Gina Virga – Owner/Manager

Gina has dedicated over 16 years of her life working with all breeds of horses although her primary focus lies within the hunters and jumpers. Gina is committed to ensuring that Belle Wood Stables is a first class facility providing world class care for each of the horses entrusted to her and her staff. Gina is fast paced and experienced in all aspects of equine care and stable management. This includes day to day business needs, communication with boarders, and medical care for equines. “My focus is to help our customers reach higher levels of satisfaction, achievement, and performance by truly caring for each and every horse as if it were my own.”

Frank Bassett – Trainer

Frank graduated from Cazenovia College with a degree in Equine Business Management. In the years following graduation, he worked in the field catch riding and training out of numerous locations. Now Frank works exclusively out of Belle Wood Stables taking pride in his carefully maintained show string as well as the talented up-and-coming young prospects placed with him. He enjoys the balance of a busy show schedule combined with an emphasis of time at home to train and develop young horses.

Sheena McNally – Instructor/Assistant Manager

Sheena, a lifelong horsewoman, graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a bachelors degree in Animal Science. While attending UMASS, she competed as a member of the college’s prestigious intercollegiate equestrian team. Following her education Sheena continued to teach riding lessons throughout the central Massachusetts area. As a licensed instructor, Sheena values the safety of horse and rider and facilitates equestrian development. She takes pride in working with both horses and their riders to achieve goals personally and competitively. Her positive nature and enthusiastic support help riders advance rapidly and confidently.

Linda Davis – Instructor

Linda has over thirty years’ practical experience riding and training horses of a broad range of breeds and over ten years’ experience in professional instruction including a background in therapeutic riding. She has helped hundreds of adults and children acquire a strong basic equine education. Linda’s approach is highly tailored to the needs of each student. Her process includes an introductory background and goals discussion, and ongoing dialogue in and out of lessons on progress, concerns, and successes. The common theme with all students is a kind, patient, and supportive mode of instruction – not pushing achievement, but rather, helping set up the conditions for her students to succeed. Linda specializes in working with the following clients:

• Adults finally pursuing a long-held dream of riding
• Adults resuming riding after a long hiatus
• Riders building back confidence after a riding accident
• Timid or fearful riders
• Adults and children with physical limitations
• Children