Lori Wolgemuth
Lori's talent as a dressage rider was discovered early in her life. As a young teenager, Lori took regular lessons with German trainer, Elwood Geisler, and by age 16, was staying at Gunnar Ostergaard’s Deerwood Farm in Quakertown, PA working as a groom and working student.
By age 20 Lori had already shown success through the AHSA levels, been a devoted student under several of the country's top dressage professionals, and competed at the FEI level in the US Continental Young Rider Championships alongside other young budding professionals, Todd Bryan and Scott Hassler.
A USDF bronze and silver medalist, Lori has brought along several horses through the FEI levels and has been the backbone of Graemont Farm's successful training and lesson program. She earned her BA in Business Administration from Elizabethtown College in 1996 with a 4.0 GPA, all while raising her boys, helping run the family’s farm, teaching, training and competing at horse shows.
Lori has a proven record for taking horses from the lower levels and making them ready for Prix St. George with strong enough basics that any amateur can ride them. One recent example of Lori's skill is the brilliant mare, Josien (Casanova x Samber). Lori put some years of training on this mare just before Josien qualified for and was the USET's strongest candidate for the Pan American Games under rider Jan Brons.
Unfortunately, a health setback kept that talented mare from ever attending that event.
Lori is also credited for her part in the training and development of USET long listed stallion Graf Goetz, along with numerous other successful FEI competition horses.
Lori’s kind manner and patient demeanor made her an ideal and sought after riding instructor for many. In 2011 however, her career was sidelined with a triple-negative breast cancer diagnosis.
With several years of treatments and multiple surgeries, Lori was blessed to beat that disease, but not without collateral damage that kept her out of the saddle.
Years later, Lori returned to the dressage world and enjoys owning and riding her one horse, and teaching a few lessons to local riders. She travels to Europe one or two times a year, especially for clients that want her by their side as they navigate the European shopping experience. Lori has a great eye for a horse and is especially insightful at picking horses with high-rideability.
Together, Steve and Lori enjoy spending time with their three adult sons, David, Michael, and Ben, daughter-in-law, Laura, grandaughter, Vespertine, grandson, Charles, farm-dog, Josie, and grand-dog, Gertrude.
Advice From Lori
“It's easy to get caught up in the competitive aspects of this sport and before you know it, you're basing your self-worth on your success in the show ring. I think it's important to just enjoy your horse everyday, otherwise you're missing out on the whole point of why you have horses. Dressage is so addictive, as is the desire to keep improving and learning. But we need to remind ourselves to take time to love each moment with our wonderful animals, and never take that for granted.”