About Four Feathers
Laura Russell-Galoppi
Laura got hooked on dressage as a teen. And she’s been in the thick of it ever since.
Born and raised in the Nashville area, Laura started riding in the hunters when she was eight years old. She then transitioned to eventing through the Middle Tennessee Pony Club, so she could learn to take care of what she had. After eventing to preliminary on her point-and-shoot Connemara pony, her family purchased her first horse—a home-bred Thoroughbred—with intentions to continue in the eventing world. But the big chestnut had different ideas—and they didn’t involve jumping. After numerous efforts at local horse trials, the pair transitioned to dressage. The rest is history.
As a junior, Laura received numerous awards—from dressage seat equitation through Second Level. She also won several high-point awards and was invited to compete in regional and national dressage championships.
In her late teens, Laura spent two summers at Linda Zang’s farm in Maryland before purchasing her first warmblood—an imported Swedish Warmblood, named Phoenix. This was Laura’s “horse-of-a-lifetime.” She purchased the unbroken gelding as a three-year-old from Zang, and over the next several years she would train him to Grand Prix.
Around age 20, Laura moved to New York where she earned a working student position at Anne Gribbons’ Knoll Farm in Brentwood, Long Island. After spending a couple summers at Knoll Farm, Laura took a staff position teaching, training and showing with Anne for the next few years.
During this time in New York as a young professional, Laura earned her USDF bronze and silver medals, showed at Devon several times and qualified for multiple state and regional championships. New York is also where Laura met and married her husband.
“Riding is about having fun. And for amateurs, finding the right horse that can help you achieve your goals both inside and outside of the show ring can be hard to find. That’s why I focus my business on producing amateur-friendly horses that are fun to ride whether or not you choose to show.” - Laura
Then, in her late twenties, the couple moved home to Tennessee, where they would later have a daughter. Laura eventually open Four Feathers Farm in Franklin, and now, as the owner, trainer and instructor at her own facility, she focuses her attention on developing amateur-friendly horses that are sane, sound and fun.
Laura believes in making the best out of what you have. And she strives to help her students identify realistic goals and to help them achieve those goals—regardless of what they're riding and whether or not they choose to show. For Laura, finding a solid match for amateurs is a passion to which she has dedicated her business and life.