In 1977, Ellen started down a path that would literally mold the rest of her life. That is when she began her 30 year association with legendary horseman, Tom Dorrance. As she competed through the Grand Prix level, continuing to ride with top European and American professionals, Ellen would check in frequently with Tom to assist her in combining the classical dressage principles she was acquiring, with the simple, yet profound concepts that Tom helped her to apply. The integration of these two schools of horsemanship has been her lifelong professional pursuit. What she believed could be achieved with horses was in fact, real: horses and riders could have a relationship of mutual respect and understanding, and yet to be able to compete at the highest levels of any discipline…
Ellen is available for lessons and clinics and takes horses in full training at her facility in Templeton California located in the wine country of the beautiful Central Coast.
Ellen's approach to each horse and rider is based upon the belief in the innate goodness in each person, and in the intrinsic willingness in the horse. Her goal is to enhance the relationship between the two by fostering understanding and to give the rider the tools and techniques to safely and successfully ride and train his or her own horse.