The Ethel Walker School
Meet Our Trainers
Meet Our Trainers
Jo seaver ’99
Director of Show Riding and Head Trainer
A proud Walker’s alumna and Ethel Walker Scholarship recipient, Jo Seaver ’99 brings more than 20 years of experience as a professional trainer, rider, and mentor. Owner and head trainer of Six Hearts Farm, LLC — a hunter/jumper program she founded for riders of all levels — Jo has guided students to success from local competitions to national finals. She has also trained with leading professionals, including Linda Langmeier, Missy Clark, and John Brennan, and previously coached Walker’s Interscholastic Equestrian Team and helped host major IEA and USEF shows on campus. An accomplished competitor herself, Jo has earned top placings in hunters and jumpers at premier events such as Capital Challenge, Kentucky Summer, HITS Ocala, and the Winter Equestrian Festival. Her students have achieved recognition at every level — from CHJA and New England Finals to Junior Hunter Finals, Pony Finals, and the ASPCA Maclay National Championship. Jo leads Walker’s riding program with the same dedication she brings to every arena — developing confident, capable riders and a community rooted in teamwork, discipline, and excellence.
Ken Whelihan
Assistant Director of Riding and Senior Trainer
Ken Whelihan took his first formal horseback riding lesson in 1967. Much of his youth was spent trotting along behind his mom, dad, sister, and brother. During college, he worked at an international jumper sales barn run by two-time puissance record holder Barney Ward. Over the years, Ken has worked with numerous Olympians and his students have been successful at national and regional finals. He qualified for and competed in the U.S. selection trials for the Barcelona Games in 1992 and has been an “R” judge for over three decades. A popular clinician and winning competitor, Ken will help serve as an ambassador for Walker’s in the equestrian community. Ken lives with his wife, Dr. Vicki June, DVM, and his two dogs in Otis, MA. When not riding horses, or teaching, giving clinics, judging horse shows, or competing, you would probably find him napping at home with a dog or two on his lap.
Randi Booth
Director of Community/External Riding and Co-Head IEA Coach
Randi Booth grew up on a large horse farm and was raised by horse professionals. She has been showing since she was a small child, and for the past 25 years she has been a manager and trainer of children and adults at all levels in the hunter, jumper, equitation, and eventing disciplines. She has worked and ridden for nationally known judge and trainer Carol Malony, for hunter rider/trainer Maryann Steiert Charles, and for Olympic 3-Day Event Gold Medalist J. Michael Plumb.
Shannon Gorsky
Equestrian Trainer
Shannon Gorsky is thrilled to be a part of the Walker’s team. She grew up locally in Connecticut, riding, showing, and participating in IEA as both a rider and a member of the National Youth Board. She then went on to attend Stonehill College with a major in business management where she also competed and was a captain of their Varsity IHSA team. Since then, Shannon has continued training and riding in Connecticut as well as coaching IEA for the past few years where she has qualified multiple riders for national finals. She absolutely loves IEA and the team component that it brings to the sport. As a trainer, Shannon emphasizes the importance of creating confident riders through staying positive and building foundational skills. She also highlights the significance of building a partnership with your horse and taking care of our equine partners through good horsemanship and respect.
Meet the Equestrian Staff
Brett Benzio
Assistant Head of School for Athletics, Co-Curriculars, and Equestrian
Brett Benzio hails from sunny South Florida where she was a multi-sport athlete in high school. In her four years at Jensen Beach High School, Brett was a state champion in basketball and volleyball – winning the State Tournament MVP in volleyball and Player of the Year in both basketball and volleyball as a senior. JBHS inducted Brett into their hall of fame in 2013. Brett chose to pursue basketball in college and was a four-year starter at Tulane University. During her time in New Orleans, Brett solidified her impact on the program in the record books and most impressively as the second woman in school history to score at least 1,000 points and pull down at least 1,000 rebounds. After completing her collegiate career, Brett continued playing professionally for MB Slovenka in the Czech Republic and DJK Brose in Germany.
As an athletic professional, Brett has both collegiate and prep school experience. As the director of operations for the Harvard women’s basketball team, Brett was instrumental in managing the program’s travel, events, and day-to-day operations. Brett gained more collegiate experience as an assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at the University of Vermont, where she was the compliance liaison, marketing director, and academic advisor for athletes in the program. With a combined seven years of experience at the New Hampton School and Lawrence Academy, Brett has had the opportunity to familiarize herself with operations within NEPSAC.
Brett holds a BS degree from Tulane University in Management and a MBA from Lynn University in Athletic Administration and Media & Marketing Management.
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Kristen Blatt
Barn Manager
Kristen is a 2011 graduate of Centenary University where she earned a B.S. in Equine Studies with a concentration in Equine Business Management. While at Centenary, she competed on the IHSA team. During her tenure at Centenary, the team won two National championships. Upon graduating from Centenary, Kristen worked as barn manager at Coole Park Farm in Millbrook, NY, where she had been for eight years.
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Elizabeth Hall
Groom Staff
Lexie Hart
Groom Staff
Olivia McKinstry
Groom Staff
Tanya Szuluk
Director of Equestrian Operations
Eve White
Associate Barn Manager
Eve is a hardworking, passionate individual that is very excited to join The Ethel Walker School equestrian facility. She has been in love with horses since she was younger and has been working with them for over 15 years. She is thrilled to increase her knowledge and join such an incredible group of trainers and staff. Along with equestrian knowledge, Eve also adores a variety of art and is extremely well known for her love of animals and her students. She has just left a classroom of her own and has many equine lessons she has taught under her belt. Eve cannot wait to grow with such an incredible school.
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