Paige has been riding and working with horses for 20+ years. She has experience in a variety of different disciplines, including Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, HUS, Equitation, Showmanship, Halter, Trail/Obstacles, Ranch, Reining and Trick Training. Paige also has experience with Speed events such as Barrels, Pole Bending, Keyhole, Speed & Action and Flags.
Paige has 10 years of experience with giving private and group lessons to riders of all levels and ages. Also, leading trail rides, groundwork, halter breaking/leading , ground driving and working with a range of horses from un-started horses, green broke horses to finished horses; as well as "problem horses", yearlings, and stallions.
Paige enjoys using gentle training techniques and a combination of classic & natural horsemanship methods.
Melissa Ashcraft
Owner and Head Instructor
Level 3 Instructor
Nicole was gifted her first pony at 2 years old and, with that gift, a love of horses was born. Growing up on a farm in rural Indiana only cultivated that passion, and she now uses her experience to foster that same feeling in children.
Nicole is the leader of our Pony Club and Junior Rider programs: our groups for young children ages 4-7 and 8 and up, respectively. With these programs she educates children on the care of horses as well as basic riding skills.
Nicole Miller
Level 1 Instructor
Melissa established Transitions in 2013. She is a Grand Prix Level Dressage rider and a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist. Melissa is a successful instructor/competitor and often travels across the U.S. teaching all disciplines and levels. She has been blessed enough to travel internationally teaching clinics and lessons in Australia, France, Canada, Spain and soon Italy. Her training methods are a combination of classical/ natural horsemanship. Melissa toured for 6 years with the “World Famous Lipizzan Stallion Show,” performing throughout various parts of the world in front of as many as 15,000 people! Since 2006 Melissa has performed and competes with a large group of horses mostly stallions of different breeds such as Friesians, Andalusians, Lusitanos, Hanoverians, Arabians, a paint mare, and more. Her “signature horses” have been featured in virtually every horse magazine, several T.V. shows. Melissa has been performing with the famous Majestic Friesian Stallions who starred in a big movie titled Albion: The Enchanted Stallion, honored to become a Breyer horse and the list goes on!
Melissa's training methods are a combination of Classical Dressage and Natural Horsemanship. She is known for getting the most out of her students and horses by creating a fun, laid-back, yet effective environment. Melissa is an extremely diverse trainer/clinician/competitor and offers beginner to advanced riding instruction and training in Dressage, Jumping, English and Western Pleasure/Equitation, Driving, Western Dressage, Reining, Natural Horsemanship and Trick Training.
Meet Our Instructors
Riley has been riding since she was 6. She is currently interning at Transitions Equestrian Center. Riley has ridden Hunter/Jumpers and Dressage. She competed in IEA Nationals for Dressage placing 4th. She is also currently in training with her horse, BTC Valntyne, and working on moving up in the Dressage world.
She currently studies Equine Dentistry in Glenns Ferry, Idaho during the spring and fall and plans to extend her career into Equine Chiropractic and Equine Nutrition. Riley has been teaching lessons since 2018 and hopes to continue to do so through her horse career.
Your Equestrian Escape
Riley Ruelle
Level 2 Instructor
Transitions
Equestrian Center
Paige Butler
Assistant Trainer
Level 2 Instructor