Satisfied Owners. Happier Horses!
"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
Izzy, Durango
Just one year ago, our now-13-year-old daughter changed barns and trainers to come work with Carol to focus her riding skills on dressage—and we as a family also appreciated Carol’s foundation-first and horse-centric philosophies.Carol has been a dedicated trainer for our daughter and our 8-year-old Appendix Quarter Horse, putting in countless hours and extra time with them on laying the crucial foundations of groundwork and relationship—and bringing them up as a team to compete at dressage Training Level in the 2022 show season and begin working on First Level training now just one year later.As a result, our daughter and her horse have formed an incredible bond—and have trained and competed so successfully together that she placed as the Reserve Champion in Dressage Seat Equitation at the GAIG Regional Championship in September in Santa Fe, thus qualifying to compete in 2023 at The Festival of Champions at Lamplight. All this after just nine months of dressage training with Carol (and after a few years of basic training in the hunter-jumper discipline).Beyond the lessons, training, and show ring, Carol has taken our daughter under her wing at the barn, sharing insights, information, and encouragement that she will carry with her in the years to come. Anyone that chooses to engage Carol as their trainer will find a dedicated, reliable, and innovative experience, and embark upon an inspiring journey.Erinn Morgan-Croke, Durango, CO.
Janet, Durango
My 15 year old mare and I started riding with Carol about 6 months ago.
Over the last 30 years I have ridden in the hunters, and throughout all my years of riding, I always knew there was something missing - that there was something I wasn't "getting".
I knew I didn't have the right tools in order to be competitive in the hunter ring, and I didn't know what to do next.
Fortunately, I was introduced to Carol, and with her unparalleled instruction, I am learning how to feel my horse underneath me; to know if I am balanced and if my horse is balanced; and I am learning how to make the necessary corrections in my riding.
Carol is an extremely effective, compassionate, positive and GIFTED instructor, and if there is something I don't understand, she quickly finds another way to communicate with me until I get it.
Carol genuinely enjoyed teaching. Her lessons are fun and rewarding, and my horse is so much happier!
Many times during my lesson I find myself almost giddy - so delighted to be learning and finally feeling how it is supposed to feel when one rides correctly!
I am so grateful for Carol's encouragement and support, for her commitment to teaching, and for creating a space where I feel hopeful again.
Rachael, Bayfield
On my own, I wasn't making progress in my dressage training with my mare like I had hoped. A friend recommended Carol, saying she could really help bring out the best in my horse and myself without pushing either of us beyond our physical (or mental) ability. Over the next few months of working with Carol, I saw fantastic results - my mare and I were able to qualify for and compete in the USDF Region 5 Dressage Championships at First Level in the Adult Amateur division, placing 10th, as well as the RMDS First Level Championships, placing 3rd, and were Reserve Champion in First Level in the AWSSR All Breeds Awards in the Open division, and Champion in the Adult Amateur division. We would not have been as successful as we were without Carol's guidance and skill set. The combination of Carol's Masterson technique applied to my mare, and the instruction in my lessons has really helped us put together the pieces to improve both my ability as a rider and my mare's athleticism and physical and mental comfort. I'm very much looking forward to this next year to see where Carol can help lead us in our dressage journey.
Kathleen, Durango
Carol has been immensely helpful to both me and my mare. She is succeeding in bringing out the best in my horse and, in her patient yet firm and encouraging manner, bringing me along as well.
Carol presents a nice balance of “academic” explanation in the principles of classical foundations for strengthening skills in both rider and horse — and in getting “the feel”. Although my personal emphasis is to “get out of my head” and into the feel, I appreciate the intellectual understanding as well.
Carol’s calm and very “in the present” personality (with capacity for humor) is most helpful also! [To note - the Masterson method is proving an added plus in working with Carol, as both my mares have shown benefit from that intervention- and saved me from need for vet consultations.]
I am so very grateful for her assistance and always enjoy my time with Carol.
