Our staff

 

	Linda Levy - General Manager and Senior Trainer Linda has been involved with horses all her life. She has been riding, teaching, and training for more than three decades. Throughout this time, she has been putting the right people together with the right horses and helping people and horses become more confident and relaxed in their respective roles. Her students have won both locally and regionally in the hunter, jumper, and equitation show rings and nationally in pony jumpers. She is a graduate of the Morven Park International Equestrian Institute (IEI) in Leesburg, VA.
	Hannah Lavin - Trainer As a third generation horse trainer, Hannah has been immersed in the horse world her whole life. After a successful Junior career, culminating in a 4th place win in 2001 in the horsemanship competition at the New England Equitation Championships, Hannah relinquished her Amateur status and began her career as a horse trainer. Hannah’s education includes a 7 month internship at Stall Brinkman in Germany where she learned from the world’s top Grand Prix riders. Since then, she has been working with the Volo Farm team to produce quality horses and well rounded horseman. Recent highlights include her 5th place win on Volo Farm’s ‘Canetti’ in her first Grand Prix, and qualifying on Volo Farm’s ‘Dolce and Gabbana’ for the Pennsylvania National Horse Show.
	Melissa Consalvo - Assistant to the General Manager Melissa began riding in 1991 and immediately became immersed in the equestrian world. Melissa’s well rounded equine history spans twenty years and includes experience with the hunters, jumpers, paints, three day eventers and dressage horses. As a teacher, she works with all ages and skill sets, and takes great pride in watching her students progress thru the levels and ultimately become well rounded horseman. Coaching Boston College’s IHSA team has been the most fulfilling experience in Melissa’s career, thus far, taking them all the way to Nationals in 2004. Melissa got her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, so when she has been off the farm, she’s been performing both on stage in the studio in Los Angles, New York, and Nashville, just to name a few.
	Jennifer A. Phelan - Instructor and Coach Jen has been involved with horses for 22 years. As a child, she won many yearend awards in the pony hunter divisions at various rated horse shows around New England; she also enjoyed competing in the equitation ring. Once in college, Jen joined the University of New Hampshire’s IHSA Team. In 2006, Jen joined Volo Farm as a licensed riding instructor. Since then her teaching methods and techniques have developed and become more refined. Fun, laughter, and humor are important to Jen when she teaches; however, she has very high standards for correct equitation and good riding. Since 2008, Jen has been the assistant coach for our IEA team. She has attended IEA nationals the past two years with some of our talented riders and has seen some hard-earned awards brought home. Jen is a graduate from Phillips Exeter Academy and the University of New Hampshire where she received her B.S. in Equine Science.
	Jess Carr - Groom Jessica has been riding with Volo Farm for 11 years. Starting in the riding school Jess showed a special talent for horses right from the beginning. Jess is the go-to person when a horse is being difficult. She is kind but firm and as a result the horses love working with her. Jess manages our show horses when they are on the road. Her ability to sense what each horse needs and how to get it for them is invaluable. Jess’ riding career has been highlighted by multiple wins at the New England and Massachusetts equitation finals. The accomplishment she is most proud of is her training of Pico, her Amateur owner jumper. Jess has taken Pico from a scruffy race horse to a successful show jumper competing at 1.20 meters. She has passed Pico on to another Volo student and is beginning to train her new mount Liberal Andy who is also an ex-race horse. Jessica second love is visual art. She paints, draws and sculpts. She has her Associates Degree in fine arts from Middlesex Community College.
	Jen Pahl - Groom Jen is a native of Belmont Massachusetts. Most of her life has revolved around horses. Jen attended Middlesex Community College and graduated with an Associates Degree in Radiology. She also attended Lake Erie College to major in Equine Science and minor in Business. In addition to her formal education, Jen spent time enhancing her knowledge base by accompanying large animal veterinarians on barn-calls and observing surgeries. She gained further knowledge and experience during a seven- month visit to the Netherlands where she honed her skills in dressage, while also apprenticing with a saddle maker. For the most part, Jen has concentrated on dressage, but she has also competed in Hunter/Jumper shows. Jen's knowledge and experience is an invaluable asset at Volo Farm. Volo boarders place unquestioning trust in this knowledge and in Jen's diligent dedication to the care and handling of their horses.
	Eric Smith – Instructors’ Assistant Eric is a graduate of North Middlesex Regional High School in Townsend, Massachusetts. As an instructor's assistant, Eric is available to help horses and riders prepare for their lessons. Eric is responsible for the school portion of the barn on his shift and he assists with horse care. He is presently furthering his education at Middlesex Community College in Lowell.
	Andy Levy - Operations Manager Andy has been married to Linda Levy and the horse industry since 2000. He has extensive experience in the hospitality and property management fields. Andy can be found in the office at Volo Farm most of the time and is the person you want to see to get information about riding at Volo Farm. He schedules lessons, handles billing, purchasing and marketing for the facility.
	Constance Noble - Owner Connie is an avid horsewoman who loves dressage. She and her horse Gordon began competing in 2002. Connie is a former reading specialist and elementary school teacher. She has a BS from the University of Delaware and a Master’s Degree from the University of Pennsylvania.

Contact us
Volo Farm
84 Powers Road
Westford, MA 01886
Tel: 978 692-7060
Fax: 978 467-4181