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 at Mills River

Leslie Holden is an 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

Riding Instructor/Equine-Assistant Learning Sessions in Leicester

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)

Riding Instructor at Leicester Location 

Erica began her equestrian journey in 4-H where she showed her project horse in saddle seat classes and showed other horses in dressage and western horsemanship classes. Erica also started teaching beginner horsemanship lessons as a senior in high school. Erica attended St. Andrews University where she majored in Equine Business Management and showed on the school's IDA dressage team. Erica placed 3rd in the nation in her division in the USDF/IDA National Quiz Challenge. Erica also volunteered with the school's therapeutic riding program. While in college, Erica interned at Julie Richards Eventing (an Olympic bronze medalist) where she had a great immersion into working life at an upper level show barn. 

Erica also discovered equestrian vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) in college and loves to participate in recreational vaulting.

Post graduation, Erica obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from Webber International University. During this time, she worked at Epona's Path Equine Sanctuary. Post MBA graduation, Erica began managing a small farm in FL, Rockin' W Ranch, where she also taught lessons, worked with 4-H students, and coached for the Polk County Special Olympics Equestrian Team. Erica also obtained a certification in Equine Assisted Learning through Greg Kernsten's O.K. Corral Series. In 2024, Erica moved to NC with her Suffolk Punch horse, Rosie (and her husband and 4 other pets). Erica has enjoyed boarding her mare at Davis Ranch and is excited to now be teaching lessons here. Erica focuses on dressage based principles in her lessons but can teach both dressage and western horsemanship lessons. She also offers equestrian vaulting lessons. Erica also enjoys incorporating natural horsemanship principles, equine psychology, and horse and rider biomechanics into her lessons.