2025 International Conference Speakers, Bios and Sessions
Susan Berger
Susan Berger (Horse Connections): has been teaching and training most of her adult life.
She began in the Arabian World, competitively showing and helping recreational riders be
competitive on the local and regional level. She expanded into all breeds in her boarding and training stables in the hunter, western, and dressage disciplines. She is a CHA Certified as a Master Instructor, Site Visitor, and EWI Certifier, is on the CHA Board of Directors, and was awarded the top honor of “CHA Instructor of the Year, 2023” at the International Conference in Fort Collins, CO. Susan follows her passion, which is to teach and train recreational and competitive riders through lessons, workshops, clinics, and judges local shows. Susan has the ability to provide clear, understandable instruction that riders and instructors use to take their horses to the next level.
Riding Patterns for all Level Riding Groups – Friday, October 10, 9:00 a.m., RARA Arena
Overview for this session includes the following:
– To help riders work on control in a group setting
– To help horses learn obedience and leadership from the rider and not follow the herd
– To work on balance, rating, forward movement, seeing the arena, have fun!
Kelly Cannon
Kelly operates a small lesson program and cares for 25 horses of many breeds and ages on her farm in the upstate of SC. Serves as a CHA certifier, a board member of the South Carolina Horsemans Council, and hosts annual hunter paces for the Western Carolina Hunter Pace organization. Focus on natural horsekeeping, horsemanship, and excellence in horse husbandry.
Career Ready Horse Manual Project – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
CHA is developing a new set of standards… this time for horses.
Our committee has been meeting monthly on Zoom to build a set of standards for what makes a horse truly career ready. The idea is to come up with guidelines that are universal across disciplines and represent the ideal. At the same time, we know not every horse will check every single box — and that’s okay. The standards should leave some room for horses that meet most of them but still make excellent partners. Join us for this roundtable as we share the various categories that the committee has identified.
Allison Cantrell
Allison Cantrell (née Sargent) is the Riding Instructor and Breeding Manager at High Spirits Farm in Ashland, Missouri, where she has created their public riding program in 2017. Under her guidance, the program has grown to about 200 lessons per month, producing riders from their first lessons through World and National Championship levels. A graduate of the University of Hartford (2005) with a degree in Communications, Allison began her professional equestrian career in 2007 at DeLovely Farm, where she was inspired by Melissa Hughes Smith, now of William Woods University, and her passion for instruction. She has since held key teaching roles at Cater Stables (NH) and Lowry Stables (IL), before relocating to Missouri with her husband, along with Jim and Fay Lowry, to join Anna Marie Knipp’s team at High Spirits. Her work continues to focus on developing strong, educated riders with a foundation in excellence in Saddle Seat competition and horsemanship.
“Saddle a Saddlebred” – Saturday, October 11, 12:00 p.m. – UPHA Arena
A unique opportunity to ride saddle seat on an American Saddlebred. Riders will become familiar with Saddle Seat tack and basic body position. Riders will be able to experience the walk, trot and canter of a Saddlebred and feel the animation and high step of their gaits.
Erin Cardea
Dr. Erin Cardea is Master Instructor, Certifier, and Lead Site Visitor with CHA. A lifelong learner, Erin holds Master’s degrees in Equine Science from the University of Edinburgh and Equestrian Education from William Woods University as well as a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University. She is also an Advanced Therapeutic Riding Instructor through PATH International and holds British Horse Society and German FN qualifications.
Her professional equestrian career began in Omaha, NE where she taught lessons and trained hunter/jumpers for Ponca Hills Farm before opening her own lesson and training barn, Orion Row Stables. She has worn many hats over the years not only as an instructor and trainer, but also as a top-level show groom, a USPC DC, an IHSA coach, an international riding club director, a schooling show judge, a clinician, an equine scientist & researcher, and a professor of equine and equestrian studies for three different universities.
Erin is currently residing in Rhode Island where she is teaching for Johnson & Wales University and Yellow Horse Therapeutic Riding Program.
Putting it all Together – Thinking of a Jump Course as a Puzzle – Friday, October 10 at 9:00 a.m., UPHA Arena
This session will demonstrate exercises to help riders navigate a jumping course by focusing on stride length, pace, and tracks to lines and single fences. The goal for riders is to put all the pieces together to ride a smooth course.
The Elusive Outside Aids – Saturday, October 11 at 1:30 p.m., UPHA Arena
This workshop seeks to educate riders and conference participants about the function of the outside leg, rein, and seat bone. Exercises to help riders feel the use of the aids in relation to the horse’s movement will be taught with an emphasis on clearer communication between horse and rider.
