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Janet Salem: USHJA Certified Trainer
Janet Salem is a native Atlantan. She and her sister, veterinarian
Susan Wynn, got their first “free” horse in 1969. Her
parents were sure the appeal would quickly die. That was not the
case. Janet pursued her passion for horses throughout her childhood,
riding at the original Chastain Stables and Huntcliff Stables and
showing at the venues of the day, including the newly constructed
Wills Park. After finishing college with a major in History and
a minor in Education and becoming a mother to daughter, Lauren Hulen,
she became a professional in 1987, establishing Patchwork Farm in
Woodstock, GA.

Janet Salem
Not only is Janet a USHJA Certified instructor; she is a lifetime student of riding
and horsemanship. Not only does she board horses at Patchwork Farm;
she has been a boarder at various farms and appreciates her clients’
priorities where their horses are concerned. Janet’s lifelong
passion for horsemanship is evidenced in the program which has evolved
over her many years “in the business.” Patchwork Farm
is a happy and healthy place for both humans and horses.
Janet is proud to show off both horses and riders at Local and
“A” rated shows. The show ring successes of Patchwork
Farm students are evidence of the care and individual attention
given to her clients and their horses. Patchwork Farm students have
won year-end awards at the state and national levels, from Short
Stirrup, Pony Hunters, Children’s Hunters to Junior Hunters.
Her riders have won the GHJA Pony Equitation Final, and the JD Pounds
Equitation Finals trophy has gone home with a Patchwork Farm rider
for the last two years. She has had top 10 riders in the USEF Pony
Medal Finals, has qualified Junior Riders for the Maclay Regionals
and Harrisburg and has qualified horses for the Devon Horse Show.
Two of our riders have received college scholarships to ride for
NCAA riding teams.
Lauren Hulen Kissel: Rider/ USHJA Certified Trainer
PWF is proud to have Lauren Hulen Kissel on our full-time staff. Lauren serves as our Professional Rider and Trainer. She brings years of successful riding and training experience to our team as evidenced by her show ring accomplishments on ponies and horses which she trained from scratch. Awards include numerous championships and year end awards on her equine partners Yankee Doodle (2 time GHJA small pony champion), Texas Pete (GHJA Medium Pony Champion, GHJA 11 and under Equitation Champion, 11th USEF National Medal Finals), Millpond Showtime (GHJA Large Pony Champion, 12-14 Equitation Champion, Ribbon Winner National Pony Finals, GHJA Pony Medal Finals Winner) and Van Gogh (2 time GHJA Regular Junior Hunter Champion, 2nd Zone 4 Junior Hunter Champion, Ribbon Winner National Junior Hunter Finals, Qualified Harrisburg USEF Final, GHJA Adult Medal Finals Winner, Stacey Ann Boe Equitation Finals Winner). Lauren also borrowed Kelli Sherrill's High Five to win the JD Pounds Medal Final. To date, Lauren is the only GHJA member to win all of the coveted GHJA Equitaton Finals: Pony Equitation, JD Pounds Equitation, Adult Equitation and Stacey Ann Boe Equitation Finals.

Lauren Hulen Kissel
Lauren also had a very successful two years on the NCAA Auburn Equestrian team, contributing to the team's 2006 NCAA Varsity Equestrian National Championship win. She is happy to talk with any young rider aspiring to be on a NCAA Equestrian team about her experiences.
Lauren's professional accomplishments include a blue ribbon at Devon in '09 in the First Year Green Working Hunter Division riding Janet Salem's "Water Music". This horse is a product of the Patchwork Farm training program from his first jump to his current successful record through the Pre-Greens, First Year Greens, Second Year Greens and on to be an Children's and Junior Hunter. Lauren continues to have a presence in the professional divisions at shows in Zone IV and National Finals such as The Devon Horse Show, PA National Horse Show, and Washington International Horse Show.
Lauren's training philosophy is the perfect fit for Patchwork Farm: Careful, Classical and Kind training which produces confident horses, sound in both mind and body. We're very excited to have Lauren's training talents and formidable show ring abilities on the Patchwork Farm team.

Aimee Gahl- Academy Instructor
Aimee began her riding career as a hunt seat rider but has explored different disciplines as well, giving her a broad base of horsemanship. She loves passing on her knowledge and has been helping riders to grow their understanding of correct riding and horsemanship for 15 years. Mother to a fledgling rider, Elise, she runs her own small boarding operation in Cumming, GA where she also teaches beginner lessons, trains a few "problem" horses and organizes pony parties for little ones. Aimee makes and sells beautiful custom Horse Show Bows in her spare time.
Patchwork Farm sought out Aimee after working with a new student that impressed us with her impeccable basics and horsemanship. We were in need of an Academy Instructor and these results spoke for themselves. We are so pleased to have Aimee and her unique talents on our team!

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Above: Janet and Quinn at Pony Finals

Below: Janet teaching Bella how to feed a carrot to Cookie

Lauren coaching in Brownland

Lauren Hulen
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