Our Team
Renee von Ruexleben
Chief Executive OfficerRenee’s love of horses and animals is at the heart of Lake Oconee Equestrian. With a background in business psychology and leadership experience across sustainability and private club management, she guides the vision for the property and the experience created for its members and guests. Her deep commitment to understanding and caring for each horse shapes the horse-first philosophy at the center of Lake Oconee Equestrian, while her focus on community continues to influence how the property grows and what it can offer those around it.
Till brings the vision for Lake Oconee Equestrian to life through the systems and infrastructure that support the property each day. He oversees technology, equipment, and security, bringing a practical approach to how the property operates and evolves. With a particular interest in sustainability, Till continues to explore ways technology and innovation can support the horses, the land, and the people who spend their time here.
Chief Technology OfficerTill von Ruexleben
Cassie Cresta
Cassie leads growth and operations at Lake Oconee Equestrian, working across the business to shape strategy, strengthen the brand, and guide its continued growth. She brings two decades of experience in brand marketing and business development, with a background spanning communications, partnerships, and operations. Raised with horses as part of everyday life, that early connection now shapes her work at Lake Oconee Equestrian and the experience being created for its members and guests.
Chief Growth & Operations Officer
Caroline Aiken
Caroline has been riding since she was five, growing up in Madison, Georgia, and competing in barrel racing and rodeo events. Today, much of her time is spent with the horses at Lake Oconee Equestrian, where she oversees their daily care and wellbeing while also teaching lessons and guiding rides across the property. Her experience also includes an internship with Piedmont Equine, adding another layer to her hands-on understanding of horse care.
Head of Horse Care
Equine Care SpecialistBella Stelzer
Bella brings experience both in the show ring and in the everyday care of horses. She competed in show jumping and represented Wesleyan College and Georgia College & State University on their IHSA teams, and continues to develop her riding while caring for the horses and guiding guests on trail rides at Lake Oconee Equestrian.
Ed Dabney
A fifth-generation horseman, Ed Dabney has spent his life learning from and working with horses. His approach blends gentle horsemanship with classical equitation, with an emphasis on lightness, communication, and a deeper connection between horse and rider. Ed’s career has taken him throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe as a clinician and educator. He has produced instructional television and video programs, written for national equestrian publications, and was selected by the University of Georgia to teach its senior-level Young Horse Training course.
Horse Trainer
Katherine Wright
Katherine brings a lifetime of learning to the English riding program at Lake Oconee Equestrian. She began riding under U.S. Olympian Colonel John Russell at the Russell Equestrian Center in San Antonio and continued her education with instructors in the United States and Europe. With a background in hunter/jumper and Classical Dressage, Katherine teaches riders of all ages with an emphasis on balance, quiet communication, and the partnership between horse and rider.
English Trainer
Irene’s journey with horses began through Pony Club at age 10, where she developed the foundations in riding and horse care that shaped a lifelong love of horses. With 20 years spent teaching young children, she brings that same love of learning to riders of all ages. Her background spans disciplines from jumping to barrel racing, along with years of involvement with 4-H and riding clubs. She especially enjoys introducing new riders to horses and helping them build confidence, knowledge, and a strong foundation from the start.
Pony Club Instructor