Corinne M. Lettau – Founder DERS / Owner, Colorado Equestrian Center
Corinne fell in love with horses during a trail ride with her dad on her 8th birthday, and has spent her life studying the art of riding. Since receiving professional CHA Instructor Certification in 1993, she has enjoyed teaching children and adults of all levels how to understand, ride and care for horses, while continuing her education in Dressage.
“When I turned 10, my mom worked as an art director at a girls summer camp. Along with sailing, they had a large equine program teaching horsemanship, hunt seat equitation, vaulting and jumping! I won my first blue ribbon, and my heart for horses was set on fire.” Corinne and Shalimar, 1976.
“Living in the city left me desperate for trips to the barn. I would save babysitting money for one 30-minute group lesson every other week in the suburbs (they were $10 in the 1970’s!). Then, along with allowance, Christmas and birthday gifts, I could usually save enough for a full week of horse camp in the summer. “
After college, Corinne took a job at the same dude ranch where she had ridden a horse for the first time. This time, she was teaching and leading trail rides, and along with that came the opportunity to purchase her first horse. Determined to have a career in the equine industry, she became a CHA Certified Riding Instructor in 1993. “Soon thereafter, I was organizing Western camps for kids and teaching adult programs through a local community college. Suddenly, the passion and respect I had for horses was greater than it had ever been as a child.”
After a journey between hunter/jumper and western disciplines, Corinne was introduced to Dressage in 1994. Dressage is a discipline that focuses on the proper training of the horse. Mastering communication between horse and rider became her primary focus. “I have been blessed by the best equine partners and human instructors available.”
Then, in 1996, Corinne met Atlanta Olympic Medalist Michelle Gibson at a clinic in Minnesota. The following year, she landed a working student internship with Michelle in Wellington, Florida! A generous sponsor admired Corinne’s dedication, hard work and talent – and awarded her two equine athletes: Mendelssohn and Egeris. She was fortunate to train with Michelle Gibson at the Winter Equestrian Festival in West Palm Beach, Florida. Aside from continuing to ride with Michelle today, Corinne has also spent decades attending clinics and training with famous Dressage instructors such as USDF Judges Janet Foy, Bill Solyntjes and Dolly Hannon.
“Everything I have learned about horses has taught me that there is always more to learn. At our facility, the horses come first. They are a loved and respected member of our family. You will be required to care for your horse as if he or she is your own.”
The DERS vision is to create a family-friendly environment where horse lovers of all ages can learn, thrive and grow. We are continually raising the standards of the equine industry, and safety is the number one priority at our barn. To reinforce that standard, we host ongoing Certified Horsemanship Association Instructor Certification Clinics. Our goal is to become the best of the best in safety, education and fun – both in this country, and in the world of equine educational facilities.
Debbie Demaio
Debbie came to DERS as an enthusiastic client and Grandmother, sharing her love of horses and riding with her Granddaughter.
Previously a school teacher, education is very important to Debbie. Volunteering around the barn eventually led to a teaching position, and she earned her CHA Instructor Certification right here at DERS. Debbie continues to pursue her certification in PATH.int and ESMHL. Her passions are teaching and the love of horses, which makes working at the barn a perfect fit. As an Instructor at The Right Step, Inc., Debbie is also providing horsemanship for those with differing disabilities. Sharing experiences with riders is a very rewarding experience for Debbie. Come on out and let her introduce you to our AMAZING herd of school horses!
Kaylee Doeding
Kaylee Doeding is BHS and PATH.int Certified Riding Instructor. She started her horse loving journey at the age of two on trail rides through the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. Her mom bought her an English lesson at the age of six, not realizing this would be an all encompassing passion. Kaylee mucked out stalls to