About Us

Russell Equestrian Center was founded by John W. Russell, a U.S. Olympian whose career spanned elite international show jumping and Olympic competitions. John represented the United States at the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, earning a team bronze medal, and later dedicated his life to developing athletes through correct fundamentals, composure, and thoughtful training systems.

 

Following his passing, the center is proudly owned and operated by his wife, Shane Russell (Brashar), an internationally accomplished rider and coach with a rare multi-discipline background and direct Olympic coaching experience.

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Multi-discipline experience at the highest level.

 

Shane Russell has competed and coached across:  Dressage, Cross-country, Show Jumping, and Modern Pentathlon.​ She served as a riding coach for U.S. modern pentathlon teams, preparing athletes for — and coaching at — two Olympic Games. Pentathlon demands adaptability, calm decision-making, and the ability to quickly prepare horses and riders to perform safely in unfamiliar conditions. That high-level perspective shapes every aspect of training at Russell Equestrian Center.

 

A relaxed environment — built with elite understanding​

 

Russell Equestrian Center is intentionally unpretentious, calm, and grounded. Horses learn better when the environment is steady and consistent. Riders progress faster when pressure is replaced with clarity and confidence. That simplicity, however, is supported by decades of Olympic-level knowledge about how athletes are actually developed — physically, mentally, and over time.

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A facility designed for real performance

 

Set on 57 acres, the center offers an exceptional variety of six primary riding areas, allowing horses and riders to train across footing, terrain, and environments — a cornerstone of soundness and long-term success.