Molly Bull is a Level II Certified Instructor through the US Eventing Association's Instructor Certification program. She began eventing as a teenager in North Carolina, then attended college at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.  After college she began riding with Kim Severson and was hired as a groom for Kim in the spring of 2000. In 2001 Molly purchased the 5 year old Kiltartan. They quickly progressed through the levels and completed their first Advanced horse trials in 2003 at Over the Walls. In 2004 they placed 9^th at their first CCI*** at Fair Hill and were then named to the 2005 Winter Training List. Molly and Tartan went to their first 4star at Rolex Kentucky in 2006, where they jumped clean on cross country but were prevented from show jumping due to a minor injury. 

Since then Molly has competed Tartan lightly, winning an advanced division at Morven Park in the fall of 2007 as well as placing 4th at Richland Park and 4th at Poplar Place. In 2008 their highlights were winning an open intermediate division at Loch Moy and placing 5th in Advanced at Millbrook and 7th in the CIC*** at Plantation. Molly also brought along the mare Hole In One, or Janie, from a youngster to an advanced level event horse. Highlights of her years with Janie include placing 6th at the CCI** at Bromont and 5th at the Richland Park CIC**, both in 2007. Janie was sold in 2008 and Molly is currently working with a new string of young horses.

Molly and Plain Dealing Farm co-own her new mount, Etoile, purchased in the spring of 2009.  They won their first event together and moved up to training in September.  Molly is also working with several other horses owned by the farm, including the 4-year-old Jolly Good Sport, who will be eventing in 2010, and his younger brother Journey.

Molly is currently accepting new students and is available to ride horses in training as well. Call 434 286 4592 for availability.

Competition highlights from 2009:

• Full Gallop 1 - Feb - 1st Open Novice, Carousel's Killian and 1st Open Novice, Andiamo
• Sporting Days - Feb - 1st Open Training, Pantalaimon and 1st Open Intermediate Combined Test, Kiltartan
• Full Gallop 2 - Feb - 6th Open Training, Carousel's Killian
• Pine Top Winter HT - 2nd Open Training, Pantalaimon
• Southern Pines 1 - March - 1st Open Novice, Carousel's Killian and 5th Open Novice, Andiamo
• Virginia HT - May - 1st Open Beginner Novice, Etoile and 1st Open Training, Pantalaimon and 3rd, Open Novice, Carousel's Killian
• CDCTA HT - June - 3rd Open Novice, Etoile and 6th Open Training, Carousel's Killian
• MDHT at Loch Moy 1 - July - 2nd Open Training, Pantalaimon and 4th Open Training, Carousel's Killian
• Olney HT - Aug - 3rd Open Novice, Etoile
• Middleburg HT - Sept - 3rd Open Intermediate, Kiltartan
• MDHT at Loch Moy - October - 10th Open Training, Etoile
  

Lucia Strini

Lucia began her eventing career on her pony Natty Bumppo after Kim Severson was hired by Plain Dealing Farm.  She competed up through training level with Natty before purchasing a gray mare named Stella from Courtney Cooper. With Stella, Lucia successfully made the jump to Preliminary level and completed in her first CCI* in 5th place. She was then selected to represent Area II at the NAYRC at the 1* level, where she placed 4th individually and her team placed 3rd.  Stella also introduced Lucia to the Intermediate level before she was retired.

Lucia then purchased her next horse, a promising youngster named Pantalaimon, through Holly Hepp. "Pan" and Lucia won the CIC* at Southern Pines in 2007 and competed through the Intermediate level.

Pandora, a bay mare, was Lucia's next horse. With Pandora, she placed 2^nd in the Intermediate at Morven Park and won the Virginia CCI* in 2004 before reselling her.

Addis Abba, or Gabby, has been Lucia's most successful mount.  She brought him along herself, from the lower levels up to the 2-star level.  Along the way, they had numerous wins, including the CCI* at Morven Park in 2004. They also placed 5^th at their first CCI** at Radnor in 2005, where they won awards for the highest placing young rider, highest placing young horse, and best-conditioned horse.  The same year they placed 6^th at the Virginia CCI**.  Lucia had hoped he would be her first Advanced horse but in their first attempt at that level Gabby unfortunately injured himself and has not yet returned to competition.

Lucia's current top mount is Liste de Folie, or Leo, a chestnut Selle Francais gelding. Her partnership with him began in the spring of 2005. They spent that year competing at the training level and then moving up to preliminary.  In 2006 they placed 2^nd in the CIC* at Poplar Place and went on to place 2^nd in the CCI* at Morven Park.  This year Lucia and Leo have continued their success by moving on to Intermediate level, placing 2^nd in the OI at Seneca Valley and 4^th at Plantation. Lucia hopes to compete at the Ocala CCI** later this fall.

In 2007 Lucia also purchased two outstanding young horses, Oudo, who competed through training level with Kelli Temple, and Futurama, a gray Sachsen-Anhaltiner gelding. Both have moved up to prelim in the spring of 2009. Futurama is currently for sale. Please see our Sale page for more information.

Benita Strini

Benita started eventing with her sister Lucia's pony Natty Bumppo.  Sadly, Natty had to be put down due to colic. Benita then purchased the gray Connemara gelding Elphin Odin, or Cody, who sparked her love for Connemara crosses. With Cody Benita competed up through training level, with numerous top-five placings and a win at Surefire Horse Trials in July 2005. 

Benita successfully competed the mare Crescent Moon, who had formerly evented at Plain Dealing with Kim Severson and was bred by Kim's mom. After Kim sold Cressy she was competed by a number of different riders before being purchased for Benita and coming back to live at Plain Dealing.  Cressy has now retired from eventing and had a foalin the spring of 2008.

Benita also owns Corona, a palomino Welsh Thoroughbred cross who is currently for sale. With Corona, Benita won the beginner novice at Fancy Hill and Olney, and won the novice at Sporting Days and CDCTA. Before beginning his partnership with Benita, Corona had successfully competed in dressage shows at 1^st Level, including the BLM Championships. Benita is currently focusing on dressage with him and recently had several top-three placings in the Dressage at Lexington show. She plans to move up to 2^nd Level with him at their next outing.

Cameron Creek was purchased for Benita in 2006 and they began competing in the spring of 2007. Cameron had previously competed up to the 1-star level with Lynn Partridge. Cameron and Benita quickly formed a strong partnership, and she did her first preliminary with him at Fair Hill in April, placing 5^th. They followed this up with a 2^nd at MCTA in May and wins at River Glen and Loudoun.  To complete their fall season, they placed 7^th at the Morven Park CCI*, Benita's first three-day, where they also won the award for Best Turned-Out. Benita completed the CCI* at Virginia Horse Trials in May 2009. Cameron Creek was recently sold to Morgan Booth.

Benita's other mount is Cavalier One-to-One, or Forrest, and he is a 6-year-old paint by the well-known eventing sire Cavalier. Benita moved Forrest up to Intermediate afer two successful years at preliminary. Forest is currently being offered for sale. Please see our Sale page for more information.

Benita is excited about competing her two new horses: Gibstar who won a CIC** in New Zealand and Carlingford Merlot who has successfuly competed at Preliminary and Intermediate.