Margaret  L. Hutchison

Margaret Hutchison established Larkin' Hill in 1995.  A highly respected riding instructor, trainer and competitor for nearly 30 years, Margie has competed in eventing since the early 1980's and currently competes at recognized horse trials and international three-day events at the Intermediate level.  She trains with international event rider, Marcia Kulak, and with Eric Horgan, a former member of the Irish Olympic Three-Day Event Team and a renowned clinician, coach and official. 

Margie began riding as a child where she came up through ranks in the equitation division, training with such luminaries as Victor Hugo-Vidal and Ronnie Mutch.  She earned a U.S. Pony Club "B" level rating, and, she placed fifth in the ASPCA Maclay Finals at the National Horse Show at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Margie began her professional career in 1974 as a riding instructor and horse trainer in Old Chatham, New York.  She became involved in breeding, training and showing Morgan horses in various disciplines.  She won numerous national and regional championships, including the inaugural "Versatility Challenge of the Breeds" championship at the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show with her homebred Mancunian Dauphin.  Margie also has foxhunted for many years, earning her colors as a member of the Old Chatham Hunt Club.

A number of Margie's students also have competed successfully at horse shows, horse trials and three-day events up to Preliminary level.  In addition to being an instructor, trainer and active competitor, Margie also serves on the board of directors of the Eastern New York Dressage and Combined Training Association (ENYDCTA).  She is a former co-chair of Area I (New York/New England region) of the United States Eventing Association and has organized several USEA-recognized horse trials in upstate New York.  She currently is the Organizer of the annual ENYDCTA Horse Trials in Old Chatham, New York.

Recently, Margie has become a Level II  Certified Instructor with USEA, and is presently undergoing training to become a Licensed Judge for Eventing.

Kathleen Conklin & John Henry

John Henry is an 12 year old 16-2h mule.  His dam was a Percheron horse and his sire was an American Mammoth donkey.  He has accomplished many things in his short life.  I purchased him as a totally unbroke and untouchable 4 year old.  Within 6 months he was fox hunting in first field with the Old Chatham Hunt.  We continued to hunt for 5 years 2-3 times a week for 4 months a year as well as show under saddle locally.  Also during this time I taught John Henry how to drive and since that time we have become very involved in Combined Driving Events [CDE] and Pleasure Shows.  In 1998 I took him to the National Championship Mule and Donkey show in Shelbyville, TN where he earned the title of "1998 National Champion Pleasure Driving Mule".  Since then we have competed up and down the east coast and won many championships.  John Henry was the first mule to ever compete at the home of the United State Equestrian Team in Gladstone, NJ.  At that CDE he was not only the first and only mule on the grounds but he won his division and was the first mule in the nation to compete and win a CDE against horses. 

Last  summer John Henry's number of "firsts" lengthened when we were invited to show at the very prestigious Walnut Hill Driving Competition.  Walnut Hill is the very best pleasure driving show in the nation and John Henry was the first mule allowed to compete there.  To top it off he was Reserve Champion in his division against all the horses.  To continue the tradition we were invited back this year and John Henry was Champion in the Trade/Commercial Division.

Because of John Henry's winning ways, at the annual meeting of the USEF in 2000 a rule change was passed to allow mules in all levels of combined driving up to and including international levels of the FEI.  This was a great accomplishment because the USEF had, at that time, a 50 year ban on mules competing against horses at their registered shows.  Mules are now allowed to compete in USEF rated Endurance and Dressage as well as Driving.  More John Henry Photos;

Tina Konyot

Tina Konyot comes from a seven-generation family that has been involved in horses as well as the Circus industry. Her father, Alex Konyot came to the United States from Hungary in 1939 where he eventually joined the military to earn his Citizenship. After the war, he joined the Ringling Circus. Her mother was from Czechoslovakia and was already part of the Circus when she came to the United States for the World's Fair in New York in 1939. Her mother was a high wire walker and to this day is still the only women to walk the high wire without a net.

Tina grew up around horses in Fort Lauderdale , Florida . She was involved with hunter/jumpers before her start in Dressage in 1990. Her father taught and trained her. Her father was one of the few dressage trainers at that time. Konyot currently trains with Michael Poulin.

Ms. Konyot's first dressage prospect was a mare, Anouska. She went to Europe to train with Herbert Rhebein later, competing nationally. Konyot has produced several Grand Prix horses since then Rubin, Justice, Abrikos, and her own, Liberty.

Elizabeth Hendrix & Donna Novella

Elizabeth Hendrix grew up on the east coast riding jumpers and dressage horses and in 1994 relocated to the west coast to concentrate on dressage. Over the past 15 years Liz has competed and trained at the FEI level both in the USA and Europe. Liz has earned her USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and is a USDF Certified Instructor thru 4^th Level. In January 2000 she moved to the San Francisco Bay area and currently runs a training and sales barn as part of Greenville Equestrian Center in Livermore, CA. Liz currently trains with US Olympian Sue Blinks, Lilo Fore and George Williams.

Donna Novella is a 10 yrs old Hanoverian mare by DeNiro owned by Melissa Mulchahey. Donna has been a champion in the FEI Young Horse series, as champion in the USDF Breed Show series and now is a champion in the USEF High Performance series. Donna Novella has been the winner of the Central States FEI Young Horse Qualifier in 2003 and short listed to represent the USA at the World Championship for Young Horses. USDF Horse of the Year 2002 Materiale and USDF Horse of the Year 2004 Dressage Sport Breeding Horse of the Year.

Donna and Liz have been partnered since 2006 and during their short time together they qualified for the 2007 USEF Developing Horse Prix St. George Championships and successfully competed in the FEI High Performance Classes in 2008. On the road to San Juan Capistrano this year, they won the High Performance Intermediare I at the Golden State CDI*** and the High Performance PSG and Intermediare I at Woodside with score over 70% Donna is currently the #5 ranked horse in the USA in the High Performance Division and will attend the USEF Festival of Champions.