Team

compassion, intuition, and a drive for excellence

Wynne Fassari

Owner

Background

Training Philosophy

Goals

A dressage rider of over 30 years and FEI rider of 25 years, Wynne Fassari began her career as a horsewoman on her family’s Arabian breeding and training facility in San Diego, California. In 1989, she attended West Moorland Davis Equestrian Institute in Leesburg, Virginia, and had the opportunity to train with top dressage masters Jaap Pot, Maria Gunther, and Gunnar Ostergaard. Following graduation, she began a successful boarding and training operation in San Diego before opening her private dream facility of Iron Rock Dressage in 2016. It has always been a dream of Wynne’s to find talented horses and be part of their journey to success. Wynne continues her education by regularly training with Jane Weatherwax, Lilo Fore and David Marcus.

Wynne is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist.

Wynne’s training philosophy consists of balancing a healthy body with a positively encouraged mind to ensure a steady transformation. From long lining to hacking, her emphasis on diversity within an exercise program and reward-based training methods creates an emotionally solid, happy, and sound athlete.

Wynne aspires to improve the reach of Iron Rock as a noteworthy source for top tier dressage horses and support Eleni in her FEI level journey on the international stage.

Eleni Econopouly

Head Trainer & Barn Manager

Background

Training Philosophy

Goals

Eleni began riding at age 5 in the hunter jumper world before transitioning to eventing and dressage at age 12 with her then 2-year-old prospect, May. Shortly thereafter she began training with Lendon Gray and Courtney King-Dye while also learning from clinicians Lilo Fore, Jan Ebling, Scott Hassler, Debbie McDonald, Katherine Bateson, and Charlotte Dujardin. Eleni went on to become the National Reserve Dressage Seat Champion, three-time Region 8 Dressage Seat Medal Champion, and Champion for the Dressage Seat Semi-Finals three years in a row. She has competed at Nationals for both Junior and Young Rider Championships as well as the U-25 Grand Prix.

Eleni is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist.

Eleni’s training philosophy is built on developing trust with her horses over an extended period of time. She believes listening to the horse ensures their physical and emotional needs are met while also establishing a deeper connection with them. By introducing new concepts at a pace the horse is comfortable with, she develops horses who perform with understanding and fire.

Eleni is currently working on developing a string of internationally competitive FEI horses including the exceptional PRE gelding, Cisco Kid. She aims to compete Cisco Kid in Open Prix St. George and qualify for Nationals and the Festival of Champions in 2022. She is excited for the future of Iron Rock as leading competitors representing the US at the top of the sport.

ARMANDO URBINA

Facility Manager

Armando has been working with horses for as long as he can remember. When he was 10 years old, he started helping out on his grandfather’s ranch. Eventually he was recruited to join the team at Blooming Hills Thoroughbred Farm where he cared for hundreds of horses and also assisted in their equine injury rehabilitation program. Armando then moved to Oakview Farm, another thoroughbred breeding and training facility on forty-acres in California. There, he gained additional experienced as a handler during live cover breeding operations. Over the next twenty years Armando spent time at a jumper barn, and even managed a facility whose garden supplied flowers to the famous San Francisco flower market. In 2017 he joined the Iron Rock Dressage team and has been essential to our daily operations ever since.

NICOLE BANKS

Working Student

Nicole had the well-known “crazy horse girl craves” as early as she can remember. Her sister was already taking lessons and Nicole would go spend time with her sister at the barn. That quickly turned into not being enough for Nicole and she began taking riding lessons herself. Nicole was very eager to learn everything and anything about horses which resulted in her spending as much time at the horse stable as possible. To get as many learning opportunities as she could, Nicole would work in the stable and in return she would get “practice rides” where she would work on what she learned from her lessons. In 2016 Nicole began taking lessons with local trainer, Eleni Econopouly. Shortly after, she took on a working student position at Eleni’s stable where she had the opportunity to ride dressage horses, jumpers, and eventers. A little later Nicole began to half lease a chestnut quarter horse mare, Easy. Nicole competed her first recognized shows with Easy in dressage and eventing. Together they showed in the 2’9” jumpers, training & first level dressage, and Beginner Novice eventing. They also had the opportunity to clinic and lesson with trainers Lendon Gray, Jennifer Marchand, Koryn Doolittle, Molly Maloney & Liz Austin. Hungry for learning and happy to work with Eleni again, Nicole took on a working student position at Iron Rock Dressage. She hopes to help the IRD team shine while learning how to train and care for horses at the top of the sport.

Graciela

Stable Caretaker

Graciela always had a love for horses ever since she can remember. Graciela finds the the horses’ gentle minds and big hearts make them so special and very rewarding to care for. Her horse days started at a Quarter Horse ranch in 1991 where she would wash all of the bandages for the reining horses. With the urge to do more, Graciela started a new job at another ranch where she was promoted to cleaning and caring for the stables. Throughout the years she developed a passion for horses and wanted to continue to work around them. In 2021, Graciela joined the team at Iron Rock Dressage as a stable caretaker. Graciela enjoys coming to work every day knowing she helps the horses be comfortable, happy, and thrive as performance horses.