Raquel--Barn Manager, Riding Instructor
I am 20 year old College Student at Colorado State University I'm finishing up as a Junior this year and am looking to about another year and half of school. I am seeking my degree in Equine Science/Pre-vet. My goal is to be a equine surgeon mainly with high performance horses.
I have been riding for the past 12 years in both English and Western. My true passion is in English and cross country. I got my start by working at local stables and would watch others do lessons and try to build off of what I saw. After the trainers saw me watch for a couple lessons they usually took me under their wing and would trade lessons for chores as my family did not have the money to afford lessons.
My biggest training originated from New Jersey where I trained horses for Fox Hunting and competed in Dressage and Cross country. I found my niche and became really good at riding. I started working for personal owners of retired race horses and work on their energy levels so that they could ride with out fear. After I turned 17 and moved out of the house I Started at brand new summer camp here in Colorado. I helped build up a Summer Camp program from the ground up and thoroughly look forward to starting this year's new Summer Camp with Rosemary at Laughing Buck Farm.
I have been riding for the past 12 years in both English and Western. My true passion is in English and cross country. I got my start by working at local stables and would watch others do lessons and try to build off of what I saw. After the trainers saw me watch for a couple lessons they usually took me under their wing and would trade lessons for chores as my family did not have the money to afford lessons.
My biggest training originated from New Jersey where I trained horses for Fox Hunting and competed in Dressage and Cross country. I found my niche and became really good at riding. I started working for personal owners of retired race horses and work on their energy levels so that they could ride with out fear. After I turned 17 and moved out of the house I Started at brand new summer camp here in Colorado. I helped build up a Summer Camp program from the ground up and thoroughly look forward to starting this year's new Summer Camp with Rosemary at Laughing Buck Farm.
Willow--Riding Instructor
My name is Willow and I'm a senior in high school, and have been riding for 11 years. I've ridden English and all kinds of Western, but reining is by far my favorite discipline that I've tried so far and I am an intern at a reining stable called Sunnyluck Farms just down the road from Laughing Buck Farm. I start colts, tune up older horses, and ride and exercise the finished reiners. I have one horse of my own that lives here at Laughing Buck, a 19 year old quarter horse/standardbred cross named Clifford that I have known for 5 years. Right now he's my fun, messing around with horse that gets to go trail riding and get fat in the pasture with his buddies. He also loves young riders, and I'm planning on gradually incorporating him into the lesson program. He's extremely safe and sane, but definitely still has more energy than a lot of horses half of his age so he'll be used for more experienced riders off the lunge line, and less experienced riders on the lunge line.
I love teaching older students and students who have some riding experience and are looking to further refine their riding, but my passion lies in training the horses. I believe that every horse should be respectful and calm on the ground before riding. Some natural horsemanship has it's place in my program, especially groundwork, and I believe that to form a safe relationship with an animal 10 times your size, respect should be first and foremost, and a good relationship will eventually come from a mutual respect. In most respects of ground work and riding, however, I have a more traditional approach. My favorite trainers include Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox, Al Dunning, Shawn Flarida, Andrea Fappani, and Larry Trocha. My goals for the future include attending Colorado State University for a degree in Equine Science and then eventually becoming a professional reining and/or cutting trainer.
Angela--Farm School Teacher
In addition to being an awesome teacher at Laughing Buck Farm, with her hands deep in the soil and her heart filled with love for the kids, the animals and the land, Angela goes by a few other names. :)
Mama--first and foremost, committed mom to an energetic, critter-loving 4 year old, and a creative and and loving 7 year old
Garden Goddess-- studied horticulture with landscape and garden design, worked in kitchen garden in Oxford, England
Henna Artist-- gifted henna creation and design at Henna by Angela and Honor the Journey
Tribe Mama --founder of Northern Colorado Nature Tribe
Moon Tracker--studying and applying biodynamic gardening at Laughing Buck Farm
Some articles about Angela's work in the community:
Creating Community in Nature with the Northern Colorado Nature Tribe
Making Special Moments with Henna
Mama--first and foremost, committed mom to an energetic, critter-loving 4 year old, and a creative and and loving 7 year old
Garden Goddess-- studied horticulture with landscape and garden design, worked in kitchen garden in Oxford, England
Henna Artist-- gifted henna creation and design at Henna by Angela and Honor the Journey
Tribe Mama --founder of Northern Colorado Nature Tribe
Moon Tracker--studying and applying biodynamic gardening at Laughing Buck Farm
Some articles about Angela's work in the community:
Creating Community in Nature with the Northern Colorado Nature Tribe
Making Special Moments with Henna
Sarah -- Farm School Teacher
I am Mommy to two energetic young girls that love to run, laugh, splash in puddles, swing high, read books, draw pictures, and in general, keep me on my toes. While my Mommy hat trumps the rest most of the time these days, I am also an Educator. With a background in early child development and family support, I have played a variety of roles in Early Childhood classrooms and in homes through Early Intervention and Early Literacy programs. Currently I teach ECE at Front Range Community College and am applying my professional passion for Motherhood through my own start-up business, Storkologie.
In my spare, ahem, time, I love keeping my hands busy with all sorts of crafts – from sewing to painting, knitting and whatever else catches my fancy. The process of creating is so satisfying and fulfilling. My girls have definitely caught that bug!
For the time being, our family doesn’t have much space or land to call our own so we do what gardening and animal rearing we can in our little ‘urban homestead.’ And we love being able to spend time at a place like Laughing Buck Farm. It keeps us happy, real, and lets us sleep well at night!
In my spare, ahem, time, I love keeping my hands busy with all sorts of crafts – from sewing to painting, knitting and whatever else catches my fancy. The process of creating is so satisfying and fulfilling. My girls have definitely caught that bug!
For the time being, our family doesn’t have much space or land to call our own so we do what gardening and animal rearing we can in our little ‘urban homestead.’ And we love being able to spend time at a place like Laughing Buck Farm. It keeps us happy, real, and lets us sleep well at night!