Frederick Hall Equestrian Services

Debbie Burger
President, Owner, and Trainer

Debbie Burger is originally from Takoma Park, Maryland.  Her first time training animals was with her father.  He was a dog trainer and he taught his daughter to do the same.  At seven Debbie mounted her first horse.  She had always dreamed of the graceful animals, and, at that moment, decided to devote her life to them.  Horse rehabilitation was a natural course for Debbie.  Her family had always taken in animals and she continued the tradition with horses.

Her philosophy on training horses and riders stems from understanding a horse’s language.  Horses are prone to flight and as such learn from subtle cues.  In her thirty years of experience Debbie has concentrated on horse problems.  She uses her abilities to transform wild horses to award winning animals.  She believes the advantage she has is her focus on the horses.  She solves problems before they begin.  Her focus does not lye on the aesthetics of the barn (a task managed by Shawn and Chris), but on the care of the horses.

Jessica Moore
Trainer
for lessons email at: ladyj79@gmail.com

Jessica was born and raised on the West Coast.  She grew up showing Welsh hunter ponies, in her opinion, the most versitile breed, before moving on to junio equitation hunters.  She was lucky enough to train with grand prix jumpers, Olympic dressage riders, and nationally ranked event riders.  Jessica devoted considerable time learning about sport horse management, nutrition, and classical training techniques.

She continued her riding career as an undergraduate for Miami University of Ohio.  While there she served as an instructor, and then again as an instructor at Mount Holyoke College.  She also spent time teaching beginnner and intermediate lessons in Aspen, Colorado.

While finished her PhD and working as a college professor, Jessica has returned to riding and training at Frederick Hall.  She specializes in beginner and intermediate hunter/jumper lessons, beginning dressage, and eventing.  She loves working with beginner riders of all ages, as well as children and adults looking to progress in their riding and learn proper horsemanship from the ground up in a fun and safe environment.  She enjoys bringing along young horses and matching riders to appropriate mounts.

Jessica currently has several of her own competition horses whom she is bringing along for careers in Dressage and Eventing, including her CANTER Thoroughbred Gelding, Be My Hero.

Believing a rider's education is never complete, she continues her personal education, regularly lessoning with Grand Prix riders and successful eventers.

Shawn Valltos
Vice President and Barn Manager

Shawn is a long time friend of Debbie.  She makes many of the daily decisions concerning barn upkeep.  Her presence has always been a blessing because she is a quick and competent learner.  She is the new caretaker of Jake.  Jake is an impeccably trained 22-year-old horse.  He is a confidence building horse and is still used in the riding program.  Shawn has been a volunteer for three years now and is constantly present at the barn with Debbie.



Christopher Emmell
Volunteer

Chris was Debbie’s father’s best friend.  After Mr. Burger’s passing Chris was in desperate need of a hobby to fill his time.  Debbie was aware of Chris’s special touch with animals.  He had spent years rehabilitating his German Shepard, Tobias, and loved all types of animals.  After Tobias passed away Debbie immediately scooped him up and had him work in the barn.  Chris quickly learned the ropes and ended up adopting Benny.  Now, when classic music reverberates through the barn, Benny’s head bops up and down to the rhythm and Chris is joyfully at his side.



Edward  Wink
Volunteer

Ed owned a horse years ago when he was young.  He always loved them but was unable to be around them until he met Debbie.  Ed now works down at the barn, caring for the horses a dependable work ethic and innate skill.



Hanna Buckley
Volunteer

Hanna started volunteering at the stables in August of 2011.  She became familiar with Frederick Hall Equestrian Center through Debbie’s niece.  Hanna has always loved horses and seeks to ride them in different countries around the world.  Although a confident rider on beaches and sand dunes, she teeters on hard ground.  With Debbie’s help she is learning how to train horses to master them on any terrain.  In addition, she manages the website and tends to the horses.