Logan has been a wonderful asset to East Hill Farm not only as a wonderful boarder and caretaker for her own horse but also as a part-time staff and beginning to teach some of the young kids.

Ruth Hogan-Poulsen

Now in her 20s, dressage rider Logan Volpe first came to know East Hill Farm by competing in shows hosted at the farm in her teens. Looking for a place to board her Quarter Horse cross El Monzo (Monzee), she reached out to Ruth. A week later, they moved in and have stayed ever since.

Both Logan and Monzee were at major crossroads when they arrived at the farm. Logan had switched careers and her horse, in his mid-20s too, was recuperating from major surgery.

“I was unsure of the future. I thought about getting out of the sport all together and couldn’t remember why I started riding in the first place,” Logan explained.

Already riding for over 20 years, Logan and Monzee were a long-time team – her parents had bought him for her years ago when she was a child. She trained Monzee to Fourth Level while earning many local championships and her USDF Bronze Medal along the way.

At this pivotal time in her equestrian career, Ruth re-inspired a sense of perseverance in her, Logan explained. “Ruth helped remind me why I loved this sport and set goals to work toward.”

With a goal of mastering the Fourth Level and above movements when she started working with Ruth, Logan credited Ruth’s ability to break difficult concepts down into simple terms as being a game changer for her progress.

“After a lesson with Ruth, I feel like I have grown exponentially and had several laughs along the way,” explained Logan. “She knows when to push a rider to get the best out of them and has a great sense of humor.”

Both young students and the management team at East Hill Farm share Logan’s joy in her perseverance with her riding career.