Rita Timpanaro has been involved in equestrian activities since the 1960’s. As a junior rider she was a member of the Pony Club, and qualified for Level I and Level II Dressage. Beginning at 12 years of age, she qualified for the National ASPCA and AHSA Medal Equitation Championship Finals. She was a ribbon winner in each of the Finals for five consecutive years. She competed in the Madison Square Garden National Horse Show and won a Junior Hunter Class and was awarded the ASPCA National Equitation Reserve Championship. At 16 years of age, she won the AHSA National Hunter Seat Medal Championship Finals. In addition, she placed in the AHSA National Junior Jumper Year end awards.

In 1972 she became a professional trainer and riding instructor. She has been involved in the horse industry for 45+ years as a horse owner, facility owner and manager. She provided a lesson program for children and adults from the beginner level through advanced show jumping; provided horseback riding lessons in the ring and on the trails; instructed pleasure riders; provided school horses for students; instructed riders on privately owned horses; instructed riders with special needs; trained horses for pleasure riders and for the show ring; provided a boarding facility for horse owners; instructed students on the care of the horse.

Under Rita’s tutelage over 30 riders qualified for the national Equitation Finals. In addition, students qualified and won ribbons in the Junior Hunter and Pony Hunter Finals held at Madison Square Garden, Pennsylvania National and Washington International. Throughout her career students earned Zone, Regional and National Championships.

In 1975 Rita attained her license as a United States Equestrian Federation judge and she has officiated at numerous Championship horse shows throughout the United States and Canada. She has held United States Equestrian Federation “R” judges licenses in the following disciplines: hunter, hunter seat equitation, jumper and hunter breeding for 45+ years, and has judged horse shows throughout the United States and Canada. In addition to judging USEF horse shows, Rita also judges Interscholastic Equestrian Association and Intercollegiate Horse Show Association shows nationwide. Recently she attained her National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) Hunter/Jumper license.

Throughout her career she served as a clinician and has conducted riding clinics throughout the nation. She is delighted to share her experience and knowledge with equestrian participants of all levels. In 2011-2016, Rita served as a USHJA Certified Trainer and was honored to be a USHJA Certified Clinician.

In 2009 Rita became a Certified Equine Appraiser with the American Society of Equine Appraisers, providing horse owners throughout the country, professional and accurate certified horse appraisal. Since 2013 she has served as a Certified Senior Equine Appraiser.

Publications:

Rita has been published in the books Show Rider, The Horse Show, and Horse Show Judging for Beginners.

In addition, she has been featured in magazines such as: Sports Illustrated, The Chronicle of the Horse, Horse Show,

The Horse of Delaware Valley, Horsemen’s Yankee Pedlar, Today’s Equestrian, Horse People, Monarch International’s Show Circuit, and The Plaid Horse, to list just a few.

Professional Memberships:

United States Equestrian Federation – Life Member
United States Hunter Jumper Association – Life Member
American Society of Equine Appraisers – Life Member
National Snaffle Bit Association (NSBA) – Member
United States Dressage Federation – Member
National Professional Horsemen’s Association – Member
American Association for Horsemanship Safety, Inc – Member
Certified Horsemanship Association – Member
Past Chair of USHJA Zone II Nominating Committee.
United States Equestrian Federation – Junior Hunter Committee- Past Vice President
Professional Horsemen’s Association – Past Vice President Long Island Chapter
United States Equestrian Federation – Continuing Education Committee- Past Member
United States Equestrian Federation – Ad Hoc Measurement Committee- Past Member
Zone II Hunter/Jumper Committee – Past Member
American Quarter Horse Association – Past Member
Welsh Society- Past Member
American Miniature Horse Society- Past Member

Courses Attended:

• United States Equestrian Federation Judges Clinics during the past 45+ years in the following divisions: Hunter, Hunter Breeding, Hunter Seat Equitation, Jumper
• American Quarter Horse Association Educational Judges Seminar
• United States Hunter Jumper Association Trainer Certification Program
• Team USA Safe Sport Training
• “Principles of Valuation” (35 hours) seminar presented by the American Society of Equine Appraisers
• “Principles of Valuation” (70 hours) seminar presented by the American Society of Equine Appraisers
• Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (15 hours)
• National USPAP Appraisal Course (45 hours of course credit)
• National Conference on Equine Law (12.25 hours, includes Ethics Credit 1 hour)
• CPR Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation