Andrea Buonanno started taking lessons at the age of 5 at Had-A-Farm Equestrian Center in Princeton, N.J. At the age of 13 she got her first horse, a very energetic TB/QH mare. She started showing the A circuit in jumpers, equitation, and hunters. She then moved into dressage and eventing. For most of her teen years she either showed or attended clinics almost every weekend. At fifteen she started teaching lessons and training people’s horses.

After graduating high school Andrea received a scholarship to compete at the varsity level on Cazenovia College’s Equestrian Team.  Although she did well in the shows, the lack of relationship between horse and rider in the intercollegiate level was not what she was wanting.  After college Andrea traveled and continued riding with different instructors.

Since moving to Asheville, Andrea has found her calling in Natural Horsemanship. She enjoys using those methods for dressage, jumping, and eventing.  She has found all styles and levels of riding can benefit from working in partnership with the horse.  She lives on a small farm with her husband, four dogs, three cats, two Guinea hens, and her beautiful horses.

Victoria started riding horses when she was 10 at Greylyn Farm, a hunter/jumper farm in PA.  There she leased a wonderful thoroughbred jumper mare..  She taught riding lessons at Greylyn until she moved to Asheville.  Since moving to Asheville in 2000, Victoria has managed a small private barn, worked at Cane Creek Farm, and exercised horses for private owners.  Victoria has a handsome quarter horse named Mikey at Crosswind.

Victoria graduated from UNCA with a degree in Environmental Biology/Ecology and a K-6 teaching license.  She currently teaches kindergarten at Haw Creek Elementary School.  At Crosswind, Victoria gets to combine her love of horses and teaching children.  Victoria lives in West Asheville with her husband, Jeremy, and two dogs, Kaya and Lupin.  When she’s not at the barn she spends time with her family and friends, hiking, running, knitting, reading, traveling, and enjoying all that the Asheville area has to offer.

Chris Veil is a great handyman and helps with the barn chores and maintenance at Crosswind. He is a student a Madison County High School. He is an incredibly hard worker and always aims to please. His passion is trail riding, but is interested in competing in the future as well.

Jessica Witalis keeps two horses here at Crosswind. Kitty, her mare, and Sunday, her son’s(Caleb) gelding. Jessica assists with chores weekday and participates in the working student program on the weekends. She has a background in western showing and halter. She loves the barn and spends most of her time here.

Hannah Bostic is a working student at Crosswind and rides the amazing Smarty. Their goal is eventing and they are both diligent students. She is doing a great job finishing this young gelding. Hannah’s super power is “hugs”….So, if you ever need one, I recommend you look her up!