The Equestrian Center | The Horses | The Instructors
The Students | Wildlife & Agricultural Management

The main force of the equestrian center is Lenny, who monitors the students. He has been involved with horses his entire life. Growing up, his family owned many horses, including gaited and non-gaited horses. He has a wonderfully rounded knowledge of how both types of horses function. Back in his hometown in Tennessee, he had gained the reputation of being a horse’s last chance of survival. When everyone else had given up, they would bring the horse to Lenny, to see if he could change its ways. This kind of knowledge is invaluable when matching a horse with its rider. Remember, a rider’s personality should blend with the horse’s personality in order for the riding relationship to work. Lenny also trains the horses at the facility and rides every one of the horses between the student rides to maintain their training.

Along with Lenny, the other member of the team in the equestrian center is Shirlann Bannister. She mainly handles the management portion of the equestrian center by making sure the center is supplied with all that is necessary to maintain the center. Shirlann also has extensive knowledge of how to breed, raise, train, and show horses. She has owned as many as 55 Peruvian horses at one time. During that time, her stables did extensive showing and selling of Peruvians all over the United States and Canada, with many awards attributed to her and her horses. She also taught her children the intricacies involved with showing horses, who achieved many awards as well. Even now one of her sons trains horses and gives lessons. Shirlann is also currently working to complete her Master’s degree in Education which assists her in teaching the students in the equestrian center as well.