Andrea Velas is a lifelong student of horsemanship and riding.   From an early age, she brought extraordinary discipline and passion to the goal of developing her riding, training and teaching skills to the highest standards.  While still in her teens, Andrea managed an eventing stable for a gold medalist on the United States Equestrian Team.   During her college years, Andrea's interest in classical dressage surpassed her longstanding love of eventing.  In 2002, she came to work and ride full time with Paul Belasik, her longtime trainer, at the Pennsylvania Riding Academy.   

Today, Andrea manages all daily operations of the farm, domestic and international sales and shipping, and the breeding program (see breeding pages).  As a trainer, Andrea has developed both young and older horses at all stages of their training experience through Grand Prix. She also manages the competition horses at the Academy and has successfully competed at all levels through international CDIs. On Excelso, Andrea has won over 25 Grand Prix, and the pair were 3-time IALHA Grand Prix and Grand Prix Musical Freestyle Champions. 

Andrea is one of the few US riders to have earned all six Gold, Silver, and Bronze USDF Medals and Freestyle Bars. In the musical freestyle, Andrea combines her love of music (as a classical pianist) and choreography (as a dancer).  She has designed and choreographed freestyles for all levels of dressage competition through Grand Prix, as well as Pas de Deux performances, for both herself and students.

Andrea enjoys teaching and gives lessons to students both here on the farm and locally. Because she believes dressage to be an excellent foundation, children are welcomed and encouraged as well as riders from other disciplines wishing to improve correct fundamentals. She also teaches a limited number of clinics, both here in the US and in Europe. Recently, Andrea has developed a series of weekend clinics which will be held at the farm, for both riders and auditors.  Each will feature a theme-based and interactive demonstration from Andrea in the saddle, along with more conventional rider instruction sessions (see upcoming 2012 schedule).