Steven Coffey
Steven provides Equine Podiatry for performance recreational and therapeutic purposes. In 2015 he was recognized as Equus magazine’s Horseman of the Year for his equine involvement as well as community involvement in various projects and organizations. While Stephen enjoys working with recreationally used horses, he has a strong interest in various maladies of the hoof such as laminitis and navicular. He attended and was certified by the Oklahoma Horseshoeing School in both Advanced Farriery and blacksmithing as well as Equine Dentistry.
In his spare time, he enjoys scuba diving in which he is a certified Dive Master and currently working on his scuba instructor certification. Stephen also enjoys rehabbing houses and has a goal of being able to provide affordable housing and working with youth at risk and the unhoused population.
Managing the Older Horse’s Feet – Friday, October 10 at 10:30 a.m., Horse Barn
Maintaining a senior horse can be challenging from many standpoints. Join Farrier Stephen Coffey for an in-depth discussion of assessing the podiatry needs of the aging horse. This session will demonstrate an evaluation followed by a discussion or demonstration of a variety of techniques useful for maintaining performance in an aged lesson horse.
Dr. Bob Coleman
Dr. Bob grew up in western Canada and has had a lifelong interest in horses. He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture with a major in Animal Sciences and a master’s degree in Animal Science. After graduating, Coleman worked in the Canadian Feed Industry as a nutritionist for two major feed companies before moving in 1980, to Alberta Canada to be the Extension Horse Specialist for Alberta Agriculture. During his time in Alberta, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Alberta with a focus in Equine Nutrition. In 1998, Dr. Bob moved to the University of Kentucky as the Equine Extension Specialist. Dr. Bob has worked with horse owners across the state in areas of horse management with an interest in facility design and management. This has included looking at ways to provide feed and water safely and effectively to horses. In addition to his Extension duties, Dr. Bob teaches in the Equine Science and Management program courses on Tools and Tack in the horse industry and Equine Facility design and management. Dr. Bob is active in the Horse Industry serving as on the AQHF research committee and is a past president of the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association. Professionally, Dr. Bob is a member of the Equine Science Society and he serves as the executive director, is a member of the American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists, and is a Diplomat in the American College of Animal Science and the American Society of Animal Scientists. As a member of CHA, Coleman is certified as a Lead Site Visitor and Trainer and serves on the board as the Past President.
Giving Direction: Linking the Horse and Rider – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
While there are many times, we see horses performing incredible activities without a bit or bridle for most of us that is not the case. We use the bridle with a bit to provide a means of communication. It is not the only part of rider horse communications but certainly a significant one. The round table will be an opportunity to discuss how bits function in a way that you can communicate that to your students. The session might seem a bit academic but let’s talk about function outside of what we sometimes call certain bits. As an example, and while we all might know this a snaffle bit is not a snaffle bit because it has a jointed mouthpiece. Bring your knowledge and understanding to the round table for bit and bridle communication.
What is in your horse’s mouth?
Jennifer Eaton
Jennifer obtained her Massachusetts Instructors License in 1992. She has a bachelor’s degree in Developmental Psychology and has taught all types riders. She joined the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) in 2006 as a member coach. In her third year as a coach, she took a volunteer position as regional president and subsequently held a leadership role in her area until 2014 when she retired as zone chairperson. She is an IEA show steward and often travels outside New England. IEA hired Jennifer in 2009 in the membership office to help coaches and parents with member enrollment and management of their competitions. She has assisted IEA with growth and resource development leading to an expansion in membership, which exceeded 11,000 members in 2014. In 2012, Jennifer was promoted to membership marketing coordinator. Jennifer was given the 2014 Massachusetts Horseman’s Council “Person of the Year” award for her contributions to the development of youth equestrian opportunities in her area.
CHA Annual Membership Meeting – Thursday, October 9, 4:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
Aimee Edwards
Aimee has spent her entire life in the equine industry, developing a deep passion for both horsemanship and teaching. As a dressage rider and trainer, she has earned her USDF Bronze Medal and built a successful career owning her own dressage training business. In addition to her competitive and training background, Aimee is an active member of the CHA Board of Directors and helps to certify both instructors and facilities as an EWI and EFM certifier and site visitor.Currently, Aimee brings her expertise to Highlander Ranch, where she teaches lessons in classical, gaited and western dressage, working equitation and jumping. She runs and manages a variety of shows, and manages all ranch programming. She is dedicated to creating opportunities for riders of all levels to grow in their skills, confidence and enjoyment of the horse industry.
Career Ready Horse Manual Project – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
CHA is developing a new set of standards… this time for horses.
