West Wind Stables, Inc.
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Our Instructors
JENNIFER COLLMAN
Head Trainer and Instructor


As most young horse lovers do, Jennifer spent her time mucking stalls at local barns in exchange for riding lessons. At 13, she joined the 4-H program and started training and showing her first horse, SPF Zephyr. She began 2 years of instruction in hunter seat equitation with MacLay finalist Darla Gentry and started showing on the AHSA circuit in 1995. In 1996 she began studying dressage with Les Wagschall, who was an apprentice under a graduate of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria. Les was also a coach for the Canadian Dressage Team and won multiple national championships to the Grand Prix level. Les taught Jennifer her first basics of equine psychology, as well as the techniques and foundations of advanced dressage.

In 1997 she also began taking instruction from FEI level dressage rider and trainer Kristi Wysocki and Danielle Turner, an apprentice of Greg Best, 1988 Seoul Olympic Silver Medalist in Show Jumping. Before moving from Alaska to Wisconsin in 1998, Jennifer and Zephyr had won consistently in the Hunter Under Saddle and Equitation classes, as well as Hunter Over Fences to the 3’ division on the AHSA Circuit . She was reserve champion in the Alaska State Hunter Seat Equitation Championships, Alaska Horsemen’s Association Hunter Over Fences Open Champion and Zephyr was the Alaska Horsemen’s Association Horse of the Year.

Jennifer then moved to Wisconsin and was a teacher's assistant at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls in Balanced Seat Equitation, Dressage Principles and Training Techniques, as well as Jumping Laboratory for 3 years with Eventing competitor, Pony Club A rider and equine veterinarian Dr. Peter Rayne. Jennifer also was a competitor and member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and showed with the UW-River Falls Equestrian Team in hunter seat equitation and equitation over fences for two years.

Her experience spans the gamut of breeds and disciplines, having trained and shown warmbloods, drafts, ponies, off-the-track thoroughbreds, quarter horses, arabians, paints and more in a variety of disciplines. Her horses in training have achieved many regional and national accolades in everything from western pleasure and hunter under saddle to dressage and hunter over fences.

Her goal-oriented teaching style, whether in clinics or regular private sessions, gives students the chance to create and meet short term goals, with the bigger goal in mind. She emphasizes correct, effective equitation and good horsemanship.

STACI GUST
Trainer and Instructor


Staci's lifelong love for horses began long before she ever had the opportunity to sit on her first one - a fat little pony on a pony wheel ride at the county fair. Riding lessons just fueled the fire. Staci started taking lessons when she was 11 years old with Jennifer Collman. Since then, Staci has gained a list of accomplishments that span the gamut of equestrian sport. A jumper rider at heart, Staci's hopes and dreams live in the hunter and jumper ring. However, she has excelled in equitation, horsemanship, pleasure, dressage and more, up to a long list of wins at the regional and national level.

Staci has a talent for bringing out the best in all her horses - her International Patterned Sport Horse, Flashback Fever, went from zero to hero as she took him up the jumper ranks. She also competes with Flashback in dressage and is pursuing her USDF Bronze Medal. A local representative of the International Patterned Sport Horse, Staci and Flashback have been demonstrating the breed at the Minnesota Horse Expo for the last 3 years.

Her horse Poccos Nevada Joe was as classic of a rags-to-riches story as they come. Rescued for $1.00, "Poncho" is now competing with Staci in reining.

Currently pursuing a degree in Equine Management at the University of Wisconsin - River Falls, Staci is also a member of the NCAA Intercollegiate Horse Show Association team.

REBECCA MEINEN
Trainer and Instructor


Bitten by the horse bug at a young age, Rebecca's parents allowed her to take someriding lessons when she was 11, hoping that she would eventually grow out of horses. By the age of 14, Rebecca had ridden and shown in english pleasure, western pleasure and games with her instructor and trainer Katie Tweet. She was also learning how to ride gaited horses, including Tennesee Walking Horses and Rocky Mountain Horses. In the summer of 2004, she started out as an assistant trainer, helping to break out young horses. In 2005, Rebecca bought her first horse, a troubled 4 year old breeding stock paint mare named Snow White Knight.

In the spring of 2006, Rebecca moved Snow White Knight closer to home and began to work with her at Friendship Farm with the help of trainer Pat Carroll. From 2006-2008, she attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls summer institute to learn more about riding both jumpers and reiners from instructor Dr. Kris Hiney. Now a finished reiner, Snow White Knight and Rebecca compete in reining. During her education at the University, she also took the opportunity to work with unhandled yearlings, teaching them basic ground manners, leading and tying.

An alumni of the Wisconsin State 4-H program, Rebecca showed her horse at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, where she qualified for district and state level. At district she placed in both Western and English events and also was reserve champion in Western Riding.

In the fall of 2007, Rebecca started taking hunter seat equitation and jumping lessons with ARIA Level III Hunt Seat instructor Kathy Jerome at Amber Farm and dressage lessons with Rachel Walker of Walker Farms. She is continuing to persue both jumping and dressage at a professional level.

Rebecca is currently attending the University of Wisconsin - River Falls and is pursuing a degree in Equine Management. She is also a competing member of the NCAA Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Team for the University.

Call us today to set up your
Riding Lessons, Training, Birthday Party or Scout Outing!

715-828-7014

West Wind Stables
6868 20th Ave
Eau Claire, WI 54703

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