About Us:

Monica Whitmer is a lifetime horsewoman.  She began her career at age 4 - riding with the Tally Ho Riding Club in Griffith Park, California.  This was a Pony Club style organization that taught horsemanship as well as English riding.  She also rode ponies and misfit horses at "Haskel's Rascals" a small rental stable just down the street from her school.  Her first pony was a POA that no one could ride.  "Forte" would buck wildly when mounted, so at age 10, she figured out that if you just laid over his back until he gave up, then you could get on and ride.  After a few months, he was fairly reformed, and given back to the owner of the stable. 

Thus began a long history of riding the difficult horse, and also getting classical training.  Comet was a sweet Morgan TB cross gelding that she bought with her own money at age 12.  He was a schooled hunter, and gave Monica the chance to compete at many levels.  They did 4 H shows, Tri Valley competitons, winning the Medal class in 1971, as well as gymkhanas and trail trials.  With Bob Gordan, of Fairhills Farms, they competed and won at Del Mar and the Santa Barbara Amateur show - holding their own against much fancier horses. 

While attending UC Davis, Monica met her next equine partner - a dynamic Appaloosa mare named Just a Dream (barn name Tortuga).  Together, they persued Eventing - riding at various locales in Northern California - from Mt. Diablo to Ram Tap.  This pair was never eliminated - Toogie was couragous cross country and careful in stadium. 

Returning to Southern California, eventing  venues were few and far between in the 1980's.  So Dressage became Monica's focus, and so it has remained for 30 years.  Monica has had the pleasure to train with many notable instructors over the years.  She rode with Charlotte Bredahl when Charlotte had just gotten Monsieur.  She cliniced regularily with Kamila duPont, Susan Derr Drake, Major Lindgren and many others.  She has been a participating instructor at a long list of USDF workshops - having the chance to learn teaching techniques from Gerhard Politz, Cindy Sydnor and many others from the program.