Jill Shulman
Jill is the owner and head trainer of Back Country Farm. She’s originally from Chicago Illinois, and a second generation horsewoman. As a junior rider, she experienced great success in the pony, junior hunter, equitation and jumper rings. Jill established her business in Boca Raton Florida, in 1984, which included importing and selling horses from Europe, as well as teaching all levels of riders.
She then moved to Greenwich, Connecticut, where she established Back Country Farm in 1990. She now has four children and a true passion for every aspect of the horse industry. Since establishing Back Country Farm, Jill has produced riders who have earned top honors and awards at the major equitation finals, USEF Pony Finals, USEF Junior Hunter Finals, the East Coast Fall indoor shows and national jumper championships. Jill has sent riders to Europe to successfully represent the United States and also has had students chosen for Nations Cup teams.
Sydney Shulman Desiderio
Sydney is the daughter of Jill Shulman and one of the trainers at Back Country Farm. Sydney has competed and represented the United States in Europe as well as the United States and now rides for Israel.
Sydney was trained primarily by Jill and has received help from John Roche, Brianne Goutal, Stacia Madden, Max Amaya and Frank Madden to further her knowledge. In her pony days, Sydney had many accomplishments riding for Geoff Teall, Charlie Moorcroft and Robin Greenwood.
As a junior rider, Sydney was honored with the Ronnie Mutch Award and Best Child Rider Award at the Devon Horse Show in Pennsylvania, took top honors at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships, earned multiple championships at the USEF Pony Finals, the Pennsylvania National, the Washington International, the National Horse Show and won several Grand Prix events. Sydney also earned a silver medal at the Prix de States at the Pennsylvania National and ribboned at every major East Coast equitation final in the top six.
Since turning professional, Sydney has been competing successfully at the highest FEI levels, in addition to earning top placings in the hunter ring. Sydney continued her success at the highest levels in 2019, earning the Leading International Open Jumper Rider and Leading U25 Rider titles at the Washington International Horse Show after winning the $36,000 Accumulator Class and the $50,000 FEI 4* Speed Final. Sydney also won the $36,000 FEI 3* Keystone Classic and was the Open Jumper Speed Champion at the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Earlier in the season, she topped the $$72,000 2* Grand Prix at the Tryon International Equestrian Center and also earned Grand Prix ribbons at such shows as Devon, Ox Ridge and Old Salem.
Most recently Sydney broke into the world's top 100 on the Longines ranking, after an impressive string of victories in 2021 with her top horse Villamoura, including back-to-back CSI5* wins in the Major League Show Jumping and a CSI4* win at the Washington International Horse Show.
She will continue her mother's business, both in training and selling horses for Back Country Farm, while representing Team Israel.
Gabby Hero
Gabby has been a member of the Back Country Farm team as a trainer and rider since 2015. She’s been riding since age 4 and grew up in New York City and attended Trinity School and New York University. As a junior rider, she had a successful pony, equitation, and junior jumper career as a working student. Since turning professional she competed in the Under 25 Jumpers and FEI Grand Prix level. She has a passion for teaching and working with students of all levels to reach their goals.
Savannah Mannes
Savannah joined the BCF team as a rider and trainer in 2020. Savannah grew up in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. She had a successful junior career competing in the junior hunters, equitation and jumpers as a working student. She qualified and competed in the equitation finals and junior hunter finals. She also rode in USHJA programs such as the Emerging Athletes Program.
Savannah went on to become captain of her collegiate equestrian team at Cazenovia College. Her college career highlights include over 25 fences and flat wins, two open flat regional championships, two all academic titles and two cacchione cup reserve championships. She was selected to ride and coach Team USA in Geneva, Switzerland for the Student Rider’s Nations Cup. The USA finished with a silver medal for showjumping. She graduated Cazenovia at the top of her class with Bachelors of Professional Studies with a specialization in Sport Management and was awarded sport management senior of the year.
As a professional, she has trained students to numerous pony, junior and amateur hunter and jumper championships as well as equitation wins across the country. Her students have earned competitive ribbons at national finals and year end championships.