Guest Lecturers

Rusty is a world renown saddle maker and is sought out for his skillfulness in restoring old saddles. Rusty combines his years of experience as a farrier and blacksmith with his interest in all things cowboy to spin his one of a kind wisdom about the art of saddle making. Ask him who Will James is or what "jaquima to freno" means and he'll likely pull out one of the books from his incredible library to show you some of Will's drawings or explain about vaqueros.

Bev is the only saddle fitter west of the Mississippi who has been certified by the Society of Master Saddlers, U.K. Ltd. Bev shows students how to check saddle fit and how to tell if a saddle is causing problems. Soreness in the back is often caused by an ill-fitting saddle that creates pressure points along the muscles of the spine. So, Bev shows how to check the fit and how to look for problems caused by a saddle.

Wendy Woo, Musician & Composer

Woo brings her wonderful spirit and talent to teach students how to listen to the rhythms of a horse. In order to understand lameness one must understand the rhythm of the footfalls. This class helps you learn to hear the subtlties of rhythms within your own body to make you more sensitive to the sounds and timing of the gaits of the horse. Born in New York City, Wendy Woo grew up in Colorado. Her energetic personality, musical skills, and spirited songwriting have made her a media and fan favorite.