judge and Steward, FEI Jumper and Vaulting Steward Sally has been associated with the horse show industry for the past 32 years as a show secretary and show manager. Currently produces her shows at the Sonoma Horse Park in Petaluma, CA. Enjoys working on the PCHA Board and Zone 10 Committee.
Applicant. MARNYE LANGER – Marnye is passionate about our sport, our industry and a focus on growth and opportunities in California. She has extensive experience working as part of an association, including staff positions, committee positions and board positions from local organizations like LAHJA to national organizations like USHJA. As a competitor, owner and show organizer in both H/J and Western discipline, she feels she is well suited to contribute ideas and solutions for PCHA since the organization has both disciplines. Marnye strives to work in a collaborative fashion with my peers and looks forward to working on valuable PCHA programs and activities. Currently President & CEO of the Langer Group. Organizer of the Gold Coast H/J Shows. Assist with the Gold Coast 7 Western shows. USEF “R” judge in Hunters, Equitations and Jumpers. Competitor in jumpers, reining and ranch riding.
WESTERN HORSE SHOW MANAGER
Incumbent. BECKY MARTIN – PCHA member for over 20 years, PCHA board (2012-present), Show Manager PCHA/LSAC (2003-present), Horse “Lover” (all breeds, divisions, and disciplines), especially enjoys showing in the Trail Division. Graduated college with California Teaching Credential in 1975, Employee at year-round camp counselor at Lazy J Ranch in Malibu (1963-1989). Works for city of Rancho Palos Verdes (1975-present). Hobbies includes riding horses in the show arena and on mountain made trails, house siting animals while owners are on vacations and enjoying time with family and friends.