Trainers and Staff 

Biographies 

CHRISTINA MAJOR
Owner & Barn Manager

Christina has spent her life dedicated to the training of horses and riders in the Hunter/Jumper world. She has co-owned Dusty Dog Horse Farm since 2006 and is the head trainer at the farm.

She attended Mt. Holyoke College and was captain of the ISHA team for 3 years, leading the team to nationals twice. Upon graduation, she began catch riding and training, giving her the opportunity to start her own business, West Hill Farm, in 1992. In 2003 she made the move to further her riding career moving on from West Hill Farm to catch ride on the East Coast A circuit.

Dusty Dog Farm was born from Christina's desire to combine her knowledge of the business with the pleasure of having a working farm and international sales business. Throughout her career she has continued to educate herself with the help of professionals in the business including Anne Kursinski, Pam Goodrich, Carl Dena, Peter Leone, and Callan Solom, to name a few.

In recent years, Christina has made her way into the Dressage world with her horse, Mini Cooper as well as a string of client horses. Christina is competing in 3rd Level with Mini Cooper and bringing Bon Vivant and Soubriette into 1st Level this summer. 

Christina is truly passionate about the horses and the business. Whether at home or at the shows, you will find her riding, teaching or pitching in and helping wherever need be. She is usually followed by her beloved dogs.

COURTNEY SONTAG
​Trainer & Assistant Barn Manager

Courtney is Dusty Dog Farm's Assistant Trainer and resident photographer. She attended Becker College in Worcester, MA where she competed on the equestrian team and received a Bachelor of Science, majoring in management with a concentration in marketing. Courtney worked on the circuit for almost 6 years as a working student under top trainers such as Chris Kappler, George Morris and Robert Cole. In her junior years she was a top equitation rider with the NHHJA.

​Courtney has always enjoyed teaching and looks forward to taking students to the upcoming shows including Saratoga Horse Shows, World Equestrian Center, NHHJA Shows, Vermont Summer Festival, and New England Equitation Championships.  Courtney is often followed by her pack of dogs Rockstar, Cookie and Toby. ​

KELLIE GORDON
​Assistant Barn Manager


​Kellie has worked in various positions at the farm since her senior year of highschool in 2015 and now acts as the assistant farm and staff manager. She attended Keene State College where she received a Bachelor's of Science in Safety and Occupational Health Applied Sciences with a minor in management and graduated summa cum laude. Kellie is always overjoyed to apply safety to her days at the farm!
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"Red" understands and appreciates all the jobs and tasks the farm presents to its staff, having worked her way up from helping with chores a few times a week in highschool, to managing the farm on a full time basis. Kellie can be found doing basic infrastructure maintenance, everyday horse care and feeding, scheduling staff, running the tractors, and helping clients around the barn. What she enjoys most about her role at the farm is the independent and self-motivated nature of it, the variety of tasks presented each day, and the family the staff offers