Instructors, Lessons, & Training 

Lessons are available for horses and riders of all levels and disciplines. All of our instructors are lifelong students of the horse and continue to provide the highest standard of education. From beginning lessons to advanced coaching for competition, a program to fit your needs awaits.

Leah Keller - Barn Manager/Instructor

Leah has a professionally strong Natural Horsemanship foundation and has ridden and trained with Buck Brannaman, Buster McLaury, Maryal Barnett, Theresa Dorhety, Randy Rieman, and other well-known trainers.  She believes in a foundation that starts on the ground and works up to the saddle, thus her students start with groundwork in order to build better communication with their horse. At Bay Harbor Equestrian Center, where she began in May of 2005, she progressed from stable hand to training horses to teaching students.  Leah was head trainer/manager at Bay Harbor Equestrian Center from the fall of 2009 until spring of 2013. From Bay Harbor, she went to South Fox Island where she managed the island's equestrian center until the summer of 2014. Shortly after that she took a brief break before beginning her management/training and teaching at Rising Hope in June of 2016. She teaches beginner lessons all the way up to advanced lessons, and everything in between. To learn more about Leah, you can check out her website at www.lkhorsesense.com or click to the button below to see upcoming LK Horse Sense Clinics.

Lesson Prices

$70 Private 

$60 Semi-Private 

$50 Group 

Ellie Bricker - Instructor

Ellie has an impressive history of training and show experience. She has ridden and trained with Joe Wolter, Buck Brannaman, Buster & Sheryl Mclaury, Doug Jordan, Randy Reiman, LK HorseSense, and Alison Cram Jumping, among others. Ellie’s experience on the show circuits include American Quarter Horse Circuit where she competed in Horsemanship, Equitation, Showmanship, and Trail and placed Top 5 at Congress. Ellie was also an assistant trainer at a show barn during her time on the Quarter Horse show circuit. In her youth, she competed in Michigan Interscholastic Horsemen’s Association and 4-H. She went on to coach multiple teams and students to state and regional MIHA championships in all disciplines. She has competed in and trained students in trail, showmanship at halter, horsemanship, HUS, and jumping. You can find Ellie at www.ebhorsemanship.com or at her Facebook below.

Lesson Prices

$65 Private

$55 Semi Private

$45 Group

Susan Klimas - Instructor

A native of Harbor Springs, Susan began her riding career in Hunter-Jumpers at Black Forest Hall under Alison Cram. She became certified by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) in 1994 in both English and Western styles of riding. She taught riding at Camp Westwind on the Oregon Coast and on & off throughout college before moving to Singapore in 2004 where Susan became a full-time instructor at the Singapore Polo Club. In 2006, she became certified in Therapeutic Riding and served as Head Instructor at the Riding for Disabled Association of Singapore. Jumping being her specialty, Susan has significant experience with showing horses, instructing private and group therapeutic riding, trail riding and Natural Horsemanship. Locally, she has instructed for the Bay Harbor Equestrian Club, Exceptional Riders of Northern Michigan, KColfer Sporthorses, Grace and Glory Riders, and Rising Hope Riding Center. She enjoys teaching both children and adults at all levels and is the only trainer who teaches on Saturdays.

Heather Chism - Instructor

Heather started with Exceptional Riders in 2015 as a volunteer and quickly moved up to an instructor. She has studied Natural Horsemanship with both Ellie & Leah and became an instructor at Rising Hope in 2018. Heather enjoys teaching beginner lessons and seeing her students progress to different levels. She also loves teaching therapeutic lessons and seeing the smiles on children’s faces when they see that they can actually ride the horse. She believe in the power of therapeutic riding as a great confidence builder and help to strengthen muscles.