Our Staff

Meet your next trainer.

Whether you’re a beginner, just starting out or an advanced rider with competitive ambitions, we have someone for you. Many of our riders choose to work with multiple trainers, to maximize their learning.

Julie Hagen

Trainer

Julie has been teaching and training sport horses for 30+ years. She is a great communicator of feel, is patient and has an extensive knowledge of classical horsemanship and ground training. She enjoys sharing these skills with riders of all levels. She has recently focused on interviewing horses to join the Horsemanship Academy as Professors and looks forward to welcoming new riders into our program

Chris Knuth

Trainer

Chris has her BA in Equine Studies & Business Management from Averett College, Danville, VA. Having competed up to Preliminary level on a cheeky off the track Thoroughbred, she brings a lot of experience to riders with more challenging steeds. She is available for full time teaching and we are very excited to have her leading the team. She lives with her family just a mile away from the farm driveway. Her students love her thoughtful, systematic approach. Chris has a flexible schedule so has room for new students and horses in training.

Eliza SanNicolas

Trainer

Eliza first came to Bascule in 2014. She joined the training team full time in 2020 after earning a BA in Sociology from American University. She is a Level 2 certified instructor in both Eventing and Dressage through the American Riding Instructors Association. She competed her first horse through Training level eventing before switching to a dressage focus with her personal horse. She still loves to jump both in and out of the arena, happily schooling client horses over fences when they need a quiet, confident ride. Eliza also loves working with young horses; she started her gelding Koz as an unbroken and unruly, 3 year old. She has recently imported a fantastic gelding with a focus on showing up the levels. With her human pupils, Eliza focuses on correct basics as the foundation for furthering skills in the saddle. She frequents local events as well as dressage and jumper shows, emphasizing fun outings as a way to show off the skills honed at home while never losing sight of love for the horse.

Bella DuPree Cox

Assistant Instructor

Bella has been riding since she was in the single digits. With a background in both western speed and english disciplines, she has found her love in Hunters and Eventing. She has lots of experience training up multiple off track Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses. She wants to really know the horse and how they will flourish in a way that makes them comfortable. Bella loves to teach riders at all levels and brings a positive energy to every lesson! She has a small IEA/Local show team and loves taking “her” riders to shows and events.

Richard Hagen

Owner/Trainer

Richard “Dick” Hagen has trained with Bruce Davidson Sr, David and Karen O’Conner, Todd Minikus, Fred Weber, Eric Horgan and Lillian Heard. He has competed multiple OTTB’s from first time out to Intermediate and brought many a homebred WB/TB-cross from unstarted to competition level. As a former Whip for over 25 years, he has taught and taken horses over ground/country far more trappy than any cross country course. He is meticulous about being attuned to the horse and how it learns. His students learn to be correct and precise. With a history as a wrestling coach, he is a human bio-mechanics geek, and brings all of that to his lessons as well.

Dick is available for privates, group jumping lessons, cross country schooling and coaching at events.