Staff

Janet Salem

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 an 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/Assistant Trainer

PWF is proud to have Lauren Hulen Kissel on our full-time staff.  Lauren serves as our Professional Rider and Assistant 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 latest 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, and now the Second Year Green Working Hunter Division.

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 add Lauren's training talents and formidable show ring abilities to the Patchwork Farm team.

Jen Bishop: Assistant Instructor

Jen Bishop began her love of horses by beginning riding lessons at the age of 8 at Bethany Stables in Alpharetta, GA. In 1989, Jen started taking lessons from Janet Salem at Patchwork Farm, where she leased a horse and enjoyed Patchwork Farm schooling shows until a grueling dance rehearsal schedule forced a short break. Lessons resumed with Diane Anderson at Classic Event Farm, and at Falcon Ridge Stables with Sharon Enteen. At Falcon Ridge, Jen enjoyed tuning and schooling “project horses”, as well as showing at GHJA shows in the Children’s hunters, Junior/Amateur Hunters, and the J.D. Pounds Equitation classes. Jen balanced her love of horses with a love for dance, and performed in such venues as Australia’s Wonderland, the Omni during Hawk’s Halftime, and Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games. In 1998, Jen got her first taste of teaching at the Cherokee Outdoor YMCA, became a certified instructor in March of 1999, and began teaching for Sharon Enteen in 2000. Jen had to take a break in 2002 to have her son, Cody, and then resumed teaching in November of 2002 at Legend’s Run Farm in Woodstock. After reconnecting with Janet Salem in 2004, Jen now enjoys teaching riders of various levels at Patchwork Farm. Jen’s broad horsemanship background and strong teaching experience make her a perfect fit for Patchwork Farm’s riding education program.

Jennifer Bishop