Meet our Board Members
President
Ray Gasperson
Ray and his wife Sue, along with their son Corey own a 42-acre horse farm, Flight Quest Farm, located adjacent to the Green Creek Steeplechase Course. Sue is very active practicing Equine Body Work and teaching horse riding using the Centered Riding Method. Corey is a full-time farrier. Ray wears many hats in the community, and we are very lucky that he finds time to be on the CETA board. He has 12 years experience as a Polk County Commissioner, he works as a realtor, a General Contractor, he square bales hay for horses, AND he is a very seasoned horse stall cleaner at his 11-stall barn.
Ray and his wife feel extremely fortunate to have all three of their adult children and families living near by in Polk County.
Ray’s dream of moving to this area and establishing a horse farm started in the Fall of 1972, when Sue and he met at UNC Asheville while being students, and he was serving as Student Body President. They were soon married in the Spring of 1973. Ray is a native of Asheville and Sue a native of New Jersey. Even before moving south, Sue was aware of the vibrant equine community here in the Tryon/Polk County area. They were finally able to make their dream a reality when they purchased their farm in Green Creek in 2001.
“I am grateful to be a member of the CETA Board. My goal has always been one of advocating for the expansion of CETA trails with easements. I’m convinced that this will help guarantee open, green space in our Collinsville area.” -Ray Gasperson
Vice President
Karim Shihata
A Polk County resident since 2002, Karim grew up and attended college in Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin, he served in the Marines and retired a full colonel. He served as the Polk County Manager for two years.
Karim and his wife, Patricia Sue moved here to continue raising horses. They have operated a breeding farm for more than 40 years. Their horses have been awarded multiple national and regional awards in dressage, sport horse and eventing disciplines.
The Shihata’s have three daughters and five grandchildren. Although the majority of the 15 horses on their property are retired, two thoroughbreds are in foal this year. And of course, there is Winnie the Jack Russell, who is really in charge of the farm!
Treasurer
Susan Wallahora
Susan is entering her third decade of living in the CETA area. Since the early 2000s, she has participated in hunter paces and ridden the FETA trails which have fostered her deep respect for the surrounding landscapes. Understanding the privilege of having access to the CETA trails, Susan is dedicated to helping maintain the trail system for the community
Susan and her husband reside in Green Fields, where they share their home with two horses, five dogs, and four cats. In addition to managing their lovely farm, Susan is an avid baker and is actively involved in animal rescues, reflecting her passion for both baking and animal welfare.
Secretary
Melanie McNeil
Melanie and her husband Chris spent three years researching where to live when they retired. A main requirement was it had to be horse friendly. They kept hearing about the Tryon area, and after visiting they knew this is where they wanted to live. They feel fortunate to have found a small farm on Collinsville Road where they keep two of their three horses.
Melanie has some previous board experience as secretary for a 501c3 German Shepherd Rescue and as a committee member for a research foundation. As a new board member in 2023, Melanie looks forward to working with the board, and the CETA members and landowners, to sustain our special CETA trail system.
Membership
Jane Barrett
Jane and her husband, John Chatterton, moved to Green Creek in 2018. Their 27 acre farm “Aintree” is on Hwy 9 about a mile before Looking Glass Creamery heading South. Jane and John love trail riding, and Jane dabbles in low level Jumping, Dressage and Working Equitation. They have three horses, two OTTBs, Brodie and Flash, and John’s very special Palomino QH Sam.
Jane retired from a long corporate career in IT and Supply Chain. She is excited to get more involved in the community and help keep Polk County rural. In addition to the horses, they have five big dogs (Shepherds and Dobermans) and two cats.
Jane and John are originally from the “Deep South” – South Africa. They moved to the USA in 2000 with their son Brett who now lives in New York and is a Data Scientist.
Trails
Tiffany Picheco
Originally from Connecticut, she has always pursued her passion for horses no matter where life has brought her. She showed on the intercollegiate team for the University of Rhode Island. Showing and trail riding did not stop on her adventures to Colorado, Hawaii or the last 11 years in Charleston, SC. Moving here to the Tryon area was unexpected, but a pleasant surprise. She feels so fortunate to have found a farm in the Green Fields neighborhood, set right on the CETA trail system. Although showing is still a goal of hers, trail riding is her favorite way to spend time in the saddle. Being an active member of CETA and helping maintain its beautiful trails is important to her. Having this opportunity to share with other horse enthusiasts is truly wonderful.
Rhonda Lockhart Lewis
Rhonda has been nicknamed “The Historian” because anytime we have a question about dealings in times past, Rhonda always knows the answer! She has been riding in this area just shy of 20 years. She and her husband Chris own Rest-A-Bit farm in the Green Fields subdivision.
Bill Hill
Bill grew up in Kentucky. He and his wife Mary moved to Spartanburg in 1977 and spent the next 38 years at Spartanburg Regional Hospital before retiring in 2017. They moved to Polk County in 2005. They do not currently have horses, but they rode the trails regularly while they did until about two years ago. Bill enjoys doing trail work, keeping the trails open and safe.
Easements
Ivey Sumrell
Ivey’s history with Tryon goes way, way back to when she was in college and fox hunted with the Tryon Hounds for 2 seasons. Fast forward to 2004 when she and her husband, Jim, purchased their Collinsville Road farm. She moved here from Weddington, NC (South of the Greater Charlotte area near Waxhaw) where she ran Up and Over, a lesson and boarding barn. When Jim retired in 2009, they moved here full time.
Ivey put her property lines in permanent trail easement the first year she owned her property. She wanted to preserve the magical trail system for many years to come. She loves this area and wanted to keep it open for trail riding forever.
While Ivey no longer foxhunts, she is a VERY active social member of both the Tryon Hounds and Green Creek Hounds. In addition, she supports the new hunt Goodwin Hounds. She is an avid trail rider and would love to invite anyone to join her in exploring our beloved trails she knows so well. CETA was a dream come true for her and she never tires of riding the trails.
“Please embrace our trail system and help us put deeded easements on the rest of the trails so we have a gift for our future!” -Ivey Sumrell
Hounds Liaison
Bonnie Lingerfelt
Bonnie is an equestrian who has had the good fortune to enjoy riding in Tryon horse country for over 35 years. She knows every trail, crossing and bridge…and has enjoyed so many wonderful hours in the saddle. Over the years, she has served on the boards of the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club, the Equestrian Advisory Committee at FENCE, and initiated the Foothills Equestrian Trail Association (FETA). Bonnie is an avid foxhunter and has devoted endless hours to the leadership (MFH since 1994) of the Tryon Hounds Hunt, one of the earliest and foremost hunts in America.
In 2000, she joined ReMax Advantage Realty and her focus is on equestrian properties, land, and country homes.
“I sincerely appreciate the beauty of our community and remain committed to preserving our special quality of life, and support Conserving Carolina and the Equine Land Conservation Resource.” – Bonnie Lingerfelt
Once you are an approved member of CETA (honorary or riding member) you may ask to join our private Facebook group: Collinsville Equestrian Trail Association CETA. Just make the request to join and the administrator of the page will review your request. We look forward to staying in contact with you.