Karen Wallace

Karen is an Orinda artist and mother of three grown children who has taught art and sewing to youth and adults for over 20 years. Her goal as a teacher is for her students to feel comfortable, creative, and successful. She has a mild and calming nature which gives children a sense of safety, allowing them to shed any inhibitions around art and creativity.

As an artist, Karen thrives on experimentation and discovery. While her degree is in digital art and animation, she has worked extensively in watercolor, printmaking and sculpture. Her work can be found in collections throughout the United States and in Japan.

Karen hopes to inspire children as they create in the serene and natural Sienna Ranch setting which she, herself, loves. Karen regularly volunteers with the care of the various farm animals at Sienna Ranch.

Glenn Kim

Alison Gould

Alison comes from the southern forests of Nashville, TN where she grew up playing in creeks and climbing trees. She spent many years teaching visual arts to kids in Nashville before moving on to earn her BA from the Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Since graduating she has taught nutrition, gardening, sewing and summer camp to all ages in California. She recently completed the Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness Program at the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, CA and is very excited to share her wilderness skills with others. Alison's hobbies include gardening, bird watching, hiking, rock climbing, yoga, and sewing.

Erin McCabe

My first memories are of loving horses, although my formal riding instruction did not begin until I was 12 years old. My junior riding years were spent showing in the local hunter/jumper, dressage, and eventing disciplines, and trail-riding. I was active in the Pony Club and 4-H horse programs which instilled the importance of learning all aspects of horse management. During college I worked as an Assistant Barn Manager for a private boarding facility in Santa Cruz. I obtained a teaching credential in 1999 and taught high school English until 2008, when I began working towards a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at St. Mary’s College.

In early 2003, I decided to also pursue a career that would combine my love of teaching with my passion for horses.  I worked as a groom for local dressage and eventing trainer Brenda Peters-Beare and then in December 2003 began teaching dressage lessons and exploring Horsemanship techniques with Corinne Burt at Bottomley Farm.  

I believe it is important to continue with my own education as a rider and continue to seek lessons and training for my own horse. Currently I ride with Susie Braun and Reagan Hayes, and have taken lessons or clinics with a variety of instructors, including: Brian Sabo, USEA Instructor Certification Program faculty member and coach of Gina Miles (Olympic Silver Medalist); David Adamo, Advanced level competitor; Paula Lacey, "S" Dressage Judge; John Camlin, international level three-day eventing competitor; Nick Holmes Smith, Olympic competitor and Pan-Am gold medalist.

Lucia Tuman

I moved to California 2 years ago from Chicago, I have been working with horses since i was a little girl and can't Imagine myself doing anything else. My life is completely committed to horses.  I am a CHA certified riding instructor. I have a variety of experience in the equestrian world, if it has anything to do with horses, I want to learn about it, this has led me to pursue both english and western riding, as well as driving, and I am always looking for the next thing. Sienna Ranch has given me the chance to own my first horse, Ringo, and I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to share my passion with others and pursue my own equestrian endeavors. Every day is new and exciting!

Rafe Halsey

Rafe has a history of nature exploration.  From the year spent traveling the deserts of the the Southwest with the Audubon Expedition Institute to his three years of living on a dairy farm in Massachussets working as a Forestry Manager, Rafe’s experience in nature and the outdoors is vast and varied.  His most recent jobs included three years as a naturalist at High Trails Outdoor Science School and East Bay Outdoor Science School , both in California .  Rafe describes his passion for his work, “I love being outside and I love observing how different people learn and grow. I am grateful for the chance to see the beauty, challenge and power in studying nature. The animals, weather and the plants are the teachers, and I am happy to facilitate a connection between the natural world and the human world we live in. I learn so much everyday, and I am always inspired by how much there is to still learn. I believe that imagination and curiosity are the keys to growth and wisdom, and I can't think of a more compelling or memorable environment for learning than the outdoors.”

 

Melinda Laben

Melinda grew up on a small dairy farm in western New York .  Much of her childhood was spent a lot of her childhood learning about the native plants and animals in her area in addition to many life skills such as gardening and animal care. In college, Melinda pursued her love of nature through the study of  recreation, adventure travel and eco-tourism. After college, she backpacked through Costa Rica to learn about nature friendly travel then spent a few months in Maine as a kayak and canoe instructor. Most recently, Melinda has been sharing her knowledge and love for the planet as an educator at woan outdoor science school in Southern California . Melinda’s goals in nature education are to help young people realize they learn by asking questions, observing the world around them, and thinking independently.  She wants to help students comprehend that their voices and ideas are valid and have value, while giving students the opportunity to learn and discover their own answers.  Most importantly, she aims to kindle the natural spark of curiosity that exists in children and to nurture their ability to think and explore.

Robin Cooper

Teaches: Horse Experience

I am a life-long horse lover, who has been riding and working with horses since  childhood.   Horses have been important teachers for me all my life- from my first pony, Cherokee, who  taught me how to ride (actually more how to stay on!)  to my wonderful rescue horse Ruby Begonia, who came into my life when she was just 7 months old.  I have owned, loved and worked with many different horses.  I have trained in Classical Dressage as well as Natural Horsemanship, showed in Western classes, ridden many a trail, and started horses from the ground up.  My horse journey has taught me how to communicate with and enjoy horses on the ground and in the saddle. It is my goal to share this love and understanding of these magnificent animals with my students.

I did leave the horse world for some time to pursue a career as a  professional artist in theater and film which included several years at Pixar animation studios,  working on feature animated films from such as Toy Story and Wal-E.   In addition, I teach painting and digital art at Pixar and abroad.    In the past six years, however, I have come back to horses with renewed admiration and gratitude for what they offer.

Recently, I have volunteered with several organizations and provided both riding and groundwork instruction to children with handicaps and special needs.  I have also given private lessons to individuals looking to overcome fear of horses as well as to strengthen their relationship with their own horse.

Like being an artist, understanding horses is a life-long endeavor.  There is always more to learn.   I would like to invite your kids to come and start their journey with horses at Sienna Ranch.