Riding Instructors

When you join us in our Riding Academy here at El Camino Ranch, you will be receiving top riding instruction from some of the finest professionals. We are very proud to have such exceptional individuals with superb backgrounds in the Arabian Industry as well as experience with other breeds. If you want to learn to trail ride, show in Arabian shows, or if your dream is to go to the Olympics on a Horse, we are here to assist you in meeting your goals! All instructors will be involved in the Camping Sessions scheduled each summer, held as Day Camps. 

 

Colleen Mann

Colleen is the newest addition to our El Camino family. Her mother, Maggie worked for El Camino about five years ago and Colleen is now following in her footsteps. Colleen purchased EC Maverick from El Camino a number of years ago and has successfully shown him in hunt seat pleasure, equitation and dressage. In addition to EC Maverick Colleen has shown many horses in many different divisions. She had a lucrative youth career which took her all the way to Youth Nationals. Colleen has competed in hunt seat, dressage, western, gymkhana , saddle seat, driving, and native costume. We are proud to welcome Colleen back to El Camino Ranch. 

 

 

Kassie Rivera

Kassie first started working for El Camino in 2006 as an assistant in the Amateur Show Barn. She took a two year break from EC to attend Colorado State University. While Kassie was in Colorado, she worked for a dressage barn picking up some new techniques along the way.  She is back in California now and we are happy to welcome her to the Riding Academy as our newest instructor. Kassie has owned and trained her own horse “Pistol” for many years now.  She specializes in huntseat, western, jumping, basic dressage, and gymkhana. 

  

 

Special Instructors

 

Behind every good lesson program is a team of extraordinary horses. Horses, which are always ready to educate their rider on the matters of horsemanship and patience. These treasures of the ranch are enduring, kind, and caring of their students.  Always forgiving of inconsiderate hands and mysterious cues, these exceptional mares and geldings make El Camino proud to present these Special Instructors.

 

KA Cherry 

(Abraxas x KA Bos June Bug)

• Foal Date: 07 Feb 1988


• Color: Bay Tobiano 


• Gender:  Mare 


• Breed: Half-Arabian


• Cherry has been a cornerstone in our lesson program for close to 15 years now. She has been shown in and won in hunt seat, western, and trail classes. As Cherry has gotten older, her job has been limited to easy work like our Mommy, Me, and My Pony classes and dressing up for our Fall Festival costume contests.

 

EC Summer Splash

 (*Numma++ x Summer Hills Spectacular) 

• 
  
  Foal Date: 14 May 1990


• Color: Bay 


• Gender:  Mare 


• Breed: Half-Arabian


• Splash is another mare that has been serving academy students for most of her life. Before joining the lesson program Splash won many awards in the show ring including,  two Top Ten National championships, and multiple Regional championships.  Splash is a favorite among our students and is in high demand. But because of her increasing age and unique temperament, Splash is reserved for the most timid and smallest of our students.

EC Macintosh

 (BF Monorey x EC Emilee)

• Foal Date: 09 Feb 1999


• Color: Chestnut 


• Gender:  Gelding


• Breed: Arabian


• Macintosh is another retired show horse who boasts numerous wins in western pleasure.  He was National Top Ten when he was five as well as Regional Res-Champion.  He now spends his days giving lessons, taking trail rides, and taking students to their first few shows.

Maskerrader

(Serenader+// x Kathys Calico)

• 
  
  Foal Date: 08 Jan 1995


• Color: Black


• Gender: Mare


• Breed: Half-Arabian


• “LILLY” has is an ex-reining horse who now specializes in fun! She is suitable for beginners but is also used for many of our intermediate and advanced riders as well. She is versatile enough to do western, hunt seat, and gymkhana.  

 

Windy Dawn

(Kaborr+++ x Kelvin Misty Dawn)

• Foal Date: 23 Apr 1982


• Color: Grey


• Gender: Mare


• Breed: Arabian


• Windy is our oldest lesson horse. Even though she is nearly 30 years old, Windy has the body and mind of a 15 year old. She is still going strong and is used primarily for huntseat lessons.

EC Quite Amiracle

(Dream Quest x EC Numiracle)

• Foal Date: 07 Jan 2004


• Color: Bay 


• Gender: Mare 


• Breed: Arabian


• Miracle is one of the younger lesson horses in our program. She has been ridden successfully by beginner riders but prefer to take the more advanced students to horse shows. She specializes in hunt seat and halter.

EC Real World

(Ames Encounter x A Whole New World)

 

• Foal Date: 10 Jun 2003


• Color: Bay


• Gender: Gelding


• Breed: Half Arabian


• Real world is a new addition to our lesson team. He is doing extremely well and is a favorite among our adult riders and jumping students. He also enjoys a trail ride, and going to shows.

 

EC Apasionaya

(Amoroso De Espana x Apolonais)

•  Foal Date: 04 Feb 1987


• Color: Bay


• Gender: Mare


• Breed: Half-Arabian


• “Baku” is an exceptional dressage, and competitive trail horse. Infact, when she was younger, she was National Top Ten in Trail, and Regional Top Five in first level dressage. Baku is mostly used for western, hunt seat and gymkhana.

EC Monopoly

(Madero x EC Mi Mia)

• Foal Date: 23 May 1991


• Color: Chestnut 


• Gender: Gelding


• Breed: Arabian


• “Poly” belongs to trainer Tara Ellwanger. Before leasing him to El Camino, She trained and showed Poly in hunt seat, jumping, trail, western, gymkhana, team penning, and parades. Needless to say, with all of his talents Poly stays very busy.

Bahama Mama

• Age: 9-10


• Color: Dun


• Gender: Mare


• Breed: Welsh Pony


• “Dunya” is a gymkhana master. She IS the fast and the furious. We use Dunya mostly for gymkhana even though she has been known to jump over two feet. She is a little too small for most of our jumping students.

  

EC Marcella (Madero x *Guizella)

•  Foal Date: 09 Mar 1994


• Color: Grey 


• Gender:  Mare 


• Breed: Arabian


• Marcella is a big bodied mare who has been trained and shown in dressage, jumping hunt seat, and competitive trail. Marci is currently being leased one of our students who is doing dressage with her. They are planning to compete at an A show later this year.