Helen Ingersoll is an educator of both horses and humans based out of Cedar Grove, NC. She comes to the board with a 25 year career in entrepreneurship and well over a decade of non profit experience. She is excited to take this experience and help serve the NCDCTA organization and its membership.

Amy Brumbach is originally from Pennsylvania,but moved to the Triangle Area in 1992 with her mom and brother.  Amy stuck around the Triangle Area since then and now resides in Mebane, NC.  While an avid animal lover growing up, Amy did not have the opportunity to start riding until in college.  While attending NC State (majoring in Animal Science), Amy rode at at a local hunter/jumper barn that also had dressage lessons.  After a summer equine breeding internship at Horizon Farms in Barrington, IL, Amy decided she wanted to become a breeding manager and someday own her own breeding farm.  Then, after college, in 2002, Amy took a job as Breeding Barn Manager at Rougemont Sport Horses (now Pura Vida Farm) with Ellen Ziemer.  After a few years in the breeding business, Amy decided it was time to get some experience teaching, which she did at several Stables over the next 15 years.  In 2018, Amy and her business partner, Suzan Hamilton, opened GaitWay Stables.  Originally residing in Durham, GaitWay Stables is a medium sized teaching/training business that focuses on eventing and a fusion of classical dressage meets natural horsemanship.  GaitWay has outgrown their Durham location, so they will be moving to Hillsborough in April 2022. From the beginning of Amy's teaching career, she has been passionate about continuing education and regularly attends and/or audits workshops and clinics. Amy is excited to serve as Dressage Education Co-Chair to help offer educational opportunities to NCDCTA members. 

Heather is originally from Asheville, NC, and now lives in Durham, NC with her husband and two daughters.  Heather is an enthusiastic supporter of both girls’ passions for dressage and eventing.  In her professional life, Heather works in Human Resources and attended UNC-Chapel Hill receiving her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.  As Treasurer, Heather is excited to work with the NCDCTA Board to add value and serve all current and future members.

Tonya Bruno lives in Hillsborough, NC with her Husband Ralph and her 5 Homebred Foundation Morgans on their Felicity Farm. Tonya is an AA Dressage Competitor and lifelong learner. Before retiring to be a full time Farm Worker, Tonya worked in a variety of Sales and Marketing senior roles in the Building Materials Industry. She served on the Boards of the National Association of Remodeling Industry, Washington, DC (Past President), the Morgan Dressage Association and Cornerstone Foundation Morgan Horses. 

Charlotte Meli currently resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband Taylor. She is an AA dressage rider currently training with Susie Wiedman of Encore Sporthorse with the goal of achieving her USDF Bronze Medal. Charlotte currently teaches in the Animal Science Department at North Carolina State University, where she earned her PhD in 2019. She is very excited to be given the opportunity to participate in the NCDCTA as a member at large.

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Ellie Balakrishnan recently graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with a bachelor’s degree in Biostatistics. She’s been riding since middle school and recently purchased her first horse after leasing him for over three years. She competes and trains in both dressage and eventing with Amy Brumbach at Gaitway Stables. Ellie is newly involved with the NCDCTA as Member at Large/Gala Chair and is super excited to be working with a nonprofit organization that she is so passionate about!

Sarah Bookner is originally from northern Ohio, but has lived in NC for years. She is an AA eventer with her Swedish Warmblood, based out of Heather Ridge Farm in Raeford, working with multiple trainers of different disciplines to feed her appetite for a broad riding education.

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She works for Merck Animal Health as a national account manager, traveling across the country focusing on large fleet and ecommerce accounts in the livestock and equine industries.

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She can be found volunteering at the Carolina Horse Park or setting up at shows with M&M Tack Shop. 

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Sarah is looking forward to a great partnership with the NCDCTA as the Communications Chair!

Erica is a Michigan native based in Hillsborough.  She grew up a barn rat which turned into a BS and PhD in Animal Science.  Her research included the impacts of stress on the immune system and the molecular biology of laminitis.  In the past several years she has pursued education in natural horsemanship, biomechanics, and dressage.  Erica has served in a variety of equestrian volunteer positions, including CANTER of Michigan, MSU Intercollegiate Polo, and the Heart of the Carolinas Classic 3 Day Event.  While her primary riding focus is dressage, she also enjoys dressing up in everything Spartan green and jumping the smallest jumps available.  Erica is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve, learn, and grow with the 2024 NCDCTA board.

Coming Soon

Melanie Harper is the owner of MP Sporthorses LLC, a successful breeding, sales and training barn located in Hope Mills, NC. In addition to breeding and training, Melanie coaches an equestrian show team, that competes in dressage, eventing, and show jumping. Melanie takes pride in helping equestrians grow their talents and achieve their goals. Melanie graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS in Animal Science. 

A Canadian native, Amanda (Mandi) Martyn currently resides in Burlington, NC with her husband Steve, children Logan and Jane and two dogs, Rocket and Maple. Owner of ACM Dressage, LLC, Mandi is a professional dressage rider, USDF bronze and silver medalist, trainer and coach. In her (other) professional life, Mandi earned her PhD in Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph in 2010 and is currently a Visiting Professor of Biology at Wake Forest University. She is excited to be a part of the NCDCTA Board and hopes to bring fresh perspective and ideas to the organization.

Ali Perkins LaTorre is a USDF gold medalist and certified instructor. She runs a dressage training business in Hillsborough, NC. She also has an equine-assisted after school reading program called Rearing2Read. Ali is currently working on a Masters in Education at Elon University. Ali is excited to organize some educational opportunities for NCDCTA members in 2023!