matt brown

Matt Brown has had the honor of having horses as his teachers
for over twenty years.
Matt began his equine career at the age of six, under the tutelage
of BHS instructor Andrea Pfeiffer of Chocolate Horse Farm. He
competed at numerous one star competitions, culminating in his
selection as a member of the Area 6 Team at the North America
Young Riders Championship Two Star competition in 1994. The
team won the Bronze medal. Throughout 1994 and 1995, Matt
competed at the Intermediate and Advanced Level at Wild Horse
Valley Ranch, CETA and RamTap.

In 1996 Matt traveled east to Vermont, where he trained with and assisted Denny Emerson at
Tamarack Hill Farm. Denny, an Olympic event rider and renowned horseman, helped refine
Matt's eventing skills.
Upon his return from Vermont, Matt began working with many young and troubled horses, as he
had for Andrea and Denny as a working student. He began to develop his own technique under
the expert coaching of Pierre Cousyn & clinicians including Steffan Peters, Beth Ball, Sue Blinks
and Christine Taurig.
The next major influence on Matt's equine development came at the Montana ranch of noted
Natural Horsemanship trainer George Khari. There Matt learned a new approach to horses
where patience and communication became the foundation of his approach with each horse.

Matt has also trained extensively in the self-defense art of
Kenpo Karate for twelve years. He achieved the rank of
Shodan (Black Belt) in 2000. Matt continues to teach Kenpo
& self-defense classes at Petaluma Academy of Martial Arts.

Cecily Clark, Barn Manager, started riding at age six, and hasn't
stopped since. She began training with Diane Field and Sue Riggs, who
helped her get her competition career started in the Children's Hunters
and Medals. Cecily continued her competiton under Audrey Goldsmith,
competing in Southern California at the Onadarka Finals, and winning
numerous championships in the Junior Hunters and Medals throughout
California and Oregon, including the Michelob Classic in 1996 and 1997.

Cecily also trained with Terry Church and
and Siri Larsen, under whom she began
learning a new way of looking at horses,

based on patience and understanding.
Cecily has also had the opportunity to work with other great trainers,
including Suzie Huchison, Beth Perkins, and Pierre Cousyn.

Together, Matt and Cecily create a refreshing philosophy and approach that takes the whole horse
into account. Through their partnership they create a safe place for their horses and students to
build their confidence and to meet their goals.