Marian Nelson has been training and coaching hunter/jumper children, juniors and adult amateurs in California for over 30 years. Her program is based at the Riverside Equestrian Center, a Petaluma facility located on 70 acres in Southern Sonoma County and the largest equestrian training center in Northern California. Marian’s students and horses have qualified for and won many big events including year-end Norcal and PCHA championships, and hunter and medal finals.
Although she had a passion for horses from her first memory, no one in her family had an interest. So she took a few lessons and tried to find a way to have a horse. It wasn’t until her family moved to Northern California that her parents were able to get her a horse. “They thought I’d get tired of working to support my horse after a year,” Marian says with a laugh. “Boy, were they wrong.”
Thirty years later, Marian credits the family business for making her into such a supportive trainer. Her grandmother founded a private school and her family members were all teachers. “Education was so important,” she explains. “I grew up with people who wanted to make learning a good experience. And because of that, whether I have an AA jumper preparing for the show ring or a child who is willing to do whatever they can just to ride, I love to work with them all.”
Marian runs an extremely organized barn where each horse is on a strict health and maintenance schedule and she credits her team for providing quality care. Assistant trainers Ann Ruffner, Mika Gretton and Sue Ellen Wright all bring many qualities and show experiences to the program. Farrier Ray Sagaria and son are at the barn at least once a week and are always on call if a horse loses a shoe.
Dr. Bruce Daniels of the Marin Vet Clinic provides quality health care. Sue Ellen, also the owner of Wright Stuff Tack & Supplies, works closely with all of Marian’s students to outfit them with the right equipment. Olivier Fouques of Antares Saddlery regularly visits Riverside to service the saddles and custom fit new saddles, and Glenn Wright Horse Transport takes care of getting all the horses to and from shows in rigs of various sizes.
Riverside Equestrian Center Highlights
Riverside Equestrian Center currently houses approximately 200 horses. There are seven full size arenas (two covered: 100’ x 200’ and 125’ x 230’) and additional facilities include a round pen, miles of trails, two lunging areas and a galloping track. Marian’s personal arena is 250’ x 150’ and consists of quality all-weather footing.
Equitation, hunters, jumpers, and basic english riding are all taught at Riverside by Marian and her assistant trainers. The training at Riverside ranges from beginning lessons to coaching Junior and Adult Amateur champions.
While training with Marian, there are several types of premium stalls to choose from; stalls each with a locker and paddock, or “river paddocks,” which are completely covered 12’ x 24’ paddocks. The barn also features multiple tack rooms, a lounge, crossties, and wash racks with heated water. It also includes a washer and dryer as well as a picnic area on a scenic lawn planted with trees and flowers. There are numerous clinics throughout the year with well-known trainers.
Student Successes
In 2006, Melissa Miller on Tanzi earned NorCal Champion Hunt Seat Equitation 18-35; Pacific Coast Champion Hunt Seat Equitation Class A 18-35; Champion Amateur Owner Working Hunter 18-35 Region II; and Zone 10 Hunt Seat Equitation 18-35 Champion.
Stevie Sorenson on Mighty Akorn was PCHA Region II Champion Pony Hunters, NorCal Medium Pony Hunter Champion, and also won the 2006 NorCal Pony Hunter Classic. Taylor Copple with Royal Legacy earned the Zone 10 Large Pony Hunter Champion Stirrup Cup.
Marian also imports horses from Europe. She and Sue Ellen often take a few students on their buying trips, which is great experience for all. Thorax, a gray, 6 year old Dutch,16.2-hand gelding by Cavalier, was recently imported by Marian from Holland. He finished in the top 15 at the 2006 Young Jumper West Coast Finals. This is the second year in a row that Marian has qualified horses for these finals.
“I think because I had to do it all on my own that I have a real love and passion for it,” says Marian. It’s become such a high end sport, Marian wants to do what she can to make sure people who love to ride aren’t left out.
For more information, contact Marian at
707-766-9066 or visit www.mariannelson.com.