Our committee has been meeting monthly on Zoom to build a set of standards for what makes a horse truly career ready. The idea is to come up with guidelines that are universal across disciplines and represent the ideal. At the same time, we know not every horse will check every single box — and that’s okay. The standards should leave some room for horses that meet most of them but still make excellent partners. Join us for this roundtable as we share the various categories that the committee has identified.
Tammi Gainer
Having grown up around horses, Tammi began her professional equestrian career in 1989 as a trail guide at a large ranch camp where she was first introduced to CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) and attended a Standard Instructor Certification Clinic in 1990.
In the spring of 1995 Tammi joined the instructor staff at Pegasus Farm Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Hartville, OH. While working at the Farm part-time and home schooling her three children, Tammi also spent much time working under several national trainers in both reining and dressage. In addition to her CHA Instructor certification. She also became a PATH Intl. certified instructor.
In 2000, she achieved CHA Master Level Instructor and E/W/I Certification Staff status and has since earned Certification Staff status in the Instructors of Riders with Disabilities (IRD) and Vaulting Coach programs as well.
Tammi was promoted to Equestrian Director at Pegasus in 2005 where she managed all aspects of the equestrian programs that serve 275 plus students each week participating in areas such as horsemanship, riding, driving, vaulting, veterans, and youth-at-risk programs. In 2010 Tammi has acquired her AQHA (American Quarter Horse Association) Professional Horseman status; an organization she is especially proud to be a part of.
In September 2007 Tammi was elected to the CHA Board of Directors and held various positions such as Chair of the Education & Training Committee, Treasurer, Secretary, President Elect, & President.
In March of 2023 Tammi was give the opportunity to take on the responsibility of CHA’s Executive Director. “Since first joining CHA in 1990 this organization has become such an integral part of my life both professionally and personally. To be a part of an organization that believes so strongly in promoting safety & education in horsemanship across the lines of disciplines is definitely a credit to our profession. Personally, I have made such wonderful friends from many different backgrounds and walks of life; yet we all have a common denominator ~ Changing Lives through Safe Experience with Horses! I look forward to many more years being a part of this amazing “family” called CHA.”
General Announcements and Award Ceremony Host
Julie Goodnight
Julie is best known for her TV show about horse training– which aired weekly for eleven years– and for her sensible and kind training for all equestrians. Her methods are grounded in natural horsemanship, classical riding, and understanding what motivates horses. Julie is the CHA International Spokesperson and she teaches at clinics, expos and special events everywhere and offers online education, how-to videos, and her own tack and training tools at JulieGoodnight.com.
New Horse: New Rules – Friday, October 10, 12:00 p.m., UPHA Arena
Did you ever have a student buy a well-trained, well-mannered horse, only to turn it into a fire breathing dragon in a matter of weeks? We’ll look at how to guide this treacherous transition for a horse to go from professional handling to a new home/new owner/new rules, while maintaining the horse’s training and performance
Need for Speed: Good to Gallop? – Saturday, October 11, 9:00 a.m., APHA Arena
From trail riding, to gymkhana, to cattle sorting, to jumping, there are situations where riders need to be comfortable and confident handling a horse at speed. We’ll outline steps to help riders build control and confidence at faster paces.
Alli Gorman
With over 10 years of barn management experience, Alli knows the daily demands of running a busy equestrian operation. From lessons and clinics to trail rides and horse care, she’s done it all—and brings that firsthand knowledge to every conversation. Alli grew up showing ApHC Western and English pleasure and still enjoys trail riding and working with rescue horses. Down-to-earth and relatable, she’s passionate about helping barn owners find simpler ways to manage it all—so they can focus more on the horses and less on the paperwork.
Tech that can Help You Reclaim Time, Money, & Sanity in Your Horse Business – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
We all wish that running a horse business was a walk in the pasture. From lesson scheduling, invoicing, and client communication to managing staff, horses, and facilities, the “business” side of your barn often eats up more time than the horses themselves. And yet, many equine professionals resist using software—worried it’s too complicated, too expensive, or simply not built for our kind of business. Join Jennifer Williams and Alli Gorman from EC Pro and Serena Heppes from Under The Son Horsemanship to discover how software designed specifically for equestrian operations can reduce admin, stop profits from slipping through the cracks, and let you get back to what you actually love—teaching, riding, and caring for horses. This session will show you that software doesn’t have to be scary—and that with the right tools, you can run a smoother, smarter, and more profitable business. If you’ve ever said, “There has to be a better way,” this is the session you don’t want to miss.
Liz Haben
Liz Haben is an Associate Professor of Western Equestrian Studies at William Woods University and has worked for the school since 2012. She is a World Champion exhibitor, trainer, and coach of western all-around horses, and specializes in young horse development and training. Liz is the recipient of the 2022 Distinguished Professor Award at William Woods University and has a passion for teaching real-world skills to her students both in and out of the arena.
