Platinum Farms' head trainer and riding instructor is Rochelle Costanza. She has been a professional riding instructor and horse trainer for nearly 30 years and has been competing in the sport of Eventing since 1997. She has ridden to the FEI (International) Three Star Level (previously known as Two Star) and was long listed for the Olympics in 2005. She has owned and trained all of the horses that she has competed to the higher levels. She owns and operates Platinum Farms with her husband Nick. Her forte is training the horse and rider together to form a partnership of trust and mutual respect and understanding. She basis her training style on classical dressage referring to the German Training Scale and has vast experience working with young horses of all breeds for 30 years. She has vast experience with difficult horses and off the track Thoroughbreds (OTTB's). She has trained and attended clinics with some of the best riders and trainers in the sport of eventing including Jan Byyny, Jimmy Wofford, Karen and David O'Connor, Gina Miles, Hawley Bennet, Eric Smiley, Kim Severson, Peter Gray and Phillip Dutton to name a few. She has competed as far east as VA and as far west as CA. Her students have acheived many accolades as well, qualifying for and competing at the American Eventing Championships multiple times. She has had numerous Young Riders qualify as members of the Area IX YR Team and compete at the NAYRCs representing Area IX.
Rochelle's qualifications include:
Certified USEA Level III Instructor: Acheived Level III in 2009, Level II in 2017
Certified BHS AI Instructor 1995 (this is a certification from the UK)
Certified by the ARICP in 1993
B.S. degree from California Polytechnic University in Equine Science
Medals:
USEA Silver Medal 2005 (medal qualification is 3 placings of 1st - 3rd at the Intermediate Level at USEA Events), USEA Bronze Medal Multiple times (qualfication includes 3 placings of 1st - 3rd at the Preliminary Level at USEA Events)
USDF Bronze medal 2017 (qualification is 3 scores over 60% at USDF First, Second and Third Levels)
Other Acknowledgements:
Awarded the CCC Instructor of the Year Award 7 times from 2007-2020.
Awarded the CCC Volunteer of the Year Award in 20014.
Articles on Rochelle:
https://useventing.com/news-media/news/icp-spotlight-area-ix?fbclid=IwAR1EvGXYtQDcfQ6uaX3Emo04dw3Gg9Pm-9NWx7gdbBIWbwWc5gOZFvZznZk
https://sidelinesmagazine.com/sidelines-feature/rochelle-costanza-living-and-loving-eventing.html?fbclid=IwAR0l1FFvJXHIOdDo3Rn-gxPK3OAMYI_e4yxBJxFRx3LlXKBcZusF09kXnNE
Jenny Slade has been with Platinum Farms for 8 years and has been an assistant trainer with us for 4 years. She has has been a life long rider and brings her vast experience to Platinum Farms in helping with our horses in training. In the past, she has evented to the Preliminary Level and has also earned a USDF Gold Medal. She is currently competing her OTTB gelding "Grand Finale" at the Novice level. She is also the mother of four lovely girls, two of which ride and compete in the sport of eventing. Jenny is a true horsewoman in every sense of the word and is a big part of helping to keep Platinum Farms running smoothly.
Chelsea Dougherty has been an assistant trainer at Platinum Farms for 6 years. She has been riding ever since she was "knee high to a grasshopper" and has been competing in eventing for 9 years. With her quiet demeanor and tactful riding, she is an asset to P.F. as one of our trainers. Chelsea is very good with the hot or difficult horses and has a calming effect on them. She currently events her own horse "One Fine Lad" at Training Level.
