Our Staff
Instructors
Emma Billington
Horses have been Emma’s main focus since she was eight years old. Growing up homeschooled on San Juan Island she spent every minute she could at the barn where she took riding lessons. Her lessons included dressage, jumping, vaulting and trail riding, as well as teaching younger kids and cleaning the barn. At age 13 she started taking lessons in Essential Horsemanship from Sus Kellogg. During this time she began learning about hoof care and barefoot trimming. After graduating from Friday Harbor High School, she attended a course in Natural Horsemanship at the Parelli Center in Pagosa Springs Colorado.
Since then Emma has spent time working on an Arabian breeding farm, teaching riding lessons, and helping people learn from and understand their own horses. Emma moved to Orcas Island in September 2010 where she continues her study of horsemanship and natural hoof care. She keeps her three horses at Turtlehead Farm.
Lizzy Corliss
When Lizzy was nine years old, she got to take part in her first horse adventure at one of her favorite horse camps, Miracle Ranch. It was a week of learning new things, challenging herself, and getting to know new friends. After that first wild week, she was hooked. She joined the horse 4-H club, the Vashon Island Rock Riders. She convinced her parents she was responsible and serious enough to own a horse right before she turned thirteen. For her birthday she became the owner of Ruby Red Reba, a six year old Quarter Horse mare. Next thing she new, they were competing in 4-H shows. Beyond 4-H, Reba and Lizzy have had the chance to take part in memorial rides, hackamore clinics, and guiding group trail rides. By far, her favorite horse experiences have been those spent sharing these wonderful creatures with others. So, jump in that there saddle friend, lets go have an adventure!
Sus Kellogg
Sus Kellogg brings decades of intensive learning with horses, along with a lifelong study and practice of yoga and ecology, to her approach with horses. A student of the horse, she is devoted to the natural partnership and unity possible between horses and humans. She is the founder of Free Horse Farm and Essential Horsemanship, a natural horsemanship program for horse training and rider instruction. She offers workshops, camps, individual instruction, colt starting, and training with difficult horses at her farm and elsewhere. Sus works seasonally as a horse trainer for the Spanish Mustang Project in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Charlotte M. Phillips
More than 40 years ago, ten-year-old Charlotte Phillips began her life-long passion for animals and community service. From 1961 throughout high school in 1969, Char trained and groomed both dogs and horses though her local Snohomish County 4-H clubs. In 1967 Char attended the Washington State 4-H Conference at WSU and then contined on to college at WSU and CWSC. From 1977-1980 Char was the 4-H Horse Leader for the Ropes & Reins Club on Lopez Island. She taught and mentored more than 100 youth in horsemanship, record books, public speaking, community service and leadership. In 1978 she was the San Juan county Horse Superintendent and responsible for the 150 youth involved in the county fair horse program.
With her move to Vashon Island in 1981, Char was ver instrumental in the successful creation of the 43-acre community park, Paradise Ridge, which hosts three equestrian riding arenas and 34 outdoor stalls. From 1982-1999 Char was Horse Leader for the Vashon Rock Riders. Char started Vashon Island's first Guide Dogs for the Blind 4-H Club, Eyes of the Future. It is no wonder that she belongs in the 4-H 2002 Hall of Fame!
Laura Trevellyan
Since first being put on a horse’s back at the age of seven months, Laura has been working with horses for nearly her entire life. She grew up on Vashon Island where she participated in Pony Club up to the C3 level. Through high school, Laura competed in local horse shows, riding both English and western. After graduation from Western Washington University in 2007 with a concentration in Youth and Community Development in the United States and Latin America, she began working at Turtlehead Farm as a wrangler.
In 2010 Laura began volunteering with Orcas Island Fire and Rescue as an Emergency Medical Technician. Combining her interests in emergency medicine and outdoor activities she holds a Wilderness EMT certification. Other interests include long distance running, road and mountain biking, hiking and backpacking, and rock climbing.
Kyla Trujillo
Kyla has a passion for horses and working with youth. A Vashon High School graduate, she is currently working on her bachelor's degree in kinesiology at Azusa Pacific University. After she graduates in the fall of 2012, she will attend graduate school to work in equine medicine, focusing on physiology. Kyla has experience working with all kinds of riders, from those who have never ridden to those who were born in the saddle.