Silver Spur Ranch offers a variety of horse training and rider instruction. We also host a variety of competitions at our facility. Please see any of the information below to find out more about our trainers. Click here to go to our calendar of events to see more information regarding our competitions.

Please contact Silver Spur Ranch directly for more information or to schedule a lesson with one of their instructors.

Dressage - Heather McCarthy
Heather McCarthy is currently the trainer for dressage at Silver Spur Ranch. Heather McCarthy is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist with many local, regional and national championships. She was the alternate rider for the gold medal NAYR team on 2 separate occasions with 2 different horses. Heather is a competitive rider who has successfully competed a variety of horses from Training Level thru Grand Prix. She trained and competed her own mare Wella thru Intermediaire 1. Heather has trained with many internationally known clinicians including four years with Conrad Schumaucher while participating in the Young Riders Program.

Equitation, Hunters, Jumpers, Dressage - Missy Horton
Missy’s riding career spans over 30 years with experience in equitation, hunters, jumpers and dressage. As a young rider at the Ox Ridge Hunt Club in Darien, CT, Missy studied under many greats including Miss Felicia Townsend – notable trainer of legends George Morris and Victor Hugo-Vidal. During her time on the east coast, Missy secured several prestigious equitation championships, became a well-known catch rider and committed herself to studying the methods of George Morris, Leslie Burr, Joe Fargis, Michael Matz and others.

Upon returning to the Midwest, Missy’s successes continued in the jumper ranks and the dressage arenas. Now, Missy’s primary focus is on teaching and training. She is known locally for her success in bringing horses and riders into the ribbons, for retraining horses, and working with youngsters.  Her training methods are grounded in the basics including the importance of dressage in schooling, and fairness to the equine partner. Missy is also a certified equine massage therapist.