Horse Trainers/Lesson/Breeding Programs

Riding Instructor/Horse Trainer/Barn Manager

A Equine Science 

USDF Bronze Medalist 

USDF L Grad 

Anna Toomey USDF L grad, Bronze Medalist I have had a passion for horses for as long as I can remember. In my younger years I competed in hunters, jumpers and eventing, and I worked for and trained with some of the best event riders in the country. 

From that exposure I discovered dressage. I loved the harmony and communication needed with your horse. I loved learning theory and understanding that the movements build strength for every horse, exposing weak points and overcoming them through systematic training. 

Over the years I have taught many people and many horses, all of them unique combinations with the common goal of learning more about their connection to their horse. I communicate theory with simple explanations and love seeing those light bulb moments. My personal training goal is to create happy horses that love their work. 

Since joining the Davis Ranch Leicester location as barn manager and trainer in 2022, my goal has been to build an active community of horse owners and riders that care deeply about their horses and want to enjoy them. Creating a safe place for that growth has been an exciting few years. We’ve put together a team of supportive and knowledgeable trainers that specialize in every aspect of a rider's personal journey - and a horse’s. 

 When I’m not caring for clients’ horses or teaching lessons, the ranch is also home to my 6 personal horses.  I currently show two younger horses in the local area and nationally, but I am also always seeking out new and fun experiences to keep the horses focused, energized, and happy. I trail ride extensively, attend obstacle days, and am starting to dive into working equitation and western dressage. I love to bring students along with me to expose them and their horses to new ideas, methods, and types of riding. We have a lot of fun trying new things and going to new places! 

I can’t wait to see how the ranch continues to grow. I hope to continue to develop partnerships to offer a unique experience for the horse community. We prioritize supporting all riders regardless of discipline and love to share knowledge and cheer each other on. Each horse and rider is an individual and that personality should be fostered and allowed to shine through. After all, it’s the love of horses that brings us all together! 

Riding Instructor/Horse Trainer/Barn Manager

I have been riding and training horses for 11 years, I worked as a vet tech and worked under a few farriers in between. My passion for horses has always driven me to improve and learn wherever I can. 

I primarily teach english riding to people of all ages and train problematic horses. My first horse was a blind mare named Diamond, she was barely halter broken and I didn't know what I was doing but we learned and grew together. Her and I went all over barrel racing and doing some local shows then a tendon injury took her out of barrel racing, now she is teaching my new students how to ride. 

I started show jumping on another horse to try and learn something new, and then I started dressage lessons and fell in love with eventing. I've worked for many barns and trainedunder a lot of amazing equestrians and I wouldn't be where I am today without my trainers. 

I want to spread that knowledge to anyone who wants to learn, teaching people of all ages how to ride, training horses, and teaching the all around method: horse anatomy, saddle fitting, tacking, grooming and horse nutrition so that my students are well rounded enough to have a horse of their own in the future.  

Riding Instructor/Horse Trainer 

Meghan Robertson is a distinguished equestrian professional with an impressive 30 + year background in training and coaching across various disciplines, including eventing at beginner to intermediate levels, western dressage, hunter/jumper, and classical dressage.

Beyond her expertise in riding and horsemanship, Meghan specializes in the vital realm of mental coaching and sports psychology. Throughout her extensive journey, she has honed her ability to foster not only the physical skills but also the mental resilience of riders and their equine partners. 

With a deep understanding of the psychological aspects of equestrian sports, Meghan expertly guides her students through the intricacies of each discipline, building confidence, focus, and determination. 

Join Meghan on an exhilarating journey where riders refine their skills, develop a strong mindset, and forge a shared devotion to the equestrian industry. 

Riding Instructor

Leslie Holden is a Equine Canada certified instructor with over 20 years of teaching experience. 

As a founding member of the Thompson Valley pony club, She completed the pony club ranks, national quiz and continued to support the pony club through testing, horsemanship lessons, and rallies. 

Leslie began riding in the mid 80’s the back country mountains of British Columbia with her father. By the Age 12 she spent a year in Mexico riding horses in different disciplines including side saddle and the Mexican rodeo style performances. upon returning she began formal lessons in hunter/jumper and joined pony club as a founding member. 

In 1992 she began competing and by 2001 she was completing certification as an instructor under equine Canada‘s apprenticeship/testing procedure. She has been working student under Canadian Olympic dressage rider and competed in Canada/USA  in hunter/jumper and Dressage competition. 

Leslie believes that before sport comes the relationship and the understanding of horsemanship and thrives to seek a therapeutic and healing relationship between horse and rider that benefits all.  

As a mother of four, she is now specializing in offering lessons for the youngest of riders. Lessons are focused on foundations of proper horsemanship and equitation, using the English style of riding, students have their choice of 6 school horses ranging from 32”-16.2hh.

