Ever since I can remember, I have been in love with horses and wanted to spend every moment of my day at the horse barn. My equestrian life began at age twelve at a multi-discipline horse riding facility called, The Riding Center. There, I became a working student and eventually a horse trainer.

I am proud to say today that the place I call home, The Riding Center (TRC), is now the main training location for Lakeview Horse Rescue which got its name from the beautiful half-acre lake located on TRC’s property. The training arenas and barns have beautiful views of the peaceful lake.

TRC provides training for both horse and rider. It trains horses to be under saddle, retrain “problem horses”, and offers great training opportunities for riders of all experience levels. The skills taught there help horse and rider become more confident in a variety of scenarios they will face on their own.

That “Ranch-style” facility provided me ample opportunity to learn how to truly ride. The variety of terrain, and thousands of hours riding across it on many different breeds of horses, helped me developed my “seat.” Some of my daily tasks involved moving cows and horses from pasture to paddocks, while on the back of a horse!

In 1999, I got my driver’s license and a job working at The Riding Center. There was never a lack of horses to ride, barn chores to be done, or life experiences to be gained. About ten foals were born every year in addition to the horses brought into the facility for training. I enjoyed cleaning the stalls and water troughs, feeding and grooming the horses, and of course RIDING! I learned how to start horses under saddle, ride different breeds of horses and ponies, and work with horse owners. That same year, I started to teach beginner riding lessons. Little did I know how much it would help me help horses and riders in the future.

That experience taught me a great deal about communication between horse and rider. Regardless of the length of training, all riders can learn the benefits of communicating with their newly trained horse under saddle. The rider needs to understand how the horse was trained, so he, or she, can continue the good habits and benefit from the time and money spent in training. I believe the horse can only be as good as the rider or handler.

In addition to learning how to start colts and working with problem horses, I also learned English and Western disciplines. I competed in endurance racing and the show ring. While riding with Denny Emerson and Sandy Collier, I learned that it was all about the horsemanship and the biomechanics of the horse and not just about riding a certain discipline. It made me realize that a discipline is the byproduct of good training and good habits...NOT the other way around.

I grew up learning a training foundation technique known as “The Basic Handle Technique.” This technique was developed and designed by Monte Foreman with help from another man named, Patrick Wyse. I have personally worked with Susan Baker and Janiece Wilson, both certified Monte Foreman trainers. I became Foreman certified in 2009 and I am the youngest certified rider, instructor, and trainer under his technique. I am very proud to carry on the tradition of this training technique as it spans across all breeds of horses, including the gaited horse breeds. The Monte Foreman training is the best foundation for most riding disciplines.

That solid training foundation and thirteen years of miscellaneous experiences in the barn and around livestock, helped me when I began horse training and instructing riding lessons for Longmeadow Rescue Ranch, a division of the Missouri Humane Society. I began that association in 2011 and it continued for nearly five years. While there, I participated in their rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption process. Once horses were healthy enough, they would begin a training and fitness program with me. We had great success training and adopting out many horses, ponies, and mules.

After over twenty years of teaching clinics and riding lessons in several states, Canada, and Saudi Arabia, I have decided it was time to redirect my focus and my efforts. I want to emphasize the rehabilitation and training of rideable horses and ponies and offer educational opportunities to the next generation of horse people.

Lakeview Horse Rescue is excited to offer continuing education programs to our adopters and other horse lovers. We are also offering equine assisted learning, equine assisted therapy, and other great wellness programs!

It makes me so proud and happy to rehabilitate horses and people on the same ground where I spent most of my time through the years. I’m so grateful to be able to share my “horse knowledge” with people and help horses and ponies that need a soft place to land.

Our motto at Lakeview Horse Rescue is; “People helping horses, and horses helping people.”

~ Sarah Sanders, founder Lakeview Horse Rescue