Meet the Staff

Jessica Piccarello, Owner

Jess Upham has been working around horses for over 20 years. Having ridden numerous disciplines including eventing, hunters, jumpers, and equitation, she has a variety of skills. At 16 years old, she began teaching at Stonegate Farm and has worked at multiple farms since. She is experienced in working with young horses, rescue horses, and show horses, and she also enjoys the re-training and rehabilitation of geriatric horses. She graduated University of Connecticut in 2012 with majors in Animal Science and Agriculture & Natural Resources with a focus in Equine Business Management. She is also a PAS certified Equine Nutrition Specialist for the NorthEast.

Kathy Gorsky, Head Trainer and IEA Head Coach

Kathy Gorsky has been teaching children and adults to ride for 30 years.  As a teenager, she was a member of US Pony Clubs, earning the ranking of C-2 despite not owning a horse.  She competed in both eventing and equitation and eventually turned the focus of her own riding to dressage.  Kathy was awarded a dressage scholarship which allowed her to train with top trainers including Lilo Fore and Kathy Connelly.  She brings her love of flatwork to her students, encouraging them to use  classical principles of dressage in order to improve their horses and their own riding.  As an instructor, Kathy’s focus is on equitation, and she has successfully coached many students through the ranks.   Kathy has been an IEA coach for 8 years, and her current IEA team, Eastern Connecticut, has been very successful within its first few years. Kathy loves the IEA’s emphasis on horsemanship and sportsmanship, and incorporates many team-building events into her team’s schedule.  Kathy looks forward to many more exciting years of training riders at Magnolia Run Equestrian Center. ​

Marilyn Bennett, Manager & Trainer

Marilyn, a UConn grad, has been riding since before she could walk! By 5 she had decided on a career in horses and hit the ground running. She has experience at a multitude of facilities, both large and small. She has worked with both young children and adults, with goals from down the trail to the A-Circuit!

Emily Besaw, Asst. Manager

Emily Besaw is a recent graduate of Johnson & Wales University with a bachelors degree in Equine Business Management and Riding. Emily has been riding for 13 years and had previously taught beginner-intermediate lessons for both kids and adults. In her spare time, Emily enjoys riding and loving on her two horses, Carpe Diem aka "Tex" and Revolutionary aka "Logan."

Ryan Murphy, Asst. Manager

Ryan is a senior at the University of Connecticut and will finally receive her BS in Animal Science at the end of 2019! She has been around horses ever since her mother, a lifelong equestrian, held her up on a pony at three months old. After starting lessons as a small child, she began working as a show groom with her trainer at age 10 and has been doing chores ever since. With a background in dressage, Ryan has found a new passion for jumping with her new partner Banjo - a large green pony. Her favorite part of working at Magnolia is the close relationship she has with the horse owners and veterinarians. She particularly enjoys working with owners to provide their horses with the best possible day to day care and to make sure the farm is meeting their needs. When she's not working or at school, Ryan enjoys trail riding and spending time with her family.

Michelle Lewis, Trainer

Michelle joined us after her graduation from UConn in 2013 where she got her bachelors in Animal Science with a concentration in Equine Science and a minor in Equine Business Management.  Michelle grew up on a horse farm in Vermont where she raised miniature horses, trail rode and did gymkhana and more recently began jumping and driving.  Michelle teaches both hunt seat and western lessons and enjoys giving people positive first experiences with horses and riding.  Her passion is starting young horses for both riding and driving. 

Shannon Gorsky, Trainer and IEA Assistant Coach

 Shannon Gorsky has been riding for nearly 20 years and began showing at small schooling shows at a young age. At age 12, she began showing in the IEA, qualifying for regionals almost every year until she graduated high school. In 2017, while representing IEA Zone 1 as their Youth Board Representative at the IEA National Finals, she placed 1st in the Holy Innocents Horsemanship Test for Upper School riders and also placed 3rd in the practical horsemanship test. She has been showing on the local rated circuits for the past many years and has competed at CHJA Finals, CHSA Finals, as well as the New England Equitation Championships. She graduated from Stonehill College in May 2021 with a major in business management and a minor in entrepreneurship. She was also a captain of their Varsity Equestrian team. Having spent the past few years as Magnolia's camp coordinator, she is currently looking forward to joining MREC as a trainer as well as the assistant coach for the IEA team. 

Naomi Haney, Trainer

We're glad to introduce a new member to the MREC team, Naomi Haney. Of course, she insisted that we start with her horse Valhalla, a now 19 year old warmblood who has brought Naomi from jumping crossrails to showing at the 3'. Together, they enjoy all 3 rings as well as trail riding, hunter paces, and will never turn down the opportunity to run some barrels. Naomi has been with us almost two years, learning the "horse show ropes" as a working student with trainer Marilyn Bennett. While she has a lifetime of experience with horses, having ridden several disciplies and breeds starting at the age of 6, showing and jumping were completely new to her when she came to Magnolia, and she has since fallen in love with the sport. Naomi's past experience also includes horse rehabilitation, breeding and foaling, yearlings, sales, a completed 2-year blacksmith apprenticeship, and so much more. Naomi is an animal lover in every sense of the word, but horses have always been her passion! She is so excited to be able to share her love and knowledge for these animals with her students and everyone she can.

Brian Piccarello, Head Maintenance Supervisor

When it comes to fixing things, Brian is a jack-of-all trades. Whether the project is installing new fencing, removing manure mountain, pouring concrete, or simply just fixing a gate, he is a master of all. With a history managing Fish Family Farm in addition to working at both Country Carpenters and Bradley Airport, Brian has a vast array of experience. Day in and day out, Brian makes sure our Magnolia Run facility is ready to roll!