Wilmerding Equestrian

Clarissa Graham Wilmerding (also known as Chizzy) grew up in Mendham, New Jersey where she fostered her love of horses through the Somerset Hills Pony Club and the Essex Fox Hounds. After attending Washington College as an undergraduate and Bank Street College for her Master’s degree in Education, Clarissa decided to pursue a career in the horse world.

 

She gained experience and support during her seven years as head groom for acclaimed British eventer Jane Holderness-Roddam, the first woman to win a gold medal for eventing in the Olympics. Clarissa soon discovered a passion for breeding and producing young horses. Mystery Man II, a very successful three star horse who qualified for the Rolex 4* event in 2006, was the first of many youngsters she has produced into competitive show jumping, dressage, and eventing mounts.

 

Clarissa is currently active in the jumper ring, eventing circuit, and dressage arena where she competes her own "Luna" as well as client horses. She runs a training facility for horses and riders of all abilities on Pickle Road in Califon, New Jersey. She is also the head trainer at Jenny and Greg Morris’s Hunts End Farm of Gladstone, New Jersey.

 

Clarissa enjoys giving back to the equestrian community and watching the next generation of riders grow by teaching lessons for the same Pony Club she participated in as a child. When she is not at the barn, Clarissa loves spending time with her family and her Norwich terrier, Bear Bear.