Coaching Staff

Vanessa Bartsch, Head Coach

A former student athlete at Stanford, Vanessa returned to the Red Barn during the 2004-05 season to lead the renovation and reopening of the stables under the management of Stanford Athletics. As the Executive Director of Equestrian and Head Coach of the Equestrian Team, Vanessa has led the team to a dozen consecutive Regional Championships, and Zone Championships, as well as eleven Top-Ten National Championship Finishes, including 19 individual National Championships and Res. Championships. Vanessa was awarded the IHSA Coaches Award in 2006.

Vanessa began riding at the age of 4. At Stanford she served as Team Captain, and competed at the Regional, Zone and National level in Hunt Seat and Western. In 2004 Vanessa (along with Gwyn Gordon and Jana Cain) crafted the business plan for the Red Barn Student Equestrian Center at the request of Stanford.

Cindy Brooks, Clinician

Cindy operates her training program, Northern Run, out of the Stanford Red Barn, and coaches the members of the Stanford Equestrian Team. Her career highlights include riding hunter Just for Fun to Hall of Fame and National Horse of the Year honors. She was awarded the Don Tipton Award for the P.C.H.A.’s professional high point rider 6 consecutive years, rode in the International Hunter Futurity West Coast Regionals 8 consecutive years, and has competed the International Hunter Futurity finals at Washington International. Cindy captured multiple championships at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, Washington International, and The National Horse Show.

Jennifer Cameron, Western Coach

Jennifer joined the coaching staff for the 2015-16 season. With a diverse equestrian background, Jennifer brings her Western experience to the team, helping the team to a Regional Championship her first year, and coaching the squad to a 5th place finish at the Western Semi-Finals in Moline, OH. At the 2016 National Finals, Cameron accompanied three riders, including one Top Ten National finish.

Gwyn Gordon, Clinician

Gwyn helped start the Equestrian Team in 1985 with Lisa Yanney & Cheryl House. After earning her degree at Stanford, Gwynworked for Patty Ball, Constance Kilmartin, Lucie Wharton, and Steve & Jenny Newell. After a stint galloping racehorses in England, Gwyn was asked to return to Stanford and serve as the Head Coach in the 90′s, a volunteer position at the time.

Gwyn started her own business, Cardinal Farms in 1993. In 1999, she took a sabbatical to work for Grand Prix rider and World Cup Veteran Richard Spooner. Gwyn, Jana Cain and Vanessa Bartsch led the efforts to renovate the barn, as she lent her professional experience to the process of revamping the facility and the riding programs. She currently serves on the Red Barn Advisory Board.

Jana Cain, Western Coach

A former Stanford Equestrian Team Horse Manager and competitor for the Stanford Equestrian Team, Jana brings her passion for creating a recognized Western Team to Stanford after working with Gwyn Gordon and Vanessa Bartsch to create the business model for the new Stanford Red Barn Equestrian Center. Jana has had a life-long love of horses and spent many years in the barn working with her own horse (Slowly But Shirley, a feisty QH mare who is a competitive eventer) and those of others. Jana came to Stanford and quickly became a fierce competitor for the Western Team, with a show career that culminated with a 3rd place finish at Nationals in ’98.

After earning her MBA Jana returned to Stanford to work at the Graduate School of Business and resume her role coaching the Western Team. Jana is an avid Stanford Football fan and can be found at every game when not traveling with the Equestrian Team.

Jim Hagman, Clinician

Jim is the founder of Elvenstar Riding Academy and Show Stables, one of the most successful riding academies and prominent show stables in the United States. Many of Elvenstar’s students have achieved regional, as well as national awards, including at the Metropolitan National Horse Show held in New York at Madison Square Garden.

Jim partnered with Stanford during the initial concept phase of the barn’s redevelopment using his vast experience to help provide a vision of the new facility. After recognizing his many talents, Stanford asked Jim to work with the Stanford Team as a Clinician. He makes the trip up to Palo Alto as often as he can around Elvenstar’s busy show schedule to do intensive clinics with the team. Jim works with all levels on their riding and presentation in the show arena and the team appreciates Jim’s focus, energy and never-ending sense of humor.

Kate Douglas, Dressage Coach

Kate began competing in dressage in 2005 under the tutelage of Katie Hoefs Martin. She won the 2013 Region 7 Second Level Jr/Yr Champion on Fein Style, the 2014 Reserve Champion Silver Stirrup National Award on Don Marco, and was top 20 Third Level Open at the 2015 US Dressage Finals on Don Marco. Kate has consistently placed top three in Year-End Awards from USEF, USDF, CDS, Performance Horse Registry, and the American Hanoverian Society. She has ridden in multiple clinics with US Olympian Lisa Wilcox as well Former FEI 5* Judge Axel Steiner. She has trained multiple horses up from prospect to successful upper level dressage horses and uses her training and show experience to guide the Stanford Dressage team.

Tina Davey, Assistant Coach

Tina joined Stanford’s team in 20016, bringing extensive experience as a trainer and coach, most recently at Mississippi College where she served as the as the Director of Equestrian Programs and maintained a boutique show barn with private clients. Prior to that, Tina ran Elvenstar’s Orange County training barn, where one of her roles was coaching the University of California, Irvine equestrian team. Tina’s return to the Bay Area is a “homecoming” as she was a student athlete (and co-captain) on the University of California, Santa Cruz Equestrian Team. Tina will be helping teach and mentor all of our teams, from AEL to IHSA, in addition to helping manage Stanford’s horses.

Rachel Williamson, Dressage Clinician

Rachel Williamson is USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist. She is currently working on earning her USDF Gold Medal and is a current USDF “L” program participant. Rachel was the 2010 SFP CDS Open Intermediare I and II Annual Rider award recipient. She has trained with Heidi Gaian & Pam Nelson of Villa Rosa Dressage for the last 20 years. Rachel was instrumental in founding the Stanford Dressage Team and has tirelessly dedicated herself to coaching team members. In addition to coaching the Team’s dressage riders, Rachel often coaches the team’s equitation riders. Her unfailing ability to help a rider get the best out of her horse makes her an invaluable set of eyes on the ground for riders in both disciplines.