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Sierra Valencia

Show Trainer/Riding Instructor

Sierra has grown up around horses her entire life. She started riding lessons at Golden Gate Stables at the young age of five years old, learned the basic skills of horsemanship, responsibility, hard work, and confidence. Moving through the levels of Pony Club Sierra has competed in Hunter/Jumpers, Three Day, and Pony Club Rallies. . Achieving her C3 rating before going off to college to continue her equine education at William Woods University. There, she focused on her Equine Science degree and competed on the Hunter/Jumper circuit in Missouri.

Chantal Ferrini

Riding Instructor

Chantal grew up in the English countryside with veterinarian parents, surrounded by horses and many other animals. She is passionate about teaching children the love and respect of horses, the responsibility it brings, and the therapeutic rewards that horses give us.  She has 2 horses, 2 girls, and 2 dogs  - and strives to make every lesson a fun and educational experience for her students.

Mary Monroe

Riding Instructor

Mary started riding in Texas, at 3 years old on the family farm.  Here she started riding on her lamb!  Just after that, possibly inspired by her enthusiastic lamb riding, her dad bought a Percheron Draft named Ribbons, and simply set her up there, turned them loose and she learned to ride!  “Ribbon’s was trained to be a cart pulling horse, and Mary suspected she was extremely surprised to a large heavy and cumbersome Mexican saddle thrown upon her with a small child on top.  Ribbons proceeded to run off with her, but she hang on, for dear life!

Undeterred Mary weathered the wild ride and continued on with riding, but on “Lamb-e-pot”, the safer, more fun choice.  At 6 the family moved to Los Angeles.  Mary befriended a Cowboy with a back yard barn down the road with plenty of horses and ponies to hop on, and also her back yard neighbors who had retied movie horses in a nice sized turnout.  She asked if she could ride at the Cowboys, and the neighbors too.  The all said yes, mostly riding bareback with or without a halter, around in circles in the large pen.  It never seemed to get tired!  Then deciding on her own, bought her first filly from the Cowboy, 6 months old, with her own money, without her parent’s knowledge or initial permission, which lead her to find Sissy Steffen, once mom found out!  Mary traded cleaning stalls for lessons, and in turn was also helped to break and care for her little horse, who became one of Sissy’s school horses.  Mary was 8 years old.

From there, Mary became an important part of the entire operation, becoming assistant trainer under the guidance of Sissy Steffen at the famous Will Rogers State Park facility at 13, moving in with her trainer fully immersed.  Here, over the next 8 years, she was classically trained in the equational arts, English equitation, and hunter under saddle, jumping, 3 day event competitions and dressage.  She also trained horses and riders, taught classes, clinics and camps.  Mary professionally rode for and was sponsored by some of Hollywood royalty, competing and winning in Nationals and World Shows.  Her eclectic experiences include caring for Polo Ponies, off season, at The Kilohana Estate on Kauai in Hawaii, owner and operator of her own show barn called Monroe Show Horses in Washington State, and dove into a little bit of western riding as well.   Her clients were winning, but mostly just having lots and lots of fun! 

Lisa Kunz

Show Trainer/Riding Instructor

Lisa has been riding, training, and managing show horses for nearly four decades. she has worked as a professional rider, assistant trainer and barn manager for some of the country’s top show jumping barns and spent many years traveling the “A” show circuit. Her professionalism and commitment toward developing both young and adult riders, as well as helping them achieve their personal goals, is why many of her students have gone on to compete nationally in the jumper and equitation divisions.

Heather Jones

Riding Instructor

Heather is a CHA certified riding instructor with experience teaching students of all ages and levels of training.
Heather garnered a well-rounded fundamental horsemanship education through the practical application of her education which she enjoys passing on to her students.

Andrea Young

Manager/Riding Instructor

Andrea Young is a National Award Winning United States Hunter Jumper Association Certified Trainer. She grew up on horseback in Southern California and gained experience from top trainers in multiple riding disciplines. For over thirty years her students have won multiple awards in the show ring from local to the National level. Andrea is also a published author whose debut novel was well-received and recommend by "United for Libraries", a division of the American Library Association.