I got my first lease horses Leah, a been-there-done-that sweetie who was an excellent teacher for a beginner rider, then Cocoa, a huge, stunning Arab/Quarter/Belgian cross who, as flashy and beautiful as he was, had earned himself quite the reputation as a ** problem ** with a tendency to injure his riders. I’ll never forget when I figured out that his perpetual buck/rear/bolt combo was actually about his terror at the sound of the breeze through the dry cornstalks outside the arena- NOT about him being naughty. I remember my trainer’s shock when Cocoa, once one of the spookiest horses in the barn, earned a blue in Trail at County Fair later that year. This realization changed the course of my destiny with horses. No more battles for dominance. Empathy, understanding, and trust-building was how I wanted to train.
I got my first horse at age 15 for $500. Athena was a charming chestnut Crabbet Arabian mare who packed a lot of sass into her delicate frame. She was an overweight 2-year-old whose mother had stepped on and broken her leg when she was just 2 days old, ending advanced show prospects. She was staying at my trainer’s barn to get started under saddle. I quickly fell in love with this sassy puppy of a horse and couldn’t believe my luck when we got to bring her home to my parents’ farm.
By some divine miracle, we had just moved a few doors away from Highland Stables, a renowned dressage barn in Beavercreek, OR. I was lucky enough to learn from Martine Baccellieri & Margaret Gill. Athena, frustrated by my previous show-focused, frame-first riding, quickly thrived by progressing gently through the dressage levels. We learned how to move correctly and precisely, focusing on rhythm, bending, and pacing- moving properly off the aids, and providing mental variety and stimulation in our rides- making that coveted rounded frame a natural byproduct of correct movement through the body- not something the horse needed to be forced into.
Athena and I had more than 20 marvelous years together. I will love her forever. My heart remains broken at her passing.
When I moved to Southern California in 2023, I thought my horse days were over. How on earth would I ever afford to ride again, in LA County of all places???
But one day, when I was waiting for my oatmeal to cook, I was aimlessly scrolling through Facebook and saw a lovely video of a childhood friend from 4H, riding her lovely horse along a white fence with palm trees in the background. “Gosh, those colors look familiar,” I thought. I sent her a message to see if she was in the area and… She was! It turns out she was boarding her horse less than 30 minutes away, in a beautiful place called Rolling Hills Estates, a town literally built for horses and their people with huge, California Pepper Tree-lined public arenas, and a network of bridle paths each more stunningly scenic than the last. Did she know anyone who would let me clean stalls or something, anything to be around horses again? She really came through for me by connecting me with some incredible local horse people.
I lucked out. Fantastic local trainer Robin Dreiling was soon allowing me to ride her horses in exchange for help around her barn. I will forever be grateful for her willingness to take pity on a horseless horse girl. Especially since I was a complete newbie to her ranch-style riding! I continue to learn so much from her. (And now, with the help of her trusty steeds Charlie & Bella, I get to pass it on to my private lessons students!)
My friend also connected me with a Morongo Valley-based trainer who allowed me to farm-sit her fabulous 6-horse ranch in the desert and then recommended me to other lovely horsey folks who needed a ranch sitter. Not only did she generously meet with me to share knowledge when I was considering becoming a professional horse trainer, she also introduced me to Tiffany Chiu, who brought me on to teach at Mystic Canyon Stable. How lucky can a horseless horse girl get?
Horses have brought me so many amazing things in life. Obviously, being connected to some great people. But they are also amazing teachers in developing character. They’ve taught me so much about empathy, communication, patience, courage, the importance of fun, and emotional regulation. It is my honor to help pass on this joyful style of horsemanship on to the next generations and adults who were always horse girls & guys at heart, but never got to act on their dreams until now.
Hi, I’m Horse Nanny Isa.
I believe the technical term is lifelong Horse Girl.
I’ve been riding for more than 30 years- since at 6 years old and I begged my sister’s trainer to let me ride even though the rule was you had to be 7, but I begged so persistently she eventually caved.
My very first teacher was a dressage teacher then I moved to an Arabian show horse barn where I tried to learn as much as possible about every style they did there (English pleasure, jumping, huntseat, trail, showmanship, etc.) I’m so grateful for getting to spend my childhood there.
I was a proud member of the Canyon Creek Riders 4-H club and shadowed the barn’s kind trainers as much as they would let me. They even let me work with their client horses! I loved to help starting colts under saddle and rehabilitating horses who had been abused. I soon learned I loved training far more than I loved showing.