We are very pleased to have Lisa Ratte back at Willow Grove, until her next world adventure calls. For those of you who do not know Lisa very well we put together a little introduction for you.
Lisa began riding on a military base Chile when she was 12 years old, where her South American coach’s combination of headstands on horseback, somersault dismounts, races through the desert, acrobatics and show jumping provided her with an eclectic beginning to her riding career. Lisa’s passion for show jumping brought her to a show stable in California, where her training focused on hunters and jumpers. During high school she showed competitively throughout the California and Oregon show circuits, and she developed a love for bringing along green horses. She believes that there is nothing more satisfying than training a young horse, and watching it progress and develop its skills.
In 2002 Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, and applies her equine specialization to care for the first aid and nutrition of horses under her care. After graduation Lisa strived to further develop her skills as a rider, so she travelled to Belgium, where she rode sales horses for Stephex, the sales barn where Hickstead was purchased by Eric Lamaze.
After spending two years coaching riders in California, Lisa discovered the rewards of watching her students’ skills improve and the growth of their confidence as they achieved their goals. The joy that she got out of coaching inspired her to travel to New Zealand in 2004, where she earned her degree in Education.
After spending five years teaching math and science to students in Canada, England and China, Lisa has returned to coaching riders. She combines her equitation background with her knowledge of classroom teaching and learning to help her students achieve their riding goals. Lisa’s passion for equitation makes it a strong focus in her coaching, as she believes that proper position is not only a rider’s foundation, but that it has a huge impact on a horse’s way of going.
In 2002 Lisa earned a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, and applies her equine specialization to care for the first aid and nutrition of horses under her care. After graduation Lisa strived to further develop her skills as a rider, so she travelled to Belgium, where she rode sales horses for Stephex, the sales barn where Hickstead was purchased by Eric Lamaze.
After spending two years coaching riders in California, Lisa discovered the rewards of watching her students’ skills improve and the growth of their confidence as they achieved their goals. The joy that she got out of coaching inspired her to travel to New Zealand in 2004, where she earned her degree in Education.
After spending five years teaching math and science to students in Canada, England and China, Lisa has returned to coaching riders. She combines her equitation background with her knowledge of classroom teaching and learning to help her students achieve their riding goals. Lisa’s passion for equitation makes it a strong focus in her coaching, as she believes that proper position is not only a rider’s foundation, but that it has a huge impact on a horse’s way of going.
