Maria Mendonca-Collito

Maria has been a part of the local equestrian community for over 30 years and has owned, managed, and directed Painted Dreams Farm since 2004. Through lessons, clinics, and camps, she has introduced literally hundreds of children and adults to the world of horses.

Receiving her BS at Boston University and one of her master’s degrees in Medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Maria practiced medicine from 1991 until recently, when she decided to retire and focus her attention on her equine goals. Her successful journey has taken her from the APHA Reining arena early on, through the Hunter ring briefly, and over the last decade to her true passion, Dressage.

Maria is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medalist. Maria was on her way to her Silver Medal when she suffered an injury that required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. She is back in the saddle and working diligently for the opportunity to be able to show again.

Maria is a American Riding Instructor Association Certified Level III Dressage Instructor, the highest level offered by ARIA.

Recently, she was the recipient of the prestigious US Dressage Foundation Maryal and Charlie Barnet Instructor Grant. This award is given for excellence in training students of all levels and goals.

In the past, Maria was named the Head Coach for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association Middle School and High School Dressage Teams in Bucks County. Here she was able to introduce the concepts of Dressage to students in the Hunter, Jumper, and Western worlds. Her team competed successfully throughout New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Morgan Collito, Head Trainer

Morgan first started riding at the age of 3 years old. Since that very first ride, she was hooked. As a young child, she did anything that would earn her more time in the saddle. From mucking stalls, to scrubbing water buckets, Morgan was always up for the job. By the time she was 10, she focused on her goal of becoming a head trainer.

She went on to ride in a variety of disciplines; in fact, she brought her straight off the track thoroughbred up to the 1.10m jumpers when she was only in high school. Morgan started taking dressage lessons to strengthen her jumping, and that is when she realized that her true passion was in the sand box.

As an all-around athlete, Morgan played nationally ranked volleyball through high school and college. While at Rider University, she was co-captain of the equestrian team, where she learned valuable leadership and show management skills. She went on to graduate from Rider University Summa Cum Laude, with a degree in Public Relations.

Morgan earned her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals by the time she was 22 years old. In doing so, she has gained much experience in USEF and USDF recognized competitions through the highest level of the sport.

Morgan has also bred, backed, and successfully competed two of her own homebred horses who are still very much up-and-coming! She plans to continue breeding and growing her line of homebreds. She currently owns her first born, Devon Lane, who is a 5-year-old Hanoverian mare and has competed through second level. She has recently sold her second homebred, Debonaire L, within her own barn and remains in Morgan’s training program. Morgan plans to continue breeding Hanoverians and cannot wait to see where her line of youngsters will take her!