Dr. Walter Hecker -top
     We are deeply blessed to be working in consultation with Dr. Hecker, one of the foremost and most respected horsemen in Hungary. Dr. Hecker is widely known in Europe as well, particularly in Germany. For 12-15 years he served as director of the National Riding Academy, is often called to serve throughout Europe as a judge, and is contributing editor or serves on the board of a number of prominent horse magazines. He is author or co-author of several books including a major work, A Nation of Horsemen, which traces Hungary's heritage of horsemanship. Working with youth and horses is of particular interest to Dr. Hecker, particularly furthering the development of the Pony Club movement in Hungary.
     A native speaker of both Hungarian and German, Dr. Hecker is also an active Christian connected with a family of Christian leaders. A longtime member of the United Methodist Church of Hungary, both his father and his brother served as long-term superintendents of the denomination in Hungary. His brother-in-law, Bishop Minor, recently retired from years of service in the Russian Far East.

Szilvi ("Sylvie") Szabo -top served fulltime as our riding instructor for the 2006 camps and continues to help in many ways despite her full-time work (administration and instruction) with a horse center in Paty. She holds a degree as an agricultural engineer from the Agricultural University in Gödöllö as well as official certification as a Riding Instructor. She is completing studies in Therapeutic Riding and advanced riding instruction as well. Fluent in both Hungarian and English, she has studied horsemanship in England and Germany as well as Hungary. She loves to work with children and horses, specializing in dressage. She looks forward to incorporating Parelli natural horsemanship with various riding styles and disciplines. She is an advocate of natural horsekeeping, the humane treatment of horses, and the rehabilitation of racehorses.