Shelley Rosenberg, Professional Horse Trainer, Herd Manager, and Epona Advanced Approved Instructor
Shelley offers individual Equine Experiential Learning sessions that can include Passive and Active Round Penning, Reflective Riding, and Journey Rides. These sessions use both the human and equine instructor’s expertise in developing an open communication and strength of relationship with a horse that can engender the discovery of life skills to aid the human in all relationships.
In addition, as a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) "L" judge, and certified USDF instructor, Shelley provides lessons and training for riders starting at the very beginnings of their experiences with horses, up to the level of Grand Prix. She has over 30 years of experience training horses, teaching riders, and professionally competing in the art of dressage riding. She has taught all seats of riding—western, jumping, dressage, hunter—and also teaches and trains driving horses. Her experience with horse breeds spans Arabians to Haflingers to Warmbloods to rescued Mustangs and horses recovering from abuse that require rehabilitation.
Shelley began riding at age 12. In her long career she has successfully competed for the long-list on the U.S. Olympic equestrian team, co-led with Barbara Rector to create and implement the Adolescent Care and therapeutic riding program at Sierra Tucson in the 1980s, conducted dressage clinics, and became President of the Tucson Dressage Club. She ran her own professional Dressage Center in Oro Valley for 18 years before accepting the position of Herd Manager at the Epona Center. Here she carefully works to maintain the well-being of the Epona therapy herd. Shelley continues to actively judge, train, and show in Arizona.
Contact Shelley at 520-455-5915 or shelley@theeponacenter.com.
Cathy Huddleston, Professional Horse Trainer and Epona Advanced Approved Instructor
Cathy came into the world searching for a horse and worked HARD on her parents to get one, succeeding at the ripe old age of 2-1/2 years. That first partnership with a pony named Franco began a long career and deep-seated passion to open the lines of communication between horses and humans. Cathy spent her youth on, around, under, and adventuring with horses. She started showing at eight years old, and instructing and helping others in her early teens. She graduated from Park College with a BA in Equine Studies in 1992.
After college Cathy went to work for a reining horse trainer in Texas. In that environment she discovered that at times horses were forced into jobs based on their breeding rather than their desires and abilities. “Horses were not respected as sentient, thinking beings that should have a say in their own destiny,” she says.
In her early twenties Cathy decided to take a new path. The bumps along the road turned into learning curves. She started doing only private lessons and focused on the communication between horse and rider. The development of each individual, horse, and human seemed to accelerate by slowing down the process and focusing on clear communication. The other important aspect was active listening—hearing the student’s input in the process. She says, “The horses began teaching me how to educate. I discovered that my role was learning to communicate on their terms, with respect for each individual. Once that is accomplished they are open and willing to do many things humans ask of them.” Treating horses as individuals has led Cathy to teach and train in a variety of disciplines, from dressage to hunter/jumper to western performance events. Because of her belief in solid foundations, Cathy enjoys working with beginning riders and first-time horse owners.
In early 2002 Cathy read The Tao of Equus and found a like-minded soul in author Linda Kohanov. She is now an Epona Advanced Approved Instructor, and joined the staff full-time at the Epona Center in August, 2007.
Contact Cathy at 520-455-5915 or cathy@theeponacenter.com.