Desensitizing Training -Using the Approach & Retreat Method Through Obstacle Training – Friday, October 10, at 1:30 p.m. – UPHA Arena
In this session, Liz will be utilizing “scary” stimulus and obstacles to teach horse and riders how to work through fears and challenges in a safe and productive environment.
Serena Heppes
Serena is an Assistant Certifier based in San Jose California with a multi discipline riding program called Under the Son Horsemanship. After graduating from Canyonview Equestrian College in Silverton Oregon, she moved back home to California to manage a rental string and lesson program. Eventually, Serena decided to branch out and start her own program. Since she founded her program at their first location in 2015, Serena has started an IEA Team for both hunt seat and dressage, as well as competing with her students up and down the state of California. Her students have earned IEA Regional championships, high point awards, competed at IEA nationals, and some have pursued a professional career in the equine industry. Currently, Serena’s time is spent managing her business between the two locations, her two IEA teams and taking students to compete at rated Dressage and Hunter/Jumper shows. As CHA Assistant Certifier and Zone 10 IEA President, she’s known for running a tight ship—with help of software and technology. EC Pro software has been key to streamlining her barn’s operations, allowing her to focus less on admin and more on coaching, growth, and building strong, competitive teams.
Tech that can Help You Reclaim Time, Money, & Sanity in Your Horse Business – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
We all wish that running a horse business was a walk in the pasture. From lesson scheduling, invoicing, and client communication to managing staff, horses, and facilities, the “business” side of your barn often eats up more time than the horses themselves. And yet, many equine professionals resist using software—worried it’s too complicated, too expensive, or simply not built for our kind of business. Join Jennifer Williams and Alli Gorman from EC Pro and Serena Heppes from Under The Son Horsemanship to discover how software designed specifically for equestrian operations can reduce admin, stop profits from slipping through the cracks, and let you get back to what you actually love—teaching, riding, and caring for horses. This session will show you that software doesn’t have to be scary—and that with the right tools, you can run a smoother, smarter, and more profitable business.
If you’ve ever said, “There has to be a better way,” this is the session you don’t want to miss.
Progressing Riders Beginning with the Jumping Basics – Saturday, October 11, at 10:30 a.m. – UPHA Arena
How to develop a rider from riding on the flat to being successful and confident on their first course. Learn how an IEA coach and USHJA Professional builds a foundation on their riders to prepare them for the pressures of being in the show ring.
Catherine Holthaus
Cj Holthaus is an instructor at Northwest Missouri State University where she teaches in the department of Language, Literature, and Writing and coaches the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association competitive riding team. She holds of a Masters in English from Northwest Missouri State as well as a Masters of Equestrian Education from William Woods University and has over 15 years of experience as a coach, educator, and over 20 years as an equine professional. She has taught riders of all ages and levels in both English and Western disciplines with a focus on horsemanship, equitation, and holistic horsemanship.
In addition to coaching competitive teams and supporting organizations like IEA, Cj has served as a program and curriculum director for the Harness Horse Youth Foundation and developed innovative lesson programs designed to foster both horseman skill and character development. She is the founder of The Bleu Barn, a university- affiliated riding program in Maryville, Missouri which combines CHAs core principles of safety, education and fun with opportunities for students to compete and grow as leaders. Her past students and horses from her program have found success in a variety of venues from Western Dressage and Extreme Cowboy to more traditional show venues like PtHA and PHBA.
With a dual-academic background in English and Equestrian Education, Cj brings a unique perspective to University coaching, emphasizing communication, goal-setting, and reflective practice. Her passion is helping riders build confidence, develop strong horse-human partnerships, and prepare for lifelong success both in and out of the arena. Cj is currently an Ed D candidate at William Woods University.
Riding Lesson Metacognitive Best Practices – Friday, October 10, at 10:30 a.m. – RARA Arena
In horseback riding education, mastering physical tasks is essential; however, the cognitive processes that accompany these tasks play a substantial role in effective learning. Metacognition—the awareness and regulation of one’s own thinking—enables riders to plan, monitor, and evaluate their actions, leading to improved performance and adaptability. By engaging in self-regulation and reflective practices, athletes can better understand and control their movements, leading to superior skill acquisition and execution. To integrate metacognitive strategies into horseback riding lessons, we will explore classroom pedagogical theories that underpin the metacognition movement and provide practical “best practices” and applications that can be used in your next lesson.
