Instructors

Michaela Hampl, Instructor

From early childhood, I was on the back of the family horse Colt 45, that we owned from six years old and recently passing at the old age of 33 years. As I matured, so did my riding experience, graduating to riding several horses with different riding abilities. 

Horse Expertise includes:

  • Hunter Jumper Discipline
  • Western Discipline, Beginner and Intermediate Training Level
  • Groundwork
  • Join Up Process
  • Successfully Completed AVS Instructor and Horsemanship Apprentice Program
  • Attended/Participated in Several Local Horse Shows, Clydesdales, Hunter Paces, and Drill Team Competition
  • Trail Riding
“Horses have been a passion of mine since the time I was little. I can remember my first lesson many years ago – how relaxing and fun it was. I enjoy teaching with an approach that caters to every rider different needs and learning styles. With this flexible approach, riders set their own learning pace.  By doing so, riders become more confident in their riding abilities and skills.  This creates a way for students to have a better overall understanding of riding and natural horsemanship skills in a safe, relaxing, enjoyable way.”

You will also learn:

  • The basics of English or Western riding
  • Riding with proper posture to maintain good balance and rhythm
  • Horse handling safety
  • Horsemanship basics including how to safely move a horse on the ground
  • Proper grooming, tacking and leading a horse
  • Cue system
  • English riding or Western or Trail riding techniques for a safer trail ride including negotiating trail obstacles and trail etiquette
  • Basic steering exercises at the walk, trot and lope as appropriate, as well as whoa and reverse
  • How the horse “thinks” in preparation for handling and riding the horse safely

Monika Parrish, ARIA Certified Riding Instructor, English and Western Riding, Horsemanship 

 15+ Years Riding Experience:

  • Certified Riding instructor by the American Riding Instructor’s Association (ARIA)
  • Teaching Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced English and Western Riding, and Trail Lessons
  • Hunter jumper and western pleasure horse shows, mounted shooting, vaulting, driving, hunter paces, fox hunts, eventing, cross country, vaulting, side saddle, trail riding, cow work, roping, rodeos, cutting, colt starting, horse training, and breeding
  • Rhinestone Rodeo Chics Drill Team
  • American Vaulting Association
  • Mounted Strike Team of the North Georgia Mounted Search and Rescue Organization