2024 Guest Instructors
Two Spruce Farm is honored to have wonderful Guest Instructors teach clinics. We present this opportunity to YOU. Most of these Instructors are local and they all offer practical horsemanship to enhance your relationship with your horse.
Nate Bowers
NATE BOWERS -
2024 Guest Instructor Dates: April 20, May 25, June 1, June 15, and June 29
Nate was born and raised in the state of Colorado. He spent his youth farming with horses and training with his Dad, Steve Bowers. Nate has gained notoriety as a world class driving horse trainer while developing a driving horse teaching system with Pat Parelli. He has toured the world teaching classes and clinics and wrote his first book at 18. He continues to teach driving and trains ranch and cow horses for use on his family's ranch. Nate teaches the cattle clinics at Two Spruce Farm and provides the cattle.
970-310-7196 | nathan-bowers@hotmail.com | www.bowersfarm.com
Jessica Dabkowski
JESSICA DABKOWSKI -
2024 Guest Instructor Dates: April 28, May 5, June 23, July 7, July 14, Aug 4, and Aug 11
"I grew up riding hunter/jumper in GA, your typical "barn rat" always mucking stalls to earn extra riding time on really naughty lesson ponies. Earned my Equine Science degree from CSU in 2003, started teaching kids' lessons and training for the public in 2003. Competed in my first Extreme Mustang Makeover in 2010 and have been a mustang addict ever since. I won the 2012 Colorado Extreme Mustang Makeover, earned over $13k in the Specialty Riding division at the Mustang Million competition in 2013, and have had great success training mustangs to be successful partners for their new adopters. I work with all horses, wild or not, and focus on creating a gentle, willing horse in any discipline."
March 2016 Featured Stride article by Jessica:
My first experience with Two Spruce Farm was in 2013 when I was training my two mustangs, Vesper and Bravo, for the Mustang Million competition. I was looking for opportunities to get them out to different places, and to get them exposed to new activities and environments. The trail obstacle clinics at Two Spruce provided a great opportunity for just that. Lots of varied obstacles, a perfect-sized group of other riders, and the ability to work at my own pace over the obstacles provided an ideal setting for building confidence with my mustangs. The fact that the clinics were FUN was just an extra bonus!
I was thrilled to be asked to come back and help teach some of the trail obstacle clinics in 2014 and 2015, and again this year in 2016…attending and teaching these clinics have become a regular part of my Makeover mustang training regimen! I always have a new Makeover mustang to bring to the clinics, and I enjoy using them to help me teach people just how light and soft you can really be with your horse. From an instructor’s perspective, these clinics are always rewarding. People from all sorts of riding backgrounds and with all sorts of different types of horses come to these clinics, and there’s nothing like watching all of them gain confidence, respect, understanding, and communication with their horse during the few hours of the clinic. Seeing people help their horses “conquer” the obstacles is fun, but the real reward is seeing people use the obstacles as a tool to improve their relationship and communication with their horses.
I’m looking forward to bringing Pearl, my current mustang in training for the Ft Collins Mustang Makeover, to the May 8th trail obstacle clinic at Two Spruce. Pearl really is a special horse, a rare pearl indeed, she’s been incredibly calm and easy to work with, and I can already tell that she’ll make an excellent horse for just about anyone who ends up adopting her at the Makeover competition at the end of May. Can’t wait to meet all the attendees to the clinics this year, and can’t wait to share Pearl…and the next mustang…and then the next...
970-443-3907 | ponypeakstables@gmail.com | Pony Peak Horsemanship
Amy & Steve LeSatz
AMY & STEVE LESTAZ -
2024 Guest Instructor Dates: April 27, May 19, July 6, July 13, Aug 3, and Aug 10
Bridle Bit Horsemanship is made up of Amy and Steve LeSatz. We are a couple that’s proud to have been helping people and horses since 1989.
Amy grew up on a traditional cow/calf/yearling ranch at Chugwater, Wyoming. She spent many hours in the saddle riding next to her Dad who instilled a deep love and respect for the horse and cattle ranching. As a student of the horse Amy has continued to improve her horsemanship and has expanded her knowledge of the horse and the horse/rider connection through an increased understanding of horse and human biomechanics. She is using her skills to help horses discover the ability to self-govern while creating awareness in posture, balance, and movement. She’s also using her knowledge to help riders find the feel and connection to their horse they are searching for. She cherishes the time, inspiration, and friendships she has shared with the likes of Ray Hunt, Joe Wolter, Bryan Neubert and the hundreds of horsemen and women she’s worked with over the years.
Steve grew up in the Southwest, Arizona and Colorado. His parents taught him to work hard and respect others; lessons that he’s carried into work and life. After earning his Animal Science/Ag Business Degree at the University of Arizona, Steve worked his way north to Wyoming where his future father-in-law took him under his wing and gave him some great experience ranching. Steve spent several years in cattle feedlots, packing houses and other agriculture related industries. His passion for horses, cattle, and ranching keeps drawing him back to the life he’s living now. That passion is evident in all he does with the horses he rides, the cattle he manages and the riders he works with. He loves learning and loves sharing what he’s learned.
970-978-9724 | bridle.bit.llc@gmail.com | www.bridle-bit.com
Kristi Plutt
KRISTI PLUTT -
2024 Guest Instructor Dates: May 4
Kristi offers horsemanship and trail clinics, individual/group lessons, trailer loading, horse sales, training/colt-starting, boarding and breeding. She has ridden with the best and offers you and your horse only the best!
Lame Dog Ranch 11247 Weld County Rd 36, Platteville, CO 80651
303-506-9934 | kristiplutt@gmail.com | www.lamedogranch.com
“Only two emotions belong in the saddle: Patience and a Sense of Humor.”