Teaching vs. Coaching in Equestrian Sports:
Understanding Their Roles and Finding the Balance – Saturday, October 11, at 9:00 a.m. – RARA Arena
Equestrian instruction and coaching are often used interchangeably, yet they represent distinct approaches to developing both riders and horses. Teaching primarily focuses on skill acquisition and knowledge transfer while coaching encompasses a vast array of athlete development topics. A well-rounded program must recognize the role of both for developing equestrians; this presentation explore the fundamental difference between teaching and coaching in equestrians studies and offer practical strategies for instructors seeking to recognize and refine both their pedagogical frameworks and sports coaching methodologies.
Chelsie Huseman
Dr. Chelsie Huseman is an Associate Professor and Extension Horse Specialist in the Department of Animal Science at Texas A&M University. Huseman serves the state of Texas by disseminating equine education developed through research. She provides leadership for field and campus faculty, departmental, and Extension personnel in the development, implementation, and evaluation of Extension education programs relevant to the horse. Her programs attract state, national, and international audiences. She leads a variety of impactful equine programs for youth and adults, such as the Texas A&M Equine Reproductive Management Short Course, Texas A&M Summer Horsemanship School Program, and the Texas 4-H Homes for Horses
Bridging the Barn and Beyond: Integrating 4_H into Your Riding and Lesson Program – Friday, October 10, at 3:00 p.m. – UPHA Classroom
Bridging the Barn and Beyond: Integrating 4-H into Your Riding and Lesson Program
Looking to expand your program’s educational impact and community reach? Discover how incorporating 4-H into your riding or lesson program can enhance youth development, deepen horsemanship education, and strengthen your connection to the broader horse industry. This session will explore the value of 4-H as a leadership and learning platform, outline practical steps to get started in your state, and introduce key contacts who can help you build a successful partnership. Whether you’re a seasoned instructor or just getting started, you’ll leave with actionable ideas and resources to bring the power of 4-H into your barn.
Celia King
Celia is the lead consultant at Arrants McSwain Team Building where she teaches leaders how to coach their team. She uses her 25 years’ of experience with the Myers Briggs to give clients a logical framework to understand how people are wired, and she uses equine assisted learning to help leaders develop the intuition necessary to work with people. Celia has a Master’s degree in Communication, is an MBTI Master Practitioner and a certified Equine Experiential Education Association Practitioner. She works with a wide range of clients including Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, educational organizations and non-profits.
I Like Working with Horses More Than People: How to Use Horsemanship Skills to Improve Relationships with People – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
As horse people, we often hear (or say) things like, “I like horses more than people.” The intuitive skills you’ve honed through years of working with horses are more powerful than you might realize—they are the very skills needed to build authentic and healthy relationships with people, both personally and professionally.
At this roundtable, you’ll learn the 4 Intuitive Skills of Congruence, a framework used by Arrants McSwain Leadership Development to coach and train leaders across various sectors, including business, medicine, government, and non-profits. And get a copy of the Wheel of Congruence, an assessment you can use for yourself, with your riders, or with your team.
How I Built an EAL Program: Principles You Can Use to Add a Revenue Stream to the Program You Already Deliver – Saturday, October 11, 10:30 a.m., UPHA Classroom
Curious about Equine-Assisted Learning but not sure where to start? In this session, I’ll share how I built an EAL program that added real value and income to the work I was already doing. You don’t need to reinvent your whole program to make this work. I’ll walk you through the key lessons I learned along the way, including some mistakes we made that you can avoid. If you’re looking for a fresh way to grow your impact (and your revenue), this session will give you practical steps to make it happen.
Lisa Lombardi
Lisa has been a full time professional riding instructor since 1987. She is a CHA master instructor, site evaluator, and certifier. She is also PATH and Ceip-Ed certified, and has a BA in English with an emphasis on education. She is a Santa Rosa Junior College equine science instructor in addition to running her own lesson program with her own nine horses. Lisa has a wide range of teaching, riding, and competition experience, including reining, jumping, dressage and western dressage, trail riding and camping, therapeutic riding, drill team and color guard, ranch riding. Today Lisa Lombardi still enjoys passing on horsemanship skills to 4 year olds through 80 year olds as much as she did the first day she was hired as a summer camp wrangler May 1987. What was supposed to be a one-summer job transformed into a life-long passion and career.
Making Your Program Stand Out – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
There are many seasonal and year round horseback riding programs available to the public. How can you make your program stand out above the rest? What makes your program unique? We will discuss how to determine what you have to offer clients that other programs do not.
