About

Hi! I am Beth and I am the lead trainer here at Running Horse Ridge.
I have been riding horses since I was about 5 years old. When I was 5, I rode my cousins horse "Cherokee" around for an entire summer, then the next year she bought a new horse and I rode "Alaska" for another summer and we rode though the Washington State National Forest that was across the street from my cousins house.
It was then that I knew I would never wanted to be with out a horse! At 10 years old, my mom FINALLY bought me my very first pony! He was a 13 hand jet black welsh/shetland cross gelding that was green broke and naughty! Over the years I owned him, I trained "Little Horse" to be confident, ride through anything and to be as honest as any pony could be.
We rode through the hills of Riverside County in California, we went swimming and galloped through orange groves and watched many baseball games at the park that was down the street from my house.  We had some wonderful times together, but at 5'6" I out grew him.
When I turned 15, I sold Little Horse and bought "Washeik". Washeik was a beautiful fleabitten grey Arabian gelding who had a heart of gold and loved to go on endless trail rides. He was the love of my teen-aged life. We did a lot of the same things that Little Horse and I did - the swimming on horseback, the riding through California orange groves, galloped and raced cars next to highways, etc. We were fearless...and probably not very safe!
To pay my horse board, I often trained horses for a local horse trader that had a barn down the street, I bottle fed his day old calves, cleaned stalls, you name it, I did it. I loved it! Being in the barn was my home away from home. It was an amazing childhood!
I joined the U.S. Navy when I was 20 years old. I was forced to sell Washeik but once I got to my duty station in Eva Beach, Hawaii, I quickly found out that there was a stable on base! I rode and showed numerous horses Western Pleasure while I was stationed there for several of the officers that were on deployment.  I then went 20 years with out a horse to ride or love because I was busy raising children. I missed the smell of sweaty leather and having an equine friend.
At age 38, I bought Toby. He was 2 years old Appendix gelding and I quickly fell in love. He is a very handsome guy, standing 16.3 hands, sweet as the day is long and kind as well. I have owned him for 8 years, however he has been a pasture pet for the last 4 years. We have had numerous other horses over the years, but currently we now own Romeo, Dolly, Little Groovy (LG), Lucky Penny and Blue. My friend Lindee boards her mare "Lucy" here also.
     Romeo is a 5 year old, off the track thoroughbred gelding that is proving to be a great addition to our farm. I purchased him as a project to retrain and give him a new resume and then to resell however, Romeo has turned out to be a true Romeo and won my heart and now he will stay! He learns quickly, always remains safe and has a fantastic work ethic so I plan to keep him... probably forever! I have been thinking I may do low level eventing and possibly try some competitive trail challenges with him for 2018-19
     Dolly is an 12 year old paint mare who is ground work and walk only and for my beginner lesson students. She is safe, quiet and where everyone begins. She is also available for people who need some stress relief in their lives and is an amazing therapeutic horse. If you need some stress relief - please let me know!
   Real Hot N Groovy - AKA LG is my 12 year old paint gelding who loves to go to horse shows, jump tall jumps in a single bound and is quite the athlete! Sadly, LG is on stall rest due to an injury. My hope is that he will be sound and ready to go on trail rides and be able to be used for flat only riding lessons for more advanced lesson students.
     Blue is a 14 year old small draft cross gelding that teaches children how to ride. How to be confident and is SO kind and sweet.
Lucky Penny is a 10 year old Irish Sport Horse Warmblood. She is 17 hands tall, and is my daughter Katie's Eventing Horse. Katie will spent 2017 summer getting to know her, going to clinics and plans to event her 2018 show season. Due to Katie being busy in college, she has put competitive riding aside and is enjoying long trail rides and schooling in the arena.

I was also in the United States Pony Club Horsemaster group for several years and earned my D3 in horse management and D3 traditional flat because at the time that was the highest level a horse master could go. at the time. Horsemasters members are adult volunteers who follow the USPC curriculum to increase their knowledge and skill in all things equine. I have taken thousands of riding lessons from various clinician's around the area and continue to grow my knowledge base daily.
   I have shown in several dressage shows, numerous hunter equitation classes, jumper classes and have ridden in several hunters paces - always placing in the top of my classes. I look forward to teaching you or your child how to be a competitive and confident rider!