Calendar of Events

Shannon Pratt-Phillips, PhD, received her Master of Science from the University of Kentucky and her Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Guelph, focusing on equine nutrition and exercise physiology. Pratt-Phillips joined the faculty at North Carolina State University in 2006, where she currently teaches equine nutrition in the Department of Animal Science. She is the director of the Distance Education Animal Science Programs, which includes the Master of Animal Science program, and her field of research focuses on glucose metabolism, insulin resistance, obesity, and laminitis prevention and management in horses. She is also the owner of Phillips Equine Nutritional Services, a consulting service.

The NEDA Know How webinar series runs every Thursday evening from 7:30pm-8:30pm in January, February, and March. NEDA members can access previously recorded sessions under the "multimedia" dropdown in their member portal.

A student of Lendon Gray in college, Lauren competed three times at the North American Young Rider Championships, earning Team Bronze in 2003, and Team Gold in 2005, placing as high as fifth individually. She was also successful in the U25 ranks, qualifying three horses for the National Championships, including one made completely from scratch, all before her 25th birthday.

With a semester while in college spent working for 3 time Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Theodorescu and her Olympian father Georg, Lauren knew horses were more than just her passion – they were to be her career. Upon graduating from Sarah Lawrence College with studies in Public Policy and Urban Planning, Lauren spent a year as a working student for several exceptional trainers, including Olympic Bronze Medalist Carol Lavell, before setting up her own business in Marshall, Virginia in the fall of 2007.

Lauren currently rides with Olympic Bronze Medalist Allison Brock.

In addition to riding and training, Lauren has become a popular social media figure. She is an extremely popular blogger for national equestrian magazine The Chronicle Of The Horse, and writes regularly for magazines like Dressage Today and Practical Horseman. She also has an avid following on Facebook and Twitter, and is particularly gifted at promoting her sponsors in creative ways, through marketing campaigns both online and at her Virginia and Florida locations.
The NEDA Know How webinar series runs every Thursday evening from 7:30pm-8:30pm in January, February, and March. NEDA members can access previously recorded sessions under the "multimedia" dropdown in their member portal.

The NEDA Know How webinar series runs every Thursday evening from 7:30pm-8:30pm in January, February, and March. NEDA members can access previously recorded sessions under the "multimedia" dropdown in their member portal.

Hope Cooper and her groom, Josie Zeeb,  traveled to  Verden, Germany this summer with O Romeo S (Ollie) to compete in the FEI WBFSH Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses. They scored 83.40% on the first day, putting them in 12th place out of 40 entrants and qualified them for Saturday’s large final—a rare accomplishment for a U.S. pair at the world young horse championships. At the finals they finished 12th on a score of 82.40%.  Josie and Hope will join us to share the prep and management needed to bringing this young horse overseas to such success.  A specific focus will be on Hope’s training philosophy and Josie’s handling techniques on the ground.  

Josie's love for horses became clear at an early age and that drove her to join 4H where she expanded her knowledge and made many great friends. Her interest in horses brought her to Bear Spot Farm where she is passionate about her work caring for the horses and hopes to gain more knowledge and experience. “I've loved horses all my life and being at Bear Spot has really opened my eyes to how unique every horse is and how it takes a little listening to really understand these amazing animals”. When not at Bear spot she enjoys spending her time hanging out with her cat Beckett, going on bike rides and working on projects for the Guatemala aid fund where she is the Vice President.

The NEDA Know How webinar series runs every Thursday evening from 7:30pm-8:30pm in January, February, and March. NEDA members can access previously recorded sessions under the "multimedia" dropdown in their member portal.