Where PASSION Meets PURPOSE
Joan F White -2018
For the last four years I have been most fortunate to be associated with Harley Whittaker at Windurra U.S.A. as my riding instructor and horse trainer . During this time I have found her to be a consistently pleasant, calm and effective, dedicated equine professional with excellent and concise communication skills. Harley applies her diligent work ethic with her unfailing attention to details for the well being of the horses in her care and training; and for what a student needs to hear next to better improve their seat, hands and aids to develop the right way of going for both horse and rider.
She is both a determined and accomplished rider in her own right that holds herself to the highest equestrian standards while pushing herself to continually improve her skills to achieve the goals she has set for herself, her horses and her students. It has been a privilege for myself and my horses to be under her care and I will be forever grateful for all she has accomplished for us. It's been a great ride and a true pleasure.!!
Rita L -2024
It is not very often that you find a trainer who is the "complete package":
*Someone who can ride
*Someone who can teach
*Someone who has a thorough knowledge of horsemanship
* and…. Most importantly, someone who would NEVER do anything to harm you or your horse.
Well… Harley IS the "complete package”!
She is a rare find, not only as a professional horse trainer, but as a person.
Her standards are high and her morals, values & ethics are even higher.
We need more “Harley’s” in the horse world!
Rita L.
Donna Shar-2024
There’s no crying in dressage but, there are tears……..Two years ago, I bought a 6 year old, Welsh cross,“ up-down” pony who was partially blind in one eye and so crooked in his body, when he trotted up to you in the field, it appeared he was half-passing in a straight line, lol.
It was around the same time Harley and I met. I was hesitant to ask this talented, accomplished, horse professional, to help this older and very average rider, with my new dressage prospect but, she happily agreed and was all in!
Today, this same pony, is a happy, solid first level mount, and is showing promise for more and I am a much better rider. We’ve successfully participated in schooling shows, recognized shows and in-hand at Devon! All this was accomplished and credit given to Harley Whittaker.
Harleys training style is very thoughtful, quiet, and thorough. My pony has steadily improved day by day, month by month. She never rushes a horse beyond its learning capacity in any one schooling session so there are no “ holes “ in her training. She rides correctly and kindly to encourage and reward the horse every ride while moving up the training scale. This was so important for my pony who can become tense at times, especially when asked to do something new.
She is a gifted instructor, who is very supportive and can move forward the goals of the Intro rider to the PSG rider easily. Harley has shown me what correct riding can accomplish.
Harley is an advocate for the horse first. She pays attention to the horses physical comfort including tack, saddle fit, nutrition, days off, hacking out, and all this in addition to her talent for riding and training. She believes in each horse and each rider, is invested in their goals and finds solutions that work for each individual.
So, as I said, there are tears in dressage………tears of joy for watching my grade pony turn into the dressage horse I never thought he’d be. Happy tears for someone believing in him and believing in this older AA to help and support me in this journey.
