Willow River Equestrian is truly something special. Elisabeth and May have created an environment where horsemanship is rooted deeply in kindness, empathy, and genuine respect for both horse and rider. Their ethos goes far beyond traditional riding instruction. They teach you how to build a true partnership with your horse, one grounded in trust, communication, and mutual understanding.

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned here is that horses are incredibly perceptive. They read and reflect the energy you bring into the space, and Elisabeth and May help you understand how your presence, mindset, and emotional state directly shape how your horse responds to you. This philosophy transforms not only how you ride, but how you connect and show up as a human.

If you’re looking for an equestrian program that prioritizes compassionate horsemanship, personal growth, and authentic connection, Willow River Equestrian is exceptional.

​My experience with Willow River Equestrian has been nothing short of incredible. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to creating a partnership built on trust — between horse and rider, and between client and trainer. Every interaction reflects patience, knowledge, and a genuine respect for the horse.

They take the time to really listen — not just to the rider, but to the horse. Their philosophy clearly puts the horse first, ensuring each animal’s physical and emotional well-being is always the top priority. That foundation of care creates confident horses and confident riders.

The humans ( Elisabeth the main trainer and May) behind Willow River are simply amazing. They are kind, attentive, and deeply passionate about what they do. You can feel how much they truly care — about the horses, about their clients, and about building long-term, meaningful relationships.

If you’re looking for a place where trust, compassion, and horsemanship come together beautifully, Willow River Equestrian is it. Highly recommend.

What can I say Elisabeth and May are a wonderful team! I adopted an OTTB 2 years ago and it has been quite a journey. This team has seen us through rehab, groundwork, ridden work and liberty work. My horse is learning to trust knowing he will always be safe and cared for. At WRE, horses are given voices to learn, grow and trust. It is a wonderful place where humans and horses thrive.

I am a forever fan of your mindful and healing blend of human and equine encounters that heal the soul and lift up the spirit.  I enthusiastically recommend your program to anyone who seeks connection with these magnificent, exquisite creatures and fellowship with the humans who love and care for them.

I am part of the Willow River Equestrian family. My horse and I have been fortunate enough to benefit and grow from the amazing training and care given by Elisabeth and May. Both trainers are so attentive and kind to my boy and he eats that up. Their goal is to make him the best horse for me. All of us have become such a cohesive bunch... our horses get along and it is comforting to know that I have other horse Mom’s watching over my boy when I am not at the barn.

I came to the horse world as an adult, never imagining that working with horses would mean working just as deeply with myself. This has been the greatest gift of my one-on-one training with Elisabeth Hower and her clinics. Elisabeth is kind, supportive, compassionate, and deeply intuitive—not only with riders, but with horses as well. The connection between the two is vital to a successful, harmonious partnership. Wherever you are in your horse journey, you couldn’t be in better hands than at Willow River Equestrian.