Meet the Staff

Renee Thomasz
Renee has been working for Alisa for almost 10 years at both Hillview and Oriel Park Equestrian Centres. She has national qualifications in equine management, business administration and experience in the property maintenance industry. Renee also holds a current senior first aid certificate and working with children check.

Renee is the part owner of a nine year old quarter horse mare Shassy who resides at Oriel Park. Renee regularly attends quarter horse and palomino association events and enjoys schooling and training her horse in dressage and natural horsemanship disciplines.

Karen Walker (Super K)
Karen has been working for Alisa for almost 10 years at both Hillview and Oriel Park Equestrian Centres. Karen shows great dedication and attention to detail in all aspects of horse management which has made her a much loved and respected Oriel Park team member. Karen holds a current senior first aid certificate and working with children check.

Karen is the proud owner of two horses ‘Louie’ and ‘Cowboy’. Louie was a rescue horse that has been happily cared for by Karen for over 15 years alongside his cute companion Cowboy. Their excellent condition is a testament to Karen’s love and quality of care provided to these two lucky horses.

Petra Hotz
Petra has been a regular coach both at Hillview and Oriel Park Equestrian Centre for almost 10 years. Petra is an RDA level 1 coach and also an AHRC level one coach; she has taken both her horses to level 2 in Parelli Natural Horsemanship. She also holds a current senior first aid certificate and working with children check.

Petra is originally from Germany with a dressage training background but has since been re-educating her two horses Khann and Grace using natural horsemanship techniques and regularly attends workshops and training days. Khann and Grace have both shown exceptional improvement which is a testament to Petra’s patience and dedication to her training methods.

Alisa Dodds
Alisa has been the manager of Hillview Riding Centre and now Oriel Park Equestrian Centre for over 10 years. Alisa is an AHRC NCAS level 2 coach and an EFA NCAS level 1 General coach. Alisa is also a qualified trainer and state assessor for the AHRC NCAS level 1 coaches accreditation. She also holds a certificate 4 in training and workplace assessing, certificates in advances in horse care and a senior first aid certificate and working with children check.

Alisa has been a regular competitor on her previous horse ‘Reddy to Rave’ in dressage, hacking and one day eventing. Her current horse ‘The Rhino Chaser’ or Walt as he is affectionately known is in training for a showhorse and dressage career.  Alisa is working towards training Walter for completing her EFA level 2 dressage specialist coaches accreditation. Alisa also enjoys specializing in the retraining of the ‘off the track’ thoroughbred and working with green and young horses.

Ali Roberts
Ali is one of our youngest trainee coaches working towards her AHRC NCAS level 1 accreditation. Ali has been a student of Alisa’s since she was 7 years old and has been a conscientious and dedicated pupil. Having started from beginner riding lessons Ali was an active participant in our leasing program which provided her with the skills for owning her first horse.

Ali’s first horse ‘Every Little Breeze’ provided her with a solid learning foundation from pony club to the official show ring competing at Royal Show level. Ali’s new horse Palmerston Park Silhouette with previous extensive showing and breed class success has enabled her to compete at a national level in showhorse events with great success.

Ali is a regular member of WAYDRA attending clinics and training days and events in dressage and showhorse competitions. Their most recent success was winning the State associate dressage champion novice level and reserve champion preliminary level and ridden derivative Arabian mare of the year.

Leonie Bradford
Leonie Bradford has taught at Oriel Park since October 2010 She has done extensive dressage training in Victoria on her horse Topaz, with her own coach who trained with the German olympic dressage team. Leonie's passion is dressage, and bringing out the best in her riders and horses. Leonie has almost completed her AHRC/NCAS Level 1 Equestrian Coach certificate, and has a current Senior First Aid Certificate, and Working with Children Check. Later this year Leonie hopes to take her horse Topaz out and begin his official Dressage competition career.

Bridgette Murray
Bridgette Murray has been employed by Oriel Park since March 2010. She is a qualified AHRC NCAS level 1 equestrian coach, holds a current senior first aid certificate, working with children check, and has her cert. II in animal studies. Bridgette is currently working towards her EA level 1 general coach qualification and has recently started riding and training a young andalusian gelding known as El Chico, to complete her level 1 EA.