Born in Glen Cove, NY, in 1958, Lellie began riding with her grandfather, F. Skiddy von Stade, an avid Aiken horseman well known in polo, racing and hunting circles both in the United States and England.

Lellie's formal education began on Long Island, where she was a member of the Meadowbrook Hounds Pony Club until the age of 18. During this time, she rode horses for Charlie Plumb, father of nine time Olympic rider J. Michael Plumb. Another mentor, Torrance Watkins (Olympic Gold Medalist) resided nearby, and Lellie spent 10 years as a working student with her through the 1978 World Championships and 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles

Leaving the U.S. to pursue her own Olympic goals, Lellie headed first to Karlsrhue, Germany, to study dressage under Egon von Neindorff. There, she obtained the silver test of horsemanship and stable management.

Continuing her education in Ireland, Lellie studied with world champion rider, Iris Kellet. Here she was able to ride in international competitions for the first time and passed the British Horse Society Assistant Instructors test at the top of her class as well as the Intermediate Instructor's examinations.

Upon returning to the U.S., teamed back up with Torrance Watkins and became long-listed to the United States Equestrian Team. Over the next 10 years, Lellie trained with the top riders and coaches in the U.S. and was successful in bringing 7 more horses to international competition.

In 1987, she was invited to train with Jane Holderness-Roddam on her Church Farm in England leading up to the Barcelona Olympics. Lellie's Olympic hopeful Ready or Not won his first competition, but thereafter a serious injury prevented her Olympic qualification. However, she continued to compete, ride, teach and train at Jane's prestigious yard for the next two years.

Lellie returned to the U.S. for good in 1994. She was long-listed for the Atlanta Olympics with The Traveling Man, a horse purchased in England whom she later sold to Mr. Bruce Davidson, of the United states Equestrian Team.

Now the owner of Paradise Farm, a 110 acre facility, Lellie has an extensive record as a producer of horses and riders and has coached many nationally successful riders, who ship in from all over the country to train with her.

By promoting the invaluable principals of SAFETY, BALANCE, CONTROL, CONFIDENCE and FUN, Lellie continues the legacy of the best trainers and riders from all over the U.S. and Europe.

In addition to training and teaching, Lellie is a Joint Master of the Aiken Hounds, on the Board of Directors with the South Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association, an active judge in Dressage and Combined Training, and competes and trains horses all over the East Coast.