Carlee Anderson
"What sets Carlee apart from other trainers I've worked with is how she explains and helps me to understand the process. She genuinely makes sure I understand what success looks and feels like. She also assigns "homework" in between our lessons which keeps me engaged and motivated. I was stuck in a rut with my horse and hadn't had lessons in years, and I appreciated how non-judgmental and supportive she was. She was very open and honest and worked with me to figure out the best course of action given my busy schedule and limited finances. I've worked and shown across many disciplines and I highly recommend her to anyone looking for a genuine, down to earth, and effective trainer".
​
-Caitlin MacDonald
​
Happy horses and riders
"Carlee has been my only coach since I first took up riding 8 years ago when I was 55. She successfully taught me to ride from scratch on my horse, a Haflinger that many people have had problems with, and has continued to teach me new things and help me improve my riding to this day. She is a natural teacher with a positive, flexible approach who was able to adapt her lessons to focus on what I wanted to learn. She has a broad knowledge of most disciplines and I would strongly recommend her to anyone who needs a talented and caring coach".
​
-Peter Thrower
"I have had the pleasure of working with Carlee Anderson for many years. She was recommended to me by a very satisfied neightbour and I am so pleased with how Carlee helped me develop a good relationship with my initially very strong willed, strong mouthed eventer, turning him into a happy, very willing dressage partner and trustworthy trail companion. Carlee draws from her many areas of expertise... her accomplished reining and western horsemanship background, her dressage training, her sensitive groundwork and horse communication skills, her amazing diagnostic skills and her insiteful teaching ability to provide thorough individual assessments and exercise programs that personally fit each and every horse and rider she trains. I was a school teacher for 31 years; I know and appreciate good teaching. Carlee never over-challenges the rider or the horse, but instead breaks down the needed elements for good riding and a soft feel so that both the rider and the horse can experience success. Her communication skills during our lessons are superb. She makes good use of imagery and analogies so that one is able to quickly make the needed corrections to get the horse on track and performing to the best of its ability. Carlee has helped us with many horses. Carlee is a devoted coach and really cares about her clients and her horses' well-being. She even got my strictly recreational trail riding husband hooked on taking lessons with her; his riding ability and communication with his horse improved dramatically. I always recommend lessons with Carlee to all our boarders and they are always grateful for their lessons with her and the amazing improvements they make in their riding. Carlee works magic and brings out the best in both the rider and their horse. We are so grateful for the time she spends with us!"
- Leslie Lendvoy
"I have been training with Carlee for the past 9 years and during that time I have seen a huge improvement in my riding and with my confidence working around horses. During this time I bought a baby and Carlee has been there to support me through all the stages of my young horses life. From basic handling and ground work to starting/breaking to trouble shooting any behavioural issues along the way, and preparing for showing, Carlee was able to teach both my horse, Bella and I, in a way that was easy to learn and safety conscious. I would highly recommend Carlee to anyone who is looking to improve their riding, their confidence around horses, starting/breaking their young horses and dealing with any training issues, as Carlee is patient, understanding and always puts the horses well being first."
​
-Marilyn Degroot
"Thanks Carlee, for helping me with Ryder when the other trainers were not able to. Not because he was bad or hard to handle but because of his lack of conformation and his fear issues that were keeping him from being able to think things through. You were able to help him get balanced, to give me exercises to do with him that helped him get stronger, and in such a way that we were able to understand. You were respectful of my misunderstanding sometimes, and were able to break things down so I could understand, and you were able to tell me why we were doing an exercise, and what it would help Ryder with. You have a lot of patience and calmness that I admire. When you rode him, you took your time with him and went slowly so he didn’t get worried. You also knew when to push so he could learn, he was always so much better after you rode him. You knew exactly when to stop, when he had had enough, and I so appreciate that. I also appreciate all the time you took with me, when I had to retire him and you found the perfect place for him to go. Then you helped me with finding my next partner, she is turning out to be really good. Thanks so much for all you have done for me!
-Bonnie
​
​
"Carlee Anderson has worked wonders for me and my two horses. She was able to help me solve things I spent years trying to correct with my mare. As for my younger gelding, she was able to help him and I form a very solid foundation and move past the basics. I highly recommend her for any horse and rider of any level. Her knowledge and patients has helped me improve my own skills and made a huge difference in my horses and their well being."