Bailey McCullum
Bailey McCallum is a CHA Master Instructor and Assistant Certifier dedicated to teaching and guiding riders at all levels, helping them achieve their riding goals with a focus on safety, skill, and biomechanics. Bailey earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Equine Science and her Master’s of Education in Equestrian Education and serves as an assistant professor in the William Woods University Equestrian Studies program, teaching Dressage applied riding, Horsemanship, Behavior and Training, and Applied Groundwork, among other courses. Bailey is also serving as an instructor in the William Woods University Master’s of Equestrian Education graduate program, teaching curriculum construction and applied instructional theory. Emphasizing horse behavior and welfare, Bailey combines expertise in dressage, hunter/jumper, and ranch horse disciplines to provide comprehensive training and coaching. As a rider, she has earned USDF Bronze and Silver Medals and rides, trains, and shows dressage through the FEI levels as well as offering cross-training for other disciplines and learning theory- based starting and training for young horses. Bailey specializes in horse and rider biomechanics, ensuring that each rider’s technique is refined for maximum efficiency and harmony with the horse, and emphasizing the importance of mental and physical well-being for both horse and rider.
The Leg Yield: Simplifying Lateral Work to Improve Rider Coordination – Saturday, October 11, 3:00 p.m., UPHA Arena
Brandy McDonnell
Brandy McDonnell is a seasoned professional in the equine industry with more than 35 years of experience. Her teaching and training philosophy is built on positive reinforcement and the belief that horses and riders achieve the most in a safe, supportive, and fun environment.
In the early years of her career, Brandy trained, showed, and coached horses and riders who went on to succeed at both national and world levels. In 2007, she stepped back from the competitive arena to raise her daughter, later redirecting her focus toward grassroots equine education. Today, she is dedicated to helping riders of all ages discover the joy of horsemanship and the excitement of local horse show competition.
Throughout her career, Brandy has earned numerous achievements and credentials. She was certified as a Western Coach by the Canadian Equestrian Federation in 1994, and in the same year graduated from Fairview College with a diploma in Farrier Science. She was named the AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year for Tennessee in 2004 and has served as an approved judge for multiple equestrian associations. In addition, she has shared her knowledge as a coach with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association, helping young riders build confidence, skill, and a love for the sport.
Balancing Engagement and Control in Group Riding Lessons – Saturday, October 11, 1:30 p.m., RARA Arena
Anna Mittelstadt
Ana is one of the Assistant Trainers at Via Nova and our resident hunter/jumper! Growing up in Tampa, Florida, Ana has been riding since she was 7, starting with western lessons before later moving to a hunter/jumper barn at 11. It didn’t take long to catch the bug, and shortly after, she entered the competitive showing world.
A childhood surrounded by horses meant by 17, Ana started teaching and schooling horses, and by 21, she made horses her career and began seriously training both people and horses. This was a natural progression for Ana, with horses (in particular, working with younger and more sensitive horses) being her lifelong passion; the number of horses she has helped or given a positive start and continuation to their jumping and showing career is, to this day, one of her greatest achievements.
After her eyes were opened to some parts of the traditional competition world, Ana grew an interest in R+, which eventually led her to Via Nova. Ana has worked through the Priority to Positive® program and is helping to train happier and more willing horses using the tools she has learned.
Ana is dedicated to teaching and informing other equestrians about R+. After seeing shut-down horses return to productive and happy lives through Positive Reinforcement, she is passionate about helping every horse find its meaning and purpose again.
When Ana’s not riding or teaching horses at liberty, you can find her in New Mexico’s scenic wilderness, harnessed to a rope, climbing up the face of the mountain.
A Practical Equestrian’s Guide to Positive Reinforcement for Horses – Saturday, October 11, 1:00 p.m., UPHA Classroom
In this interactive session, we’ll explore how challenging it can be to communicate without a shared language, and how to build one with your horse. Through hands-on learning, you’ll learn how, with small, clear steps, you can create complex behaviors and how Positive Reinforcement (R+) makes this clearer for both the horse and human. We will also introduce you to our Priority to Positive® Core Principles, a guide and mindset for using R+ in any equestrian discipline to strengthen your partnership and support horse welfare.
Darrell Nephew
Darell is the VP Sales for Circle Y Saddles, Inc., has been involved in the equine industry for 40 years and is a master saddle craftsman and expert saddle fitter. He started his career in the late 1980s with Steve Tucker, founder of Tucker Trail Saddles, and has evolved with the brand to what it is today. For 25 years, his specific goal was saddle and tree design so horse and rider in all disciplines could come together for a comfortable ride. Since then, Darrell has applied 30 years of knowledge ranging from saddle work, tree design, and customer service to support a large dealer network and riders worldwide.
Advanced Saddle Fit – Saturday, October 11 at 9:00 a.m., UPHA Classroom/Courtyard
Saddle fit is all about weight distribution and doesn’t have to be an obstacle that you need to overcome. Come and watch how to take the worry out of saddle fitting and enjoy your saddle and horse. If saddle fit has been difficult for you, come to this session and get your horse comfortable so you can enjoy the ride.
