Gilly Slayter

Via Nova Lead Trainer and Barn Manager of Terra Nova Equestrian Center

For Training and Lesson information visit Simply 3-Day and Dressage

Gilly Slayter brings her wealth of equestrian skills, education and competition experience along with her passion and energy to Via Nova’s training program. As a professional, Gilly stays on top of the dynamic world of competition and training by participating in clinics and other educational programs, and maintaining challenging upper-level competitive goals for herself. She’s witnessed the power of using positive reinforcement to bring improvement for both horses and riders, and looks for the most effective ways to incorporate R+ solutions into traditional training techniques for dressage and eventing. With a deep understanding of the nature of horses, and her love of interacting with people, Gilly is an ideal trainer for students at all levels of experience.

Gilly began riding at the age of five, competed in FEI-level Dressage as well as FEI-level Three-Day Eventing, and earned her USDF Silver Medal for achievement at Fourth and Prix St.Georges Level. She competed at the North American Young Rider Championships as a member of the 1992 Area X Three-Day team in Bromont, Canada, and again in 1996 with the Region V Advanced Young Riders Dressage team at Temple Farms. Gilly went on to develop her own Advanced Level event horse, Simply Larry, purchased in 1995 as an un-started three year old.

Gilly was also a member of the elite USEA Developing Riders squad in 2003, and in 2011 passed the USDF L Judging Program with distinction. Created by the US Dressage Federation Judges’ Committee, this educational training program teaches judges to evaluate the correct training of dressage horses.

Combining a business degree with a lifelong familiarity with stable management, Gilly is our knowledgeable and responsive Barn Manager at our Santa Fe Facility, Terra Nova Training Center. The well-being of the horses is her highest goal.

Jasmine Piepho

Priority to Positive® Program Supervisor

Jasmine Piepho

Jasmine Piepho

Jasmine Piepho joined Via Nova in 2021 as a Student Trainer. A valuable member of Via Nova’s team and program, Jasmine helps test new practices and methods, trains our collection of green to experienced horses, and works with our clients to teach the Priority to Positive® approach.

Growing up in Owatonna, MN, Jasmine’s family had a small hobby farm where she unearthed an aptitude and enthusiasm for animal husbandry. At 16, Jasmine began riding, discovering an equestrian calling, which led her to attend South Dakota University to pursue a minor in Equine Studies and a BS in Biology.

Between her careers as a riding instructor, barn manager, trail guide and wrangler, Jasmine also pursued and received her certificate in Equine Bodywork. During this time, Jasmine also acquired her horse Leia, an experienced western gaming mare, and began her path with Positive Reinforcement.

I never stop learning from horses! Their personalities are so fun to explore, and positive reinforcement work goes hand in hand with really getting to know them as an individual, which makes relationship building with them so much sweeter!

Jasmine found that Leia was experienced and reliable under saddle, but she was shut down and quick to react anxiously, so Jasmine used her self-taught knowledge of R+ as an opportunity to bring forward Leia’s personality and understand her motivations. Wanting to learn more about R+ and promote it in the wider equestrian community, Jasmine joined Via Nova’s Priority to Positive program as a Student Trainer. With new insight, tools, and dedication, Jasmine has continued her R+ journey with Leia at Via Nova. She loves to watch Leia’s personality burst through and explore Leia’s true personality!

Jasmine brings her love of learning, horse husbandry, and ambition to Via Nova to develop every horse, grow the Priority to Positive® program, and teach others about Positive Reinforcement. Along with building her own strong relationships with the horses, Jasmine enjoys coaching riders to develop successful relationships with their own horses.