- Lisa Classon
​
"I had my young horse in training with Carlee for about 6 months, and it was amazing!! My little horse was a bit of a sensitive issue, she had major trust issues with mounting, and anything above her head. Carlee developed a program that would work with my little horses sensitivities, and in that made her safer and calmer to get on. Carlee made it so that my horse really started to trust when someone was going to get on her, which I had never really thought possible. Carlee's ground work with the horses is second to none, I never realized how much information you could get out of spending 5 or 10 min on the ground with your horse prior to riding. Her program really makes for happy and well trained horses. For myself, I have never felt so safe in a lesson as I did with Carlee, it had been years since I had done any arena riding, and not once did I ever feel uneasy or unsafe in my lessons, to get that kind of confidence and reassurance from someone teaching you a lesson is truly inspiring. I would recommend Carlee to anyone, she's an amazing rider, an amazing trainer and an amazing coach!"
​
-Meghan Hartmann
"Carlee is a wonderful teacher. She is a talented horsewoman that has shared her knowledge, her innate intuition, her patience and love of horses with me during every lesson. She has trained my horses, taught me and helped me buy (or not buy!) horses. She is readily available for advice and she truly cares about each of the horses in her program."
-Dallas Fahy
"When my old show horse and I met Carlee 3 years ago, we had many challenges to overcome. I was a relatively older novice rider wanting to ride the trails, and my horse just knew the ring. Carlee is a very knowledgeable, patient and motivating coach. She treats both horse and rider with respect and understanding of where they are emotionally/ physically and with focus to their goals as a team. Carlee is calm and soft in her approach to coaching, making it fun while adding “more arrows to my quiver”. We now can ride the trails by ourselves and have participated in some dressage shows. Thank you Carlee, we could not have done it without you!"
​
- Gail Ross
​
'I could tell you that Carlee had taken Finn and I to the Dressage Grand Prix in 2 years or less, but it would be a silly lie and you wouldn't know that she did something better for us. She took a fat 50 year old first time rider, and a goofy green draft horse and made us a team. She taught us how to work together, and respect each other. She taught me how to ask, and he learned that effort was rewarded. We will never be amazing, but this is a private journey, not a competition. Having Carlee mentor this adventure has given Finn and I a common language, with less nagging (me), and fewer tantrums (him). Even though we both work hard, physically and mentally, our lessons with Carlee are exceptionally rewarding. Finn must feel the same as he is happy to see her when she arrives, and prefers to follow her as we leave the area!"
- Karen Morrow
"Riding means different things for different people. For some it is all about ribbons in the show ring. For others it is an opportunity to dominate another creature. And for some it is a search for partnership. Carlee’s approach focuses on partnership. This means she uses exercises to teach the horse what it feels like to be forward, straight and engaged. In effect, she shows the horse the way to experience its own power and grace, and to search for that place themselves. The times I felt my own horse recognize he could “feel better” under saddle, and take himself to straightness, are among the most thrilling moments I have experienced in my life. Teaching the horse to work in that way is the rider’s job. We may not know that when we begin, but with help from a good coach, like Carlee, one who can see the rider’s asymmetries, emotions and hesitations and those of the horse, we can get there faster. Which means less wear and tear on both the rider’s and the horse’s body. The physical, emotional and spiritual connection this creates with the horse is an incredible life gift."
- Mei Lin Yeoell
"I am 14 years old and I'd like to write about my extraordinary mare Dakota, who my mom helped me buy from Carlee Anderson. Carlee is an amazing horse trainer, as she broke my horse in with all of her own training expertise and spiced her up with the techniques of western dressage. Dakota rides like a dream, and is very responsive to the slightest body movement and the lightest touch of pressure. Dakota has a sweet temperament, and a pleasing attitude. Anything you ask her of, whether it's technical moves in the saddle, or tricky objects out on the trail, she'll do it all to please you. Carlee has done a stunning job with my horse, as she knows well above the basic understanding of a younger horse (as she is seven ). I am so fortunate to have a horse like this. If you are looking for a well mannered, high class, and forever friend horse, I absolutely recommend buying a horse from Carlee Anderson."
- Alicia Christensen
