Horseback Riding Long Island
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Jane A. DaCosta
Training Coordinator
Hunter/Jumper and Equitation Instructor
Jane DaCosta brings a wealth of experience to her role as a Hunter Jumper Trainer at Jamaica Bay Riding Academy.
Jane is a graduate of St. Leo University (B.A., 2006), and an Electronic Warfare Technician Third Class Veteran of the United States Navy. As a competitor, Jane was an undergraduate rider for Long Island University/C.W. Post IHSA Equestrian Team. Jane was also an undergraduate and alumni rider for St. John’s University IHSA Equestrian Team. Jane has competed and shown successfully in United States Equestrian Federation Horse Shows ranging from “C” to “AA” rated shows for 22 years in Equitation, Hunters and Jumpers. Most recently, she was the College Preparatory Invitational Alumni Challenge Champion (2011). Jane’s education as a trainer also includes the United States Hunter Jumper Association Trainer Certification Program, where she took part of the USHJA Trainer Certification Clinic with the renowned Olympian George Morris in September 2011. Jane passed the USHJA Trainer Certification Exam in 2012.
Jane was the Coach of the Columbia University IHSA Team in Spring 2004. Jane is the Founder, Executive Director, and Head Coach of the Metropolitan Equestrian Team which is a NYS 501c3 Not for Profit Organization for Middle School and High School students to compete locally and nationally in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association. Jane oversees the success of Jamaica Bay’s United States Pony Club Riding Center program which is designed to enforce generations of traditions of the USPC.
Jane served as City Council Appointee/Vice Chairperson of the New York City Mayors Office of Veterans Affairs - Veterans Advisory Board from 2003 – 2008, and she currently serves as a Rules and Ethics Committee Appointee for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association.
Jane DaCosta - jane@horsebackride.com
If you are a current student of Jane and would like to schedule a lesson with Jane click on the button below.
Trainers
Brenna McHugh
Freelance Dressage Instructor
With seventeen years equestrian experience, Brenna is a skilled Dressage instructor for horses and riders of all levels.
Originally from California, Brenna trained with Olympian, Hilda Gurney for over ten years. She competed at every level, from the FEI Young Horse tests through Intermediare and FEI Young Rider programs. Additionally, Brenna has ridden in clinics with worldwide dressage talents, including Debbie McDonald, Ralph-Michael Rash, and many others, as well as instructors in natural horsemanship and jumping, and has extensive experience starting young horses. After graduating from the University of California Los Angeles,
Brenna joined the equestrian show, Cavalia, on the North American and European tour as a dressage trainer and performer. While on tour, Brenna worked primarily with Lusitano and Andalusian stallions, and additionally assisted in the training of trick riding and voltige en rond horses. Following her time with Cavalia, Brenna worked in Montreal as a private dressage instructor at both high-performance hunter-jumper and dressage facilities.
In 2010 Brenna moved to Brooklyn with her two FEI warmbloods and is delighted to join the various talents of the Jamaica Bay team as a freelance Dressage Instructor.
Brenna McHugh - brenna@horsebackride.com
To schedule an exercise with Brenna, click on the link below.
Hannah E. Beresford
Freelance Hunter/Jumper and Equitation Trainer
Hannah is presently a candidate in NYU’s MFA program for Poetry and recently relinquished her USEF Amateur Status to Professional to join the Jamaica Bay Riding Academy Show Team. Hannah is a 2011 graduate of Oklahoma State University where she was recruited by the NCAA Division I Equestrian team and earned an MVP award over fences in 2007. She has been riding for nineteen years and competing for fourteen years in Show Jumping, Hunters and Equitation. She has competed up to Jr/AO Jumpers, Junior Hunters and all “big eq” (3’6”) classes at AA shows. She has trained with the following professionals; Monty Kelly, Amy Momrow, Patty Harnois, Caitlin Venezia, Cathy Grady, Frank Madden, Max Amaya, Pavel Blaho, Patricia Garthwaite-Towle, and Peter VanGuysling. At 13 years old, she qualified for the 2002 Charles Owen National Finals at the Marshall & Sterling League National Indoor Finals. In 2004 and 2005, she was a competing member of junior FEI Show Jumping teams representing the United States in Puerto Rico and India respectively. In Puerto Rico, she earned team and individual bronze medals and in India she earned a team bronze and an individual silver medal as the youngest representing team member. In 2004 and 2005, she qualified two horses for the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Jumper Finals at the M&S League National Indoor Finals and the NAL Children’s Jumper National Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, placing 8th in the NAL Finals in 2004. In 2006 and 2007, she qualified for the New England Medal Finals at the New England Equitation National Championships, the Pessoa/US Hunter Seat Medal Finals at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show, and the MaClay Regional Finals. In 2007, she was reserve champion in the MaClay Regional Finals and competed in the MaClay National Finals at the Syracuse Invitational Sporthorse Tournament.
Maria Danza
Equitation Trainer
Maria brings a wealth of knowledge to the students at Jamaica Bay Riding Academy.
Maria is currently an Undergraduate student at Molloy College. As a competitor, Maria rode as an undergraduate for the Molloy College Equestrian Team. Maria has competed and shown successfully in United States Equestrian Federation Horse Shows ranging from “C” to “AA” rated shows since the age of 5. When Maria was in High School, she competed in the Interscholastic Equestrian Assocation on the Metropolitan Equestrian Team.
