Head Coach Jacobi "Jake" Pittari
Jake started riding as young as two years old at his family’s riding facility near Prospect Park in Brooklyn NY. At an early age he discovered his passion for competition and began a life of showing in the Equitation, Hunter and Jumper rings. In his teen years he lived and worked at Winterbrook Farms in Lisbon CT.
Winterbrook is a working breeding farm where, under his trainer Edna Pobuda, Jake honed his craft as a rider and trainer. Upon returning to NY Jake stepped away from the horse community and worked in the Athletics Deptartment at Brooklyn Friends School, where he coached Varsity Baseball as well as Middle school Soccer and Basketball for over 15 years.
Having worked with children for so many years, Jake has developed a passion for teaching and communicating concepts to expedite the growth and confidence of young and adult riders of all skill levels. Ever the competitor, he relishes the opportunity to work with riders who have an eye on the competitive component of horseback riding, and helping these competitors prepare for the show ring.
Since 2019, Jake has been a trainer at Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, where he has developed bonds with both horses and students alike. Always the educator, in his return to the equestrian arena Jake has found a way to combine his unique upbeat style of teaching with the science and art of horseback riding.
Winterbrook is a working breeding farm where, under his trainer Edna Pobuda, Jake honed his craft as a rider and trainer. Upon returning to NY Jake stepped away from the horse community and worked in the Athletics Deptartment at Brooklyn Friends School, where he coached Varsity Baseball as well as Middle school Soccer and Basketball for over 15 years.
Having worked with children for so many years, Jake has developed a passion for teaching and communicating concepts to expedite the growth and confidence of young and adult riders of all skill levels. Ever the competitor, he relishes the opportunity to work with riders who have an eye on the competitive component of horseback riding, and helping these competitors prepare for the show ring.
Since 2019, Jake has been a trainer at Jamaica Bay Riding Academy, where he has developed bonds with both horses and students alike. Always the educator, in his return to the equestrian arena Jake has found a way to combine his unique upbeat style of teaching with the science and art of horseback riding.
Associate Head Coach & Faculty Advisor Kathryn Cullen-DuPont
At Pratt, in addition to her position as Associate Head Coach & Faculty Advisor of the Pratt Equestrian Team, Kathryn teaches in the Humanities and Media Studies Department and serves as Chair of the Institute's Academic Integrity Standing Committee. She's an award-winning author of a number of books.
Kathryn's also a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist, who's had the very great, good fortune to have shared her life with three amazing and beautiful Thoroughbred mares.
Kathryn's also a Certified Equine Sports Massage Therapist, who's had the very great, good fortune to have shared her life with three amazing and beautiful Thoroughbred mares.
Assistant Coach Joyce Danza
Joyce is Jamaica Bay Riding Academy’s General Manager and a Professional Therapeutic Riding Instructor certified by Path International (the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International). Fluent in both English and Western equitation, she has trained green (inexperienced) horses to prepare for the show ring, and trained/coached equestrians both in and out of the show ring. In her own show career, she’s been the North East Regional Champion in Adult Equitation, and shown successfully in Western (American Quarter Horse Association) Halter and Pleasure Divisions.
