Our Team
Blue Line Ponies is a volunteer organization, with no paid employees. Every day, Brian and Shelley Hill dedicate time, love and energy to the ponies. They also have a team of volunteers that help work with the horses, assist in admin duties, help raise funds, help educate the community and MORE!
Everyone on their team has loved horses since they were children and is 100% committed to this needed retirement service. When asked "why do you do it", the answers are all very similar, "because I am selfish. Being around these magnificent animals sooth my soul and it is my MY pleasure, and dream, to help these hero ponies live the rest of their days a Kings and Queens."
Brian and Shelley could not do what they do without their excellent team. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, EXPERTISE, PATIENCE AND ENERGY.
Everyone on their team has loved horses since they were children and is 100% committed to this needed retirement service. When asked "why do you do it", the answers are all very similar, "because I am selfish. Being around these magnificent animals sooth my soul and it is my MY pleasure, and dream, to help these hero ponies live the rest of their days a Kings and Queens."
Brian and Shelley could not do what they do without their excellent team. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, EXPERTISE, PATIENCE AND ENERGY.
Board of Directors
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President/Founder: Michelle Luehder Hill (Shelley)
Shelley Hill is the founder and President of Blue Line Ponies, Inc. She earned 2 nicknames growing up. The first one was "Bird" and the second one was "Bug".....I see a theme. Her mother tells the story about how after Shelley learned to talk, she never shut up, BUT, she only talked to animals until the age of four. Yes, she would communicate with humans but on such a low level that it is not even worth mentioning. Growing up Shelley road horses, had every pet imaginable, and to this day she is happiest loving on a critter.
Shelley is 34 years medical with most of her time spent working with Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in the OR or in private practice specializing in Temporomandibular Disorders (TMJ) and Sleep Apnea. In 2017 she co-started a non-profit organization called Racheal's Rest, benefiting survivors of sexual abuse and acts of violence. She has had vast experience as a part of the Board of Directors, an Executive Director, Marketing Director, Social Media Director, Secretary and Treasurer. To date, she has raised over $110,000 for Racheal's Rest and is excited to turn her attention to her very own non-profit, Blue Line Ponies, Inc. As an added bonus, Racheal's Rest is thriving and still changing lives. She is co-owner and XO of The Complete Combatant and the mastermind behind Image Based Decisional Drills, Smart Kid Choices and LockedIn Grip. She is known as "The Indispensable Organizational Wizard", a title she earns each day. She is not afraid of hard work, can lead and can be a part of a team, and watching things GROW gives her pleasure. |
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Vice President/Co-Founder: Brian HillBrian Hill is co-founder and Vice President of Blue Line Ponies, Inc. Brian tells a funny story about how a 17 hand horse came into his life many moons ago. You see, one year Brian forgot his mom's birthday and there was he!! to pay. She was a horse enthusiast in her younger days so Brian decide to buy a horse named Thor, to get back into her good graces. As you can imagine, he was forgiven for his mistake immediately and Thor turned out to be one of the best "mistakes" of Brian and Lucy's life.
Brian has been in the Martial Arts since he was 14 and an instructor since he was 18. Training & instructing in combative firearm techniques, martial arts, and physical fitness has always been his passion. He believes that you must be a student for life and train to be creative and adapt, and to look for opportunities that may save your life in a combative situation. He was in the Sheriffs Reserve, helps with fundraising, is excellent at research, focuses on "being the master" of his decisions and is an incredible sounding board. He is co-founder and the lead Coach of The Complete Combatant. He is a nationally recognized firearms instructor and travels the country teaching others to be effective and proficient with the firearm. He is also a "teacher of teachers" and specializes in physiological, psychological, and technical aspects of client development. Identifying and understanding the shooters learning style and more importantly, their blind spots. Predictive analysis through posture, speech, body language, and goal setting. Adaptive drill development with measurable results. Curriculum development through deliberate practice and focused methodologies. Understanding of biology under stress and how to enhance performance. |
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Treasurer/Secretary: Harriett Williams
Harriett Williams is the Secretary and Treasurer for Blue Line Ponies. Harriett grew up on a farm and has been around and taken care animals from when she was a little girl. Her first horse was a Shetland Pony named Thunder that Santa brought her for Christmas when she was 6. She has always rescued animals, and had a pet in her life, except for a short time while she was in the US Army, just out of high school. Even while in the Army she managed to find ways to help animals.
Shortly after leaving the Army, she met and married her husband, Charlie, and for over 25 years they have run a 14-acre farm in Northeast Georgia, with horses, dogs, goats, chickens, cats, and other assorted animals. They have rescued, fostered, and loved many dozens of animals and currently have 2 dogs, 2 horses, a donkey, and several cats. Red, their oldest horse, a 27-year-old Paint and Wild Mustang mix, has been with them since he was 10 months old. Their most recent rescues are a donkey named Billy, and a horse named Ranger. Ten years ago, Harriett began her entry into the world of firearms. She enjoys competing in several different disciplines. She soon joined A Girl and A Gun (AG & AG) which introduced her to 3-Gun competitions, and firearms training. Her love of shooting, training, and teaching others led her to become a firearms instructor, and start the Stephens County Chapter of AG & AG. She has spent the last five years earning multiple instructor certifications and then started her own company, The Women's Armory. Three years ago, she met and began training with Brian and Shelley Hill of The Complete Combatant and two years ago she was invited to join their team. Starting as a Range Safety Officer, Harriett eventually became an assistant Instructor for both Shelley and Brian. Through Shelley and Brian, Harriett was introduced to the world of retired police ponies, and jumped at the chance to be part of this awesome organization that is dedicated to taking care of, in their elder years, those horses who have served us so well. |
Board Members
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Board Member: Juan AndresJuan Restrepo is a board member of Blue Line Ponies. Inc. Juan is a 10-year veteran of the Atlanta Police Department, but he never expected that his career would lead him to have a 4-legged giant as his partner.
He was assigned to the Mounted Patrol in late 2018 with no horse experience at all. Little did he know that he would spend 3 months at the Mounted Patrol barn learning how to ride on Magnum, a massive Shire-Percheron cross coming in at 18.1 hands. Juan’s current partner is Kaiser, a Percheron-Thoroughbred cross who he describes as a sweet knucklehead. Outside of work, Juan is a martial artist with 13 years of experience and spent the first 5 years of his training under Brian Hill. He has competition experience in boxing, Muay Thai, and submission grappling. Juan is currently focusing on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu having recently attained his purple belt. Juan is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a BS in Criminal Justice. Currently, he is attempting to become trilingual and has been studying Japanese. Juan is proud to be a board member of Blue Line Ponies and what they stand for. He believes that mounted patrol horses bravely serve their community and deserve a peaceful and loving retirement once they finish their career in law enforcement. |
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Board Member: Kelly Robinson
Kelly Robinson is a board member of Blue Line Ponies. Inc. Kelly has been riding horses since she was about 6 years old, she grew up internationally and got really into riding horses with her two sisters while living in the UK. Kelly has been competitively riding in multiple disciplines (Eventing, Hunter/Jumper, Dressage) and currently, riding in events, under her coach AP Graham based in Covington.
She started as a volunteer rider for the Atlanta Mounted Patrol Unit in 2019 and a year later she was offered the position of Stable Master. Kelly officially became Stable Master for Atlanta's police ponies in August of 2020 and has been there ever since! Kelly brings an very important aspect to Blue Line Ponies. She relates to horses AND people. She is a joy to be around, she is patient, respectful and may be one of the most knowledgeable "horse people" in GA. |
Trusted Friends of Blue Line Ponies, Volunteers, Large Animal Professionals and Advisors.
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