CAROLE CORWIN
Carole has been involved in the hunter/jumper business for 50 years. As a young rider she competed at many premier horse shows. As a young professional, she and her husband William Corwin, ran their own business training, buying and selling horses and judging at some of the country’s most prestigious horse shows.
Carole has established herself in the Midwest as the most positive and patient of trainers. Her students have achieved success in the hunters, the jumpers, and the equitation divisions. Her success can be measured in the commitment her students have to her process. Many have been training with her for 15 to 20 years! Clients stay because they are treated with the respect and concern of a friend.
Meet Our Trainers
KRISTIN SERWATT
Kristin started her riding career as a child at the Patton farm, Apple Ridge, near her home in Mequon, Wisconsin. She started teaching at that very farm at the age of 17. During this time she worked with her younger sister Jessica and her ponies on the family farm. After graduating high school, she went to college, got married and had a family. During that time she rode and showed as an amateur on her wonderful horse, Ichiban. After achieving much success in the amateur ring, Kristin decided to return to teaching and training.
Upon turning professional, Kristin established her own Benchmark Farm in Wisconsin. This venture included successfully breeding, training, selling and preparing ponies for the show ring. She still has several quality ponies for sale and lease. Her business catered to children and adults at all levels. Kristin has a true love of teaching and the care and management of horses. She successfully ran her operation for ten years until she made the decision to relocate to the Chicago area and join Prairie Star in the fall of 2010.
LAURA TREPTE
Laura grew up surrounded by horses with her parents William and Carole Corwin professionals in the industry. Although she always had access to horses to ride, she didn’t get the bug until her parents moved to Michigan when she was 12. The appeal of the hunt field, the cross country jumps and the miles of trails were too much to resist. She started riding while there and continued after her parents moved back to Chicago’s North Shore. When Laura began competing, she predominantly showed a variety of Junior hunters for her parent’s business until leaving for college.
After graduating, Laura had several jobs related to her degree in the Arts. Ironically, it wasn’t until she took a job in San Francisco for shoe company Sam and Libby, that her passion for the horses was reignited. “I was working in the office during the day and going to the Edelman’s beautiful farm in Woodside to ride Sam’s grand prix horses in the evening. It didn’t take long before I didn’t want to go to the office at all... I realized how much I missed the horses.” When the company moved to New York, she took the cue to move back to the Chicago area and join her mother’s thriving business. The business became Prairie Star in 2005.
Since establishing herself as a professional, Laura has had the opportunity to work with all levels of riders and a great variety of horses. She completed one of the inaugural Trainer Certification Program’s at SCAD. She loves to look for horses and to create successful horse/rider combinations.