Leslie also has a thriving local show schedule, introducing beginners to the world of horse shows, and supporting more advanced riders and horses further development of their competitive career. 

Riding Instructor

Jessica Combs is a highly skilled trainer/instructor with 25+ years’

experience training various breeds covering multiple disciplines

concentrating on Hunter/Jumper and Low-Level Eventing.

Member of United States Eventing Association (USEA), United

States Hunter/Jumper Association (USHJA), United States

Equestrian Federation (USEF), and United States Center for Safe

Sport Trained.

Jessica first began riding at the age of 7. At age 14, she went to

work as a farmhand helping to maintain approximately 25 horses,

and earning funds to, not only purchase her first Arabian, but to

pay for board and entrance fees for showing at both hunter/jumper

and breed shows.

At age 16-17 she worked at Arabian Nights Dinner Show near

Disney World, FL performing in multiple acts at that indoor

equestrian tourist venue, including trick riding, and low-level horse

acrobatics.

At age 18, Jess assisted John Power, a Nationally and International

ly known Arabian Judge and Trainer, in all aspects of training

National Champion Arabians and National Show Horses in

English, Country, Hunter, Western Pleasure and Halter. Under

John’s guidance, she began teaching Hunter, Crossrails, Saddleseat

and Western Pleasure. Also was responsible for starting babies.

After graduating with a business degree from Flagler College in St.

Augustine, FL, Jessica continued to work for John Power, while

pursuing a career in banking. Jessica worked in banking for 10+

years, including 3 of those years as the SunTrust Equine Banking

Vice President in Ocala, FL, where she really began to fall in love

with Thoroughbreds as well as Eventing.

After taking some time to get married and raise her family, which

includes husband Mike, Madison (13), Mackenzie (11) and Liam

(6), she continued to develop her own mount and train others when

needed. Seven (7) years ago Jess went back to teaching and

training full time.

Jessica is goal-oriented and organized – instructing riders to

achieve results. She plans her lessons based on team goals and

places groups together based on skill level.

Jessica is absolutely passionate about continuous learning through

in-person instruction, clinics, books, videos and anything else that

can further build her relationship with her horses and students. She

currently has 4 horses that she uses for instructing beginning to

advanced students.

Triple Crown Riding Academy has a growing Show Team that

participates at local shows, schooling shows, as well as at TIEC.

Jessica plans on growing her Eventing Team at Davis Ranch to

share the amazingly positive eventing community with her

students.

Riding Instructor

Riding Instructor/Equine-Assistant Learning Sessions

Heather Taddonio’s love of horses began at the age of 6 when she joined her local barn’s “Pony Kids” lesson program. She grew up in Charlotte riding and showing locally in the hunters and then competed with her college’s team in the jumpers. At the age of 15, she first witnessed the transformative power that horses had when she became a regular volunteer at a therapeutic riding center that offered adaptive riding lessons free of charge for children with physical disabilities. In 2015, Heather was introduced to the Natural Lifemanship model of equine-assisted services at her job at a middle school that offered equine psychotherapy for its students and families. The tenets of the program informed her classroom teaching philosophy and she witnessed the lessons learned in sessions transform childrens’ emotional well-being, relationships with their families and peers, and even academic success. 

Heather is now offering equine-assisted learning sessions for adults and children at the Davis Ranch Leicester location. Equine-assisted learning is an experiential approach that incorporates horses as partners in personal growth and wellness. These are individualized, unmounted sessions ideal for children and adults seeking to build relationships with horses, work on personal goals, and develop horsemanship skills. Sessions are relationship-based and designed with the needs of the horse and human in mind. Time with the horses may include learning to read body language and communication, consent-based care, mindfulness and co-regulation, learning to make fair requests of the horse and allowing them to make requests of us, and of course time to “just be” with the horses. 

Heather is a licensed middle school teacher, is level 2 trained through Natural Lifemanship in Trauma-Informed Equine Assisted Learning, and has her certificate in EAL through PATH International. Heather has a BLM mustang named Reba from Pine Nut Mountain HMA and they have been growing their partnership and learning together using EAL principles since 2022.

She is the Barn Manager at our Fletcher Location 

Katrena is a lifelong horse lover and owner.  Her 21 years of Horse management experience includes 10 year of western pleasure showing, at National and world level, and 4 years as a Riding Instructor and Barn Manager with Champ Rockmont. 

As an experienced horsewoman, and long term local resident, Katrena is happy to share her extensive knowledge of local equine service providers to assist newcomers to the area.  

A longtime member of the ApHC, Katrena’s beautiful Appy Scarlett is a resident at Mills River and loves to welcome new arrivals!  Certified by CHA (Camp Horse Association)