Who We Are | Dream Catcher Farm ®

DREAM CATCHER FARM

Meet the wonderful and talented people who make Dream Catcher Farm the place it is today.

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Melinda Cohen

Melinda spent her junior years training with legendary United States Equestrian Federation Hall of Fame member Jack Stedding. She competed successfully in the Junior Jumper and Hunter divisions at this time.She then attended the University of Vermont, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Animal Science, before completing her Master’s of Agriculture and Resource Management at the University of Maryland. During her college years, Melinda continued competing in Jumper and Eventing under World Champions Denny Emmerson, and Jane Savoie respectively.In the years immediately following her post secondary education, Melinda took a position as a lobbyist for the Forestry Industry, working for the better part of a decade in Washington DC. At the age of thirty, Melinda decided it was time to make a change. She moved to Poolesville MD, and opened Dream Catcher Farm. It was there that she pursued her true passion: teaching the equestrian sport. Over the years Melinda has trained countless students to numerous championships in the Hunter, Jumper, and Equitation Divisions. Some of her students’ most successful moments include:

- Celia Goetzl, USHJA World Championship Hunter Rider U18 Reserve National Champion in 2001

-Reuben Goetzl, $20,500 Marshal & Sterling Child Adult Jumper Championship Winner in 2011

-Gabrielle Hensley, Individual Silver and Team Gold USHJA Regional Children’s Final in 2013

- Nikki Prokopchak, $10, 000 Purina Junior Amateur Jumper Classic Winner, 2016

-Aidan Fullerton, $5,000 Quentin Fall Classic Open Stake Winner

Melinda’s students have also qualified for a variety of national and regional championships
including the Medal Maclay Finals, USET Medal Finals, Junior Hunter Finals, the Washington International Horse Show, and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Along with her training, Melinda also runs a successful equine sales operation. She deals in high end horses up to the grand prix level, making sales all across the United States, Canada, and even in Europe. She has done business with such exemplary names as Olympic Champion Joe Fargis, 3 time USEF Rider of the Year Katie Monahan, Hungarian National Champion Henri Kovacs to name a few. Melinda is passionate about finding her customers the perfect match, and then training them to fulfill their greatest potential

Aidan Fullerton

Originally from Canada, Aidan Fullerton started riding before he could walk. As a Junior, he competed on the A Circuit in a variety of Hunter, Jumper and Equitation divisions, including several trips to the Canadian National Finals, the Royal Winter Fair. He also spent five years working for 13-time USEF Leading Breeder W Charlot Farms, starting and training countless top young horses.

In 2014, Aidan made the move to Maryland to train under Melinda Cohen at Dream Catcher Farms in the Summers while also completing an Undergrad Degree in English Literature at the University of Western Ontario. Aidan spent 2 years as captain of the UWO equestrian team and was Overall Ontario Collegiate Equestrian Association High Point Rider as a Freshman.

Since coming to the US to train and compete, Aidan has taken tri-colors at top shows like Vermont, Ocala, and Upperville in the Jumper and Hunter Divisions, showing up to the Regional Grand Prix level. He also had the opportunity to travel to France in 2019, to train with, and show under, legendary trainer Henri Prudent.

As a trainer, Aidan has helped students from the beginner levels through the Big Eq, High Amateurs, and Working Hunters. He has a keen eye for detail and places an emphasis on the fundamentals of equitation that allow riders to be successful at all levels of the sport.