Dawn Hoselton
Dawn grew up in Woodland Park, Colorado and participated in the El Paso County program where she had multiple state championship wins as well as consitantly being in the top 10 finalists at the Colorado State Fair. She was part of the Pikes Peak Rangerettes Drill Team and traveled regionally to perform rodeo "half time shows" during high school. She attended Fort Lewis College and moved to Durango, Colorado in 1994 and received a teaching license in 1999. During that time, she transitioned from an all-around show girl into a barrel racer and trained horses part-time. She started an equestrian drill team for teens in Durango and coached it for five years taking members to local rodeos to perform.
Starting in 1999, Dawn taught high school English and history for seven years at Aztec High School and obtained a Masters in Educational Humanities from Colorado College. Upon having her son, she became a trainer and equine instructor full time. Over the years of teaching she has traveled the regional AQHA circuit as well as limited national shows with various clients and helped students reach the high school rodeo finals in speed events and queen contests.
Dawn maintains a steady training and lesson opporation in Durango, CO today and continues to focus on local show and rodeo teens, as well as trail riders seeking horsemanship skills to make their rides more enjoyable. She continues to barrel race as much as possible and shows clients' horses as needed. She is blessed to have her husband, Ron, and son, Chauncey, to keep her balanced and not turn into a complete barn girl.
Dawn's story
I literarly have been giving lessons since I was eight years old when I started a horse riding "class" to five year olds to pay for my horse show activities. Although I grew up showing both english and western in 4H and APHA, I migrated into the barrel world when I entered college and moved to Southwestern Colorado where not many show opportunities existed. I continued to give lessons, train horses, and became a 4-H leader, as well as started a drill team on horseback which performed at rodeos for five years. During that time I coached several students at the AQHA world level in all-around showing, a couple of high school rodeo finalists, and even a Miss Rodeo America top five finalist.
I obtained a Masters in Educational Humanities and taught high school for seven years before starting to train horses full time. Over those years, I was blessed to compete at many local barrel races as well as some larger national races with several 2D national level horses. Since then I have had many a year of rehabbing those same horses from injuries in order to be able to complete again. Through those rehabbing hours, I became very aware of how my body and mind needed to be strong since practicing numerous times at speed was not possible. In additon, I educated myself on equine massage, kinesiology taping, red light therapy, pole exercises, and stretching so that I could afford to maintain the horses myself.
Currently I still compete at several large national barrel races a year with one of those rehabbed horses. I also have a very active training and lesson program for youth students in 4-H local events, high school rodeo, as well as many adult trail riders. My lessons focus on good horsemanship skills, learning how to listen to your horse's body, and how to realistically work on both partners gaining strength and flexibility. I would like to share the knowledge that I have learned in my forty plus years of giving lessons in a format that riders can then take and make their own.
Come enjoy the ride!
Our Core Values
Constantly seek new Knowledge
Be Honest with yourself on how you and your horse need to improve
Create Riding Longevity
Keep things Simple and Clear
The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you for forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8
Improve your Strength & Equine Skills
Strength In Partnership focuses on improving your equine skills through mental awarness, drills for you and your horse in the arena and on the trail, as well as physical stretches and exercises for both you and your equine. Through strengthening yourself, you will strengthen your horse; and both of you will benefit from a lasting partnership.
STRENGTH IN PARTNERSHIP