Staff

nick rivera

Nick is a Wisconsin native where he met and became friends with all of THU's trainers and contributors through love of horses and horsemanship. He has been involved with horses from a young age, though not in a professional capacity until after graduating from the University of Wisconsin. It was in this time where he met Ryan Rose; they started a friendship that has taken Nick on many great adventures, not the least of which have been in horsemanship. Ryan and Nick produce and sell the horse hydration product, Whinny Water, which is available online across the US. 

His hope is that The Horseman's University will  create an environment where students can learn natural horsemanship, challenge themselves and their horses through our Trainers' Challenges, and have fun and be safe all along the way. 

He and his horse Jasper hope to meet all of THU's students, and share their adventures in horsemanship together. 

Trainers and Clinicians

Ryan Rose

Ryan Rose began as a professional horse trainer and clinician in May 2005. Ryan soon realized that in order to have success as a horse trainer and clinician, he needed to become a horseman. Ryan has studied with many top world-class horseman, spending four years with Pat Parelli.

Ryan now teaches workshops and clinics all over the world as well as running a comprehensive training program at his home in Wisconsin. Ryan’s passion is in creating partnerships between horses and their owners.

His skills in horse development and his teaching set him apart. He also enjoys competing and training horses in ranch versatility.

Please visit Ryan’s website to see workshops and clinics near you as well as the Rose Horsemanship Center page to find services offered such as training and internship programs. Also, sign up for Ryan’s newsletter on his website for the latest information of upcoming events, blogs, student profiles and much more. You can also follow Ryan on Facebook and YouTube.

Jake Biernbaum

Jake's Pear Tree Ranch Team is based out of Reddick, Florida where Jake is able to operate at a beautiful facility where horses and their owners can come to learn in a special environment. Jake also travels the country, bringing that atmosphere with him, so he can help even more horses and humans get together and become better partners.  He helps horse owners by starting a relationship and developing partnerships with their horse so the horse is ready to be a good partner for their human in his Horse Development Services.  He also teaches owners to have good habits and skills so they can have successful relationships and partnerships with their horses through his Human Development programs. These include lessons, bootcamp, workshops, clinics and camps.

You can find Pear Tree Ranch on social media platforms including, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  If you are interested in having him help you along your journey,  see his website to learn more about what is available to you and your equine partner.

doug jordan

Doug and Amy Jordan, are not only the creators of Equine Performance Partnership, together the duo has successfully navigated the evolving equine industry for more than thirty years. Initially, the Jordan’s were immersed in the cutting horse world, having the opportunity to train and show numerous champions and finalists through the years. Doug recalls becoming hooked on the sport of cutting at the age of eleven and had successfully trained his first competitive cutter by the time he was just thirteen. His personal accomplishments boast titles at numerous major NCHA events, most notably was his induction into the National Cutting Horse Associations Hall of Fame in 2000,  after being only the second rider ever to win every go-round in the history of the NCHA Futurity. Amy has been there every step of the way, from loping down colts, to getting horses show-pen ready and lets not forget all of the long hard hours dedicated to the horse training family and raising their son, Levi.

None the less, their track record goes far beyond the sandy arena of the cutting pen and the couples concentration has now transitioned from competitively training cutting horses, to sharing and promoting a truer connection between horse and rider.  Where others have given up, both Doug and Amy have taken the initiative to work with horses  and riders of all backgrounds and disciplines. With the horses best interest in mind, they aim to  deliver lessons, instruction, and  clinics across the United States and abroad ranging in skill from basic horsemanship to advanced cattle handling techniques.

When not on the road, Doug and Amy reside at the beautiful Jordan Oaks Ranch in Texas, just a short drive from the Dallas- Fort Worth area. The ranch is  a prime location for their involvement in the industry as well as their community and it gives them a unique opportunity to share their message and knowledge. The Jordan family takes pride in raising their growing herd of cattle as well as a few offspring by their ranch performance stallion, Playing With A Pepto. Jordan Oaks Ranch has been a dream in the making with even bigger things to come.

Tik Maynard

Tik began riding with the Vancouver Pony Club, in Southlands, British Columbia. After achieving his ‘A’ rating, he began competing in Modern Pentathlon, where he represented Canada at three World Championships, and the 2007 Pan– American Games. In 2008, Maynard began a journey to improve his riding. From Germany to Florida, from Alberta to Texas, and from Florida to New Jersey, Maynard was willing to go wherever he had to, to learn from the best. Along the way he discovered something more important: horsemanship. It is that idea that continues to motivate him. Today, Maynard searches out knowledge from many sources, but his most important mentors are his parents and his wife. He is married to US Eventing Team Member Sinead Halpin. Together they run Copperline Farm in Citra, Florida. Maynard has always been a passionate book lover. He has written a children’s story, published by REAL magazine, has won the Malahat Review Open Season Award, and has twice been shortlisted for the CBC Literary Awards for his non– fiction works.

Richard schouten

After many years of teaching and observing horses and their owners, I find that proper communication skills are often undervalued and left unpracticed.

Technique is important... but the right technique at the wrong time is useless.  Horsemanship should be a conversation you are having with your horse.
My goal is to help you develop communication skills and a “language” with your horse involving body language, aids, and the ever elusive “feel”.  With these communication skills we will develop a
1. lasting partnership based on trust and mutual respect

2. confident, fit, and reliable “mode of transportation”  
3. the fun, fancy, amazing horse of your dreams! 

Feel free to experiment and explore, I want you to try and find the right answer for your horse while maintaining his natural aptitude.

Chelsea Canedy

I grew up in Connecticut, and started riding when I was about 11. I was a member of Litchfield Pony Club, and earned my H-A certificate before leaving for college. I rode and taught lessons through those four years, while I earned my Bachelor of Fine Art degree. And then I jumped headlong into horses! I ran a farm in Northeastern Tennessee, where my eyes were opened to some horsemanship ideas and tools that I had never seen before, and then went over the nearby border into Virginia where I expanded my business into a larger facility. I remained there for several years and during that time, brought along project horses from the track and other careers into eventing. I had several horses move up to the preliminary level before being sold for their owners, and was also able to ride up the levels in dressage, which really helped my eventing game! I was also lucky enough to meet a wonderful client who brought me on to run her private farm and show her amazing horses. I was working there when I met my now husband, and soon after it was clear that we needed to move back to the northeast where both our families were. At this same time, I was doing a lot of soul searching about my personal goals in life and in the horse world specifically. This led me to exploring meditation, which became a huge part of my life going forward. When we moved to Maine, I backed off from horses as my sole profession, and pared it down to teaching just a few clients, while working in social service. But over the last ten years, while I have also had two children, my clientele has grown and my business is full-time horses again...though now I can say I am in this business in a much healthier and more sustainable way than I was in my early days, which allows me to help my horses and my clients so much more effectively! My husband and I recently purchased a farm in Wales, Maine, which we named Unexpected Farm, where I now run by business full time.