Sue Ott
Sue is currently residing at her home and training facility, ALMOST BAROQUE FARM in northwest Pennsylvania. She has spent over 35 years as a certifier with CHA and was honored as Certifier of the Year in 2021. Her passion for correct riding and training is apparent and implemented while instructing many levels of riders. Sue believes that hearing and applying foundational principles of riding right from the start will benefit equestrians of all seats for their future.
While maintaining her CHA certification, Sue has been licensed as a judge for the Open Horse Show Association, Colorado Ranch Horse Association and has recently fulfilled the requirements and criteria to maintain a WDAA license. Paperwork in progress! She has also judged many classical dressage schooling shows.
Sue is competing USDF showing at FEI levels as well as bringing along young horses in the show arena at the foundational levels.
Although the horse industry has been her main focus. Sue loves to ice skate, paint, quilt, jog and landscape ” the new place”.
Classical Dressage intro & through the 2nd Level – Friday, October 10 at 1:30 p.m., RARA Arena
Each participant will be riding figures and elements from each level while assessments and corrections are applied. The end achievement should allow better balance and the understanding of the 4 fundamentals of riding.
Western Dressage: Understanding the Levels – Friday, October 10 at 3:00 p.m., RARA Arena
Joanne “Jojo” Peterson
Jojo Peterson loves teaching children about horses and horseback riding. She fell in love with horses the first time she rode as a youngster, began lessons at age nine, and never looked back. By sixteen she owned her first horse and has been deeply involved with horses and teaching ever since. Jojo has worked at Lazy K Ranch, a heritage AQHA breeder; Yosemite Trails Pack Station; and Roughing It Day Camp, gaining experience in a variety of equine disciplines and youth programs. In her teaching, she has developed extensive experience working with children from diverse backgrounds, which has shaped her inclusive, student-centered approach. She has also been a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Instructor for several years. Today, Jojo runs her own children’s lesson program and summer camp in Briones, California, where she shares her lifelong passion for horses with the next generation.
Creative Ideas for Summer Horse Camp – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m. – Jefferson Ballroom
Join Jojo Peterson for a fast-paced and interactive roundtable exploring the best of summer horse camps. Together we will share program ideas, camper-friendly crafts, and activities that make camps fun, safe, and memorable. Participants will leave with practical take-home ideas, a resource sheet to capture their favorite discoveries, and inspiration to try something new this season. Come ready to swap stories, celebrate successes, and spark creativity for your own horse camp programs.
Beth Powers
Beth Powers of Bellefontaine, Ohio an educator who is a life member of the Certified Horsemanship Association. She has served over twenty years on the CHA board of Directors as a committee member and chairperson, executive committee, and president. She also has been on the board of directors for the American Horse Youth Horse Council, with a focus on youth programs during the conferences. Powers was the equestrian director of a YMCA resident camp for over 20 years, while at Camp she was a member of the American Camping Association and became a site visitor for the accreditation program. Currently she works as a substitute teacher, volunteers, and teaches part time at Discovery Riders a therapeutic riding barn nearby.
Through her involvement in CHA Powers has had the opportunity to present talks at various trade shows and conferences throughout the country. She is a certified English/Western instructor, pack and trail overnight guide, a CHA site visitor and trainer. She helps other pet lovers by being a pet sitter and enjoys traveling, repairing horse tack and working in the garden.
Round Table Moderator – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m. – Jefferson Ballroom
Randy Raub PhDDirector of Research and NutritionKent Nutrition Group
Before he ever went to work in the feed industry, Randel Raub studied animal science. Finding nutritional physiology particularly interesting, he earned his Ph.D. in animal science and went on to teach the subject for 12 years at Kansas State University. He then he made a big decision: he left academia to direct research and product development for Purina Mills in Missouri.“My (faculty) peers said I was lured away to the dark side, or industry, but it was quite enlightening for me,” Raub says. “I think faculty would be well-served to spend a few years in industry before they got behind a research bench, or stepped foot in front of a classroom, that’s my opinion.”Seventeen years and two feed companies later, Raub branched out on his own to start a product development and consulting business, which he ran for three years. He then heard about an opportunity to join Kent Nutrition Group – and even though he didn’t think he was interested in going back to the feed industry, he was willing to explore the offer simply “because it was Kent.”“My whole time in the feed industry, I’ve never heard anyone say a disparaging word about Kent. That’s something,” Raub says. “Kent has always had a wonderful reputation in the industry and with their customers.”“You have to be able to adapt, and be flexible and nimble,” Raub says. “In product development, there’s no crystal ball to tell you what the next big thing is going to be. So you have to be ready to respond rapidly to an ever-changing environment.”
