Miller's Equestrian Center and Sanctuary has several trained, accomplished
instructors that teach through positive reinforcement in a supervised and
safe environment.
Michele Miller
Michele Miller
- Instructor, trainer and founder of Miller's Riding School formally known
as Downs Riding School. Most recently she is also the founder and
Executive Director of Miller's Equestrian Center and Sanctuary. Her
resume is as follows:
Summery of Qualifications:
Over 26 years of riding experience
Over 23 years instructing
Bachelors Degree in Animal Science
Certified Instructor from BHS
Certified Assistant Instructor from ARIA
Halter starting and Colt Starting programs at Cal Poly
Attend clinics by Pat Perelli, Monte Roberts, Linda Tellington Jones,
Numerous hunter/jumper trainers and three day eventing clinicians,
Trained under Vel Moore influenced by Hap Hansen
Related Work Experience:
Trainer/Instructor/Owner of Down's Riding School
Trained Icelandic's at Viking Saga Ranch
Internship at Red Gate Breeding Farm
Director of the horse program at Montecito Camp 3yrs
Contact Information: 805-235-3834
Missy Sturges
Missy
Sturges - Instructor, trainer and volunteer at Miller's Equestrian
Center. Missy specialize in dressage, Hunter Jumper, starting and training
horses and children's lessons. She trained under Charles de Kunffy,
legendary dressage rider, Thomas Walker, FEI Young Rider Championship Gold
Medalist, and clinics with Lisa Wilcox.
Summery of Qualifications: Over 10 years of experience riding horses
Over 5 years of Instructing
Over 5 years of starting horses
CDS Jr. Championship 2003 - 5th in CA.
Contact Information: 661-496-4597
Brenna McGovern
Brenna McGovern - Instructor and
trainer at Miller's Riding School. Brenna instructs with patience, a
good sense of humor and pushes her students to excel. She is great with the
little kids she know lots of fun games and makes learning easy. She
explains her lessons so everyone can understand. She is a
student at Cuesta. Brenna is our
Hunter instructor and camp counselor.
Summery of Qualifications: Over 11 years of experience riding horses
Over 5 years Showing at local and rated shows
Won Champion in her division at SY in 2009
Has been a student of Miler's for over 11 years
Summer camp riding counselor for 2 years.
Volunteers her time to the rescue of horses.
Contact Information: 805-440-0016
Rachael Knopf
Rachael Knopf - Instructor at Miller's Equestrian Center. Rachael has
experience teaching hunter, jumper, dressage, and western. She grew up
riding english and western in at Morning Star Farm in north Bay Area, and has participated in numerous
shows and clinics with her 4-H club in disciplines ranging from Eventing to
Barrel Racing to Dressage. She is currently the Cal Poly Dressage
Team Co-President and placed 6th in the 2010 Intercollegiate Dressage
Association National Championships in Training Level Test 2. Fun fact:
Rachael taught her horse Danny Boy (pictured) to nod “yes”, shake head “no”,
give kisses and "hugs", grin and bow.
Summary of
Qualifications:
Over 14 years of experience
riding horses
Over 5 years of instructing
Certified Horseman's
Association Level 2 Instructor in English and Western
Student at Cal Poly,
pursuing BS in Animal Science and minor in Equine Science
Taken classes in
Halterbreaking, Colt Starting,
Horse Judging,
Equine Nutrition,
Equine Exercise Physiology, and Equine Biomechanics
Contact
Information:
(415)246-1057
Alice Anderson
Alice grew up riding english in Modesto, CA
and showing equitation and hunters across the state. Before attending Cal Poly, she rode at Hannink Equine Center where she spent about 5 years developing and showing young horses. She loves working with kids and brings lots of positive energy to the arena. Alice has passion for horses and the equestrian sport and hopes to share that with all of her students.
Work Experience: Over 10 years of riding
Over 5 years of showing in rated shows
Over 5 years of developing young horses
Multiple division championships at rated shows across the state
3 years working horsemanship summer camps
Contact Information:(209) 324-0421
Cindy Gumber
Cindy Gumber - I grew up riding
English and western in Ventura county.I have
experience teaching English, western, dressage, and hunters.I have worked at Baycrest Riding School, and various horse camps
over the years.I have been riding for around 15
years and showing for 9.I have shown western,
trail, hunters, jumpers, 3 day eventing, and dressage.I have recently picked up team roping for fun.I am currently on the dressage team at Cal Poly.
Contact Information:
(805)766-1306
Katie
Whisenant
I’ve been riding horses for 10 years. I grew up riding western in the
Los Angeles area, participating in various shows, clinics, and
events, ranging from cattle sorting, to drill team and barrel racing.
I’ve given riding lessons in basic horsemanship for 4 years and worked
horse summer camps for 5 years, teaching beginner horseback riding and
leading trail rides. I am pursuing a BS in Animal Science and a minor
in Equine Science and am a member of the Cal Poly Polo Club.
Michele Miller
- Instructor, trainer and founder of Miller's Riding School formally known
as Downs Riding School. Most recently she is also the founder and
Executive Director of Miller's Equestrian Center and Sanctuary. Her
resume is as follows:
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Missy
Sturges - Instructor, trainer and volunteer at Miller's Equestrian
Center. Missy specialize in dressage, Hunter Jumper, starting and 
Brenna McGovern - Instructor and
trainer at Miller's Riding School. Brenna instructs with patience, a
good sense of humor and pushes her students to excel. She is great with the
little kids she know lots of fun games and makes learning easy. She
explains her lessons so everyone can understand. She is a
student at Cuesta. Brenna is our
Hunter instructor and camp counselor. 
