George Halkett, Director

Held Equestrian Center- George Halkett, Director

A graduate of the British Horse Society's rigorous training program, George Halkett has 30 years of experience working internationally in the horse industry. He was appointed director of Albion College's Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center in 2004.

A native of Scotland, Halkett served in the British Army as a member of the Queen’s Household Cavalry. Throughout his career he has competed at international competitions, in addition to training horses and riders who have reached the international level.

Halkett has run facilities with anywhere from 20 to 300 horses. In the late 1990s, he designed and oversaw construction of a 300-horse facility for an elite club in Istanbul, Turkey. As the club's director, he ran several international competitions, including the FEI Samsung International in dressage and show jumping and a leg of the Volvo World Cup in show jumping.

Halkett's students have appeared in everything from schooling shows to international level competitions in dressage and jumping, including the FEI Samsung International, the Volvo World Cup, and the International Intercollegiate World Championships.

Prior to his arrival in Albion, Halkett directed the high school riding program at Stoneleigh-Burnham School in Massachusetts, Halkett's students won four national titles in three years, including the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National championships in 2002, 2003 and 2004 and the Interscholastic Dressage Association National championship in 2002. In addition, he coached the Stoneleigh-Burnham team to a silver medal at the Northeast Junior/Young Riders Dressage Championships in 2003.

Halkett holds many certificates, including an international trainer's passport, and has received numerous awards. He is a British Horse Society (BHS) International Level II Instructor (BHSII, reg.), one of only three registered BHS instructors in the United States who holds this particular level of certification.

Danielle Menteer, Associate Director Associate Director Danielle Menteer

Previously an instructor and coach at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, Danielle Menteer joined the staff of the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center in July of 2007. She holds a B.S. degree in Equine Studies from Lake Erie and represented the Lake Erie Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) hunt seat team at the National Finals during her time as a student there.

Prior to her arrival in Albion, Menteer worked in eastern Ohio as a professional trainer and stable manager, working with horses and riders in dressage, hunters, and jumpers. Her experience is extensive: she has successfully competed on the Florida winter circuit, shown hunters and jumpers in “A” rated shows, and earned her United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze and silver medals in recognized dressage competitions, competing through the FEI level. Currently, she competes Albion College Lenox at Prix St. George and Intermediate I.

Menteer coached the Albion Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team to National Finals berths in 2008 and 2009.

In addition to coaching the Albion College dressage team, Menteer’s everyday duties at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center include assisting in the development of the programs and facilities, event coordination and planning, and instructing students.

Carolyn Killewald, Office Manager/Show Secretary

Carolyn Killewald is a graduate of Albion College and holds a B.A. in English. She was previously employed as a magazine editor for a trade association in Jackson, MI before being hired at the Held Equestrian Center in August 2008. Killewald’s role at the Held Center includes planning events and projects, marketing, accounts receivables, purchasing, and serving as a liaison between the Center, students, community members, and faculty/staff of Albion College. During horse shows at the Held Center, Killewald serves as the show secretary, coordinating competitors’ entries and fees, issuing awards, and tracking results.

A lifetime equestrian, Killewald competed in the U.S. Pony Club and eventually placed her focus on dressage. Together with her Trakehner mare, Tierra del Fuego, she has competed through Second level at USDF recognized shows and regional championships. Killewald also has a retired Morgan mare that she competed in the past and later used as a lesson horse for a few students. She trains with Maryal Barnett on a monthly basis. Beyond riding, she also spends time working as a freelance writer, scribing at dressage shows, drawing, spending time with her husband and two dogs, and working outside at their small farm in nearby Concord, MI.