Keynote Speaker at CHA Annual Awards Banquet– Saturday, October 11, 7:00 p.m. – Jefferson Ballroom
Paul Schiltz DVM- Associate Professor and University Veterinarian, Director of Pre-Veterinary Education and The Center for Equine Medicine
Dr. Schiltz is a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. He has practiced Equine Veterinary medicine for 30 years with an emphasis on sports medicine of many breeds and disciplines. Dr. Schiltz has been involved with the body mounted inertial sensor system, Equinosis Lameness Locator with Q since its inception. Simple, reliable, repeatable objective measurement of equine movement has been a decades long project for Dr. Kevin Keegan of University of Missouri. Subjective evaluation is extremely prone to bias and varies greatly between equine veterinarians.
The Lamest Presentation You’ll Hear All Day – Friday, October 10, 1:30 p.m. – UPHA Classroom
In this presentation we will discuss lameness as a symptom of disease rather than a diagnosis. We will examine the differences between fore limb and hind limb lameness as well as the different patterns that we see (primary vs. compensatory). Following a lecture portion, we will be instrumenting horses with the lameness locator equipment and working them outside. Time will be reserved for questions and answers.
Cheryl West
Cheryl, born in Australia, is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medalist on a rescued Rhinelander and served 8 years as US Army Aviation Helicopter Crewchief. Additionally, a CHA Master Instructor and Certifier, for Western, English, Jumping, Therapeutic, and EFM and a PATH CTRI and Mentor. At 13 Cheryl began riding western, and then eventing, moving to Oklahoma in 1998 to begin Dressage, Reining and teaching. Her career has also included 15 years of barefoot trimming and farrier experience, running a full-service facility with 50+ riders, and operating a therapeutic facility with 70+ riders. Recently, she obtained her CPT, Certified Personal Trainer qualification with NASM. She enjoys teaching all disciplines, but her passion is really getting the rider to connect and understand the communication between horse and rider. She lives for those light bulb moments!
Correctly Teaching the 3 Loope Serpentine – Friday, October 10, 10:30 a.m. – UPHA Arena
How to pick visual focal points and coach accurate timing of the rider’s aids, leading to better accuracy, better balance of horse and rider, and better outcomes from this valuable exercise.
Jennifer Willey
Jennifer is a CHA English/Western Instructor Certifier, Region 3 Director and PATH certified professional. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing degree from the University of Minnesota, Curtis L. Carlson School of Management.Jennifer has held roles including riding program director, resident trainer/instructor, horse buyer, barn manager and subject matter expert in publishing, video production and editing. Jennifer was CHA’s Instructor of the Year in 2007. She served two terms on the Minnesota Horse Council and as the committee chairperson for the Promotions and Education committees. She formed and developed the MHC’s Sponsorship program and the Horse of the Year program. Most recently Jennifer taught riding classes for the University of Minnesota Equine Science Program.
Nurturing the New Student – Friday, October 10, 9:00 a.m. – UPHA Classroom
Affinity for horses is a rewarding and lifelong learning activity with many disciplines. We will delve into practical approaches to introduce beginners to the world of horses, addressing the common obstacles they might encounter. By providing a strong foundation and a welcoming environment, we can help new riders not only develop their technical skills, but also cultivate a lifelong respect and love for the horses.
Jennifer Williams
With over 30 years as a horse trainer, judge, and clinician, Jennifer Williams understands the real-world demands of running a barn. Her mix of equestrian and business experience helps her connect with professionals and offer practical, tech-friendly solutions. Known for her warmth and clarity, Jennifer’s mission is to help barns run smarter—so horse people can spend more time doing what they love.
Tech that can Help You Reclaim Time, Money, & Sanity in Your Horse Business – Thursday, October 9, 1:00 p.m., Jefferson Ballroom
We all wish that running a horse business was a walk in the pasture. From lesson scheduling, invoicing, and client communication to managing staff, horses, and facilities, the “business” side of your barn often eats up more time than the horses themselves. And yet, many equine professionals resist using software—worried it’s too complicated, too expensive, or simply not built for our kind of business. Join Jennifer Williams and Alli Gorman from EC Pro and Serena Heppes from Under The Son Horsemanship to discover how software designed specifically for equestrian operations can reduce admin, stop profits from slipping through the cracks, and let you get back to what you actually love—teaching, riding, and caring for horses. This session will show you that software doesn’t have to be scary—and that with the right tools, you can run a smoother, smarter, and more profitable business.
If you’ve ever said, “There has to be a better way,” this is the session you don’t want to miss.
Certified Horsemanship Association
1795 Alysheba Way, Suite 7102
Lexington, KY 40509