Rising Hope Equestrian Center 

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 

Leah has a strong natural horsemanship foundation, and has ridden with clinicians Buck Brannaman, Buster McLaury, Maryal Barnett, Theresa Dorhety, Randy Rieman etc. Leah believes in a foundation that starts on the ground and works up to the saddle. She has been teaching for close to 13 years,  she started at Bay Harbor Equestrian Center May 2005 as a stable hand and started teaching in the fall of that year. Leah then took over managing Bay Harbor Equestrian Center in the fall of 2009 and was the head trainer and manager until spring of 2013 when she went to South Fox Island until the summer of 2014. Shortly after that she became pregnant and then took some time off and came to Rising Hope Equestrian Center in June of 2016. All of Leah's students start with groundwork in order to better communicate with their horse under saddle. She teaches beginner lessons all the way up to advanced lessons, and every level in between. 

Susan Klimas 

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, after which she taught riding at Camp Westwind on the Oregon Coast.  Teaching on and off throughout college in Michigan, Susan moved to Singapore in 2004, where she joined the riding section at the Singapore Polo Club as a full-time Instructor.  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.