AMANDA BARRERA

Amanda Barrera began riding as a young child.  She purchased her first horse "King" with babysitting money she had saved for years.  She then began showing the local circuit with help from Louise Hogarth (Shanley) at Treeline Stables.  When she sadly outgrew King she began her lifelong trip with green horses with the goal of showing them in mind.  In high school and the beginning of college she finally found a gem of a horse.  His name was "Three Cheers" and with the guidance of Jim Hensen and Joan Curtis of Foxglen Stables she and Cheers won Adult Hunters in zone seven in 1992, in both the THJA and AHSA!    "Having a horse as talented as cheers helped me to have a high standard to judge and choose green prospects".

Following the unexpected death of her father in 1993, Amanda and her mother Suzanne opened a modest seven acre farm in Lucas, Texas.  Amanda spent the next nine years bringing up young horses off the race track or horses with checkered pasts whom needed a second chance.  She also enjoyed watching the maturing of her group of young students as they grew up to horse show and were very frequently champions, or at least in the ribbons.  She still holds now retired horses she once showed close to her heart, such as "Braumanor's Estate", "With Honors", "Beaumanor's Bravo" and "Drama Queen".  Amanda said " I am lucky to have had the chance to have trained these four dynamic horses"!

Amanda later spent time in Tucson, Arizona helping to teach equitation and hunter riders while the owner spent two months at Spruce Meadows in Canada.  She became homesick for Texas and returned with her jumper "Gideon".  She then asked for help with Gideon from Britt McCormick at Elmstead Farm in Parker, Texas.  Amanda said "I was so impressed with his no nonsense approach to training.  He can fix a problem quickly, and he brought out a fearless ride in me that I hadn't felt in years".  Also Amanda said "Britt also knew how to make my horse ride to the jump, and jump to his best ability".  He is so kind to me whenever I meet him at shows.  He takes time out of his busy schedule to help me on whichever horse I am riding.

Amanda then took a three year break from working and showing to raise a family.  She has a great husband Scotty, a four year old daughter Olivia, and a two year old son Luca!  She is also back in the ring on an eight year old prospect named "Dillon", whom is owned by Judy Keswick of Windy City Farm. 

Amanda said "I am truly excited to teach at LCEC and will treat everyone with respect while trying to mold them into horseman good enough to later compete in horse shows"!