Oakmore Equestrian, Inc.
4925 NW 110TH
Ocala, FL 34482
Call/Text: (828) 423-1075
info@oakmoreequestrian.com
Copywrite Oakmore Equestrian 2023 ©Natalie Johnson Russell, Head Trainer
Throughout her junior career, Natalie Johnson was a top-ranked rider in all three major disciplines--hunters, equitation, and jumpers. She trained with the most notable trainers in the world and was blessed with the best equine partners any rider could hope for. Raised in Connecticut and New York City, Natalie balanced her straight-A academic career with the demands of competitive riding, successfully competing at the highest levels on the East Coast. Natalie won many prestigious championships and blue ribbons from the top national equitation and hunter/jumper competitions, including Devon, Pennsylvania National, USET Finals, and the Washington International-- just to name a few. She graduated from New York University with an honors degree in Economics; became one of the first rider ambassadors of Just World International, a charity focused on improving the lives of children in developing nations (a children's center in Honduras is named after Natalie); and learned to maintain a healthy balance between her passion for horses and other interests. In 2006 Natalie moved into her professional career, where she has competed and placed in numerous internationally-ranked Grands Prix, as well as in the professional hunter divisions and derbies. She began her teaching career working with some of the best trainers in the nation and has guided her students to numerous championships. Natalie's goal is to help each student reach their highest potential in the show ring. With her patient demeanor and intuitive communication skills, she prefers to teach on a private basis where she can tailor her training to each student's needs. Natalie never lets her students leave the ring without learning something new. Please contact Natalie to discuss your goals, as well as any questions you may have. We have horseback riding lessons in the Orlando Area.
JUMPER RIDER HIGHLIGHTS:
- $75,000 Fidelity Investments Grand Prix, 2nd Place
- Winter Equestrian Festival Holiday and Horses GP, 2nd Place
- Atlanta Classic Grand Prix, 2nd Place
- $25,000 WEF Welcome Grand Prix, 2nd Place
- $25,000 Grand Prix of Atlanta, 2nd Place
- USEF National Champion, High Junior Jumper
- USEF 2nd Place National Ranking with Crocket 16
- Gold Medal Team, Young Riders Finals (Junior Olympics)
- Individual Bronze Medal, Young Riders Finals (Junior Olympics)
EQUITATION RIDER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Maclay Zone 1 Regional Qualifier Maclay Finals, 1st Place
- Top Ranked Washington Equitation Rider, 2005
- United States Equestrian Team 2005 Finals, Top Four Finalist
- Washington Equitation 2005 Finals, Top Four Finalist
- Old Salem Horse Show Governor's Cup Winner
- Featured on Animal Planet TV Series, “Horse Power: The Road To The Maclay”, which followed top junior riders in the country as they prepared for the Maclay Finals.
Shawn V. Russell, Head Trainer
Shawn is a 4th generation horseman in the well-known Russell family. Shawn has spent his entire life being raised in the horse business. As a junior, Shawn competed from the pony ring all the way up to the Open Jumpers at the 1.35m level. Throughout his young adult life, Shawn worked for his father and assisted in the family sales business, as well as for his Uncle Bill Russell. In 2007, his father asked Shawn to be the Horse Show Coordinator and VP of Team Sales for the City League International Show series, building teams for the Nations Cup Style team event. He also worked to gain sponsors for their events and traveled to help put on each show. In 2014, Shawn married Natalie Johnson and they began their journey at Oakmore Equestrian together. Shawn has since turned his focus to jumper training and horse sales. As a trainer, Shawn has guided several students to National Championships - including the Individual Gold Medalist at the Adult Jumper Championships at Culpepper, VA in 2016 and the Winner of the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Medal in Saugerties, NY in 2016 as well. Shawn has served as a Chef D'Equipe for Zone 4 for the Zone 3/4 Championships since 2016, guiding numerous Zone 4 teams to Gold Medals. Between his training sessions, Shawn travels the Southeast in search of quality sales horses.