A place where horse lovers can chase their dreams.
Youth “Horsemanship Track”
We currently have very limited openings in this program, and they will fill fast! Reach out ASAP if you are interested.
Pacific Northwest Equestrian Center is primarily an educational program, with a limited number of school horses and ponies available for students to learn on.
Our Horsemanship Track program is for young riders (typically middle- high-school age) who are seeking to pursue partial leasing and goals related to ranch riding, working cattle (sorting, limited ranch cow work, etc.), working equitation, or other working-Western disciplines.
These lessons are in a group format, for 2.5 hours twice a week. Lessons not only include riding, but also practicing consistent responsibility for horse care tasks, and “ground school” curriculum of ground-handling skills to classroom-based horsemanship knowledge. Horsemanship Track students are eligible to partial lease horses on the premises, as well as take lesson/lease horses to local events like shows, clinics, and cow practices hauled and supervised by our instructors.
Tuition for the Horsemanship Track is a flat fee of $500/month, not including associated event fees (show registration, etc.) or additional lease rides.
We deeply value fostering a community of connection and learning, supporting each other every step of the way!
Haul-In Lessons
For current horse owners and lessees who are able to haul to our facility, haul-in lessons with Laura Pauls may be available. Our program emphasizes riders who are interested in beginning to work cattle; our barn does have a flag! We also have access to a growing collection of trail and working equitation obstacles.
Haul-in lessons are $85 for one hour of arena time/instruction, or you can purchase a package for $280.
Please reach out if you are interested in scheduling a haul-in lesson with your horse.
Beginner-Intermediate Riding Lessons
We currently have very limited openings in this program, and they will fill fast! Reach out ASAP if you are interested.
Our little herd of lesson horses have years of experience teaching riders of all ages, from beginners to advanced intermediates.
We offer a small number of weekly riding lesson spots for those just beginning their riding journey, or working towards bigger horsemanship goals. Weekly lessons include 1 hour of instruction, and may be private or semi-private.
Tuition for weekly lessons is $300/month.
Our Instructors
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Laura Pauls
OWNER, INSTRUCTOR & TRAINER
Laura has been an equine professional since 2006, teaching a variety of students, training horses, and supporting horse owners to make the most out of their journey with their horses. She purchased the property and moved her program to what is now the Pacific Northwest Equestrian Center in early 2020.
Laura loves watching students grow and deepen their understanding of horsemanship, and values trying new things. While she herself focuses on cutting with her own horses, she has provided an education for students interested in both English and Western disciplines, driving, cattle sorting, competitive trail, mounted archery, and more.
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Jillian Boyte-White
INSTRUCTOR
Jill was horse-crazy from childhood, and found her home in Laura’s budding lesson program back in 2008. She showed in 4-H and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, spent time involved in horse rescue, and ultimately found an intersection of everything she loved in teaching riding lessons.
Jill studied education in undergrad and is now a licensed mental health therapist, all of which she finds intersects with horsemanship. She enjoys helping students understand how we interact with horses as fellow living beings as well as learn skills on horseback. Jill is incredibly grateful to have come full-circle in Laura’s program, and currently is enjoying being a beginner in novice-level ranch sorting, team penning, and ranch cutting/cow work.
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Leanna Vandlen
INSTRUCTOR
Leanna is a life-long horse lover. She spent her youth competing in AHA and IHSA shows. She has worked at breeding and training farms, as well as horse rescues. In addition to teaching lessons and day camps, Leanna is a NBCAAM certified, Large Animal Massage Therapist. With a passion for equine performance, as well as a goal of understanding horses as deeply as possible, the practice of equine massage and bodywork felt like coming home.
Leanna is newly exploring Working Equitation with her Half-Arabian horse, Leroy as well as diving into ranch sorting and team penning with her friends at PNWEC.
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Kendra Johnson
Kendra is a lifelong horsewoman and experienced riding instructor and trainer, and is passionate about teaching horsemanship to riders of all ages and supporting them in pursuing their riding dreams! Her lessons are engaging and cover a wide range of topics from riding basics to training your own horse.