|
| Lori Araki | Owner and Riding Instructor |
| Staci Manske | Riding Instructor |
| Elizabeth (Liz) Markle | Riding Instructor |
| Susan Hamilton | Riding Instructor and Barn Manager |
| Susan Gartrell | Administrative Assistant |
RAINTREE RANCH EQUESTRIAN CENTER STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
Lori Araki, Owner and Riding Instructor
Lori Araki is the new owner of Raintree Ranch Equestrian Center. She brings to Raintree a vast background in all aspects of horse care. She has trained both race and show horses professionally for many years, having worked at Flag is Up Farms, Cottonwood Ranch and for Charlotte Bredahl-Baker among others. She hopes to teach her students a respect and understanding of horses that will help nurture and encourage the love they already have for these wonderful creatures.
Staci Manske —Riding Instructor
Staci Manske has been in love with horses her whole life. Having been a horse crazy kid herself she loves to teach children. Staci comes with a varied background of places that she has taught, including working with her mentor Greg Coulson of Peppercorn Riding School for many years at El Capitan Ranch. She started and operated a very successful riding school for El Capitan Ranch and has now combined forces with Raintree Ranch, but what has remained a long time passion is to work with young children and to see the excitement in their eyes as she gets to introduce them to the world of horses.
Liz Markle is from New York, and moved out to CA in 2006 for graduate school in psychology. She has been riding for 18 years, and owes her skills to several fantastic instructors and countless horses. As a child she lived for overnight camp, where she got to eat, sleep, and breathe horses for 8 weeks during the summers. At age 11, Liz got her horse, Dolly, and took on the responsibility of Dolly's care and training. Liz started working as an assistant instructor when she was 14, and has been teaching ever since! She loves to cheer her students on when they master a new skill, and she's known for leaping around enthusiastically in the lesson ring. Liz is also a psychotherapy intern, and is interested in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
Susan Hamilton —Riding Instructor and Barn Manager
Susan Hamilton is originally from Cleveland, Ohio. There she began riding horses at the age of 7 and continued until her move to Santa Barbara at the age of 18 in 1998. She competed in hunter equitation as a child and was later introduced to dressage in high school after moving to a very competitive dressage barn in Cleveland. Susan has been riding with Lori Araki since 2005 when Lori aquired Raintree Ranch. She currently leases Diana, one of our school horses. Susan and Diana have competed in the dressage shows and the Event Derby at El Capitan Ranch. Look for the photo in the office of Susan riding Diana in their very first show together in 2006, which was also Diana's very first show ever! If you have any barn issues, please feel free to contact Susan, as she is also our barn manager.
Susan Gartrell —Administration
Susan Gartrell is Raintree's new administrative assistant. Susan has an extensive background in retail and scheduling. Raised in Virginia, she moved with her husband to Santa Barbara where she became a student of Raintree Ranch. She has ridden most of the school horses and is able to find the answers to your questions. Susan is available to schedule your riding lessons with either Liz, Lori, Susan or Staci.