Saddlebrook Equestrian Center

Instructors

Cathleen Hopkins	Cathleen Hopkins has been riding horses since childhood. Early in her career she competed in Barrel Racing and Pole Bending and worked ranches moving cattle and breaking in horses. Later she began to explore and compete in Western Pleasure, Western Riding, Western Horsemanship, Dressage and Reining. As she progressed in these endeavors she saw a need for a trainer that would work with remedial, traumatized and difficult horses to handle. This became her specialty. In the last 10 years she has worked with numerous cases of both human and horse issues. She has helped many equine owners find the road to success thru education and training of both the horse and rider to become willing partners. 10 years ago she began teaching western riding to people of all ages and teaching young apprentices to train horses and hosting clinics to on bomb proofing and basic horsemanship skills. Still today her greatest enjoyment is helping those that need more than the standard training and riding lessons. Those horses and humans that have issues to overcome and see them come to a point where they no longer need her help and can move on content and safe with their willing horse partner.

Lori Gibson	Lori Gibson has been riding as long as she can remember. At age 5, she joined the United States Pony Club, remained a member for eleven years, reaching her C1 rating. With a background primarily in Eventing, Lori has competed in the GHCTA horse shows, U.S.P.C National Championships and at Pony Club rallies. She has also participated in multiple camps and clinics to improve her knowledge and skills. Lori teaches the fundamentals of riding and jumping from a sound knowledge of flatwork, emphasizing dressage, which is a major component in any Hunter/Jumper base training. Part of Lori’s horse knowledge from Pony Club is directed towards horse management and care, making her a great Horsemanship teacher as well.
Christianne Hawley	Christianne Hawley started her riding career at an early age after moving to Florida from her birthplace, Mexico City. Some of her accomplishments include Champion in the South Florida Circuit at age 13, the 2003 “Taste of Honey” Memorial Trophy, High Score Children’s Hunter, 2004 USEF Zone 4* Children’s Hunter Horse of the Year Award, 2006 Children’s Hunter Reserve Champion and 2006 Third Place in the Children’s Jumpers Grand Prix Classic (out of 130 competitors). Christianne has furthered her knowledge of horses by attending college in Colorado with a major in Equine Sciences and a minor in German. She plans to finish school with a Doctorate in Equine Veterinary Medicine specializing in Equine Reproduction. During college, Cristianne has gained a lot more experience with horses and has broadened her style of riding from a bit of horsemanship to western riding as well. She also has experience breaking and training using some of the Perelli techniques. Christianne has participated/assisted riding and teaching at many well know Horse Farms in Florida, Colorado, Mexico, and Belgium. She has ridden and taken lessons with Olympic Riders such as Gerardo Tazzer from Mexico, and Greg Best from the USA. Christianne has taught beginners and intermediate riders and continues to expand her knowledge of the horse and communication with them. She teaches Hunter/Jumper as well as Western at Saddlebrook Equestrian Center. Christianne is also trilingual, speaking fluent English, Spanish and German.
Marianne Midgett	Marianne has been a long time member of the Saddlebrook community , riding and working at Saddlebrook for over the past 10 years. Marianne has a background in Hunter/Jumpers as well as Western horsemanship and Barrels, competing successfully in the GHHJA Jumper circuit, through the Open division, as well as local Rodeos in barrels and poles. Marianne has been training horses at Saddlebrook for over seven years, from breaking youngsters to tuning up competition horses, as well as just exercise riding. Her training theory includes consistence and patience, while exposing the younger horses to as many different experiences as possible. Her passion for teaching shows in her ability to educate her students while still allowing them to have fun. She has been Summer Camp Counselor and Instructor at Saddlebrook for over the past few years and is now back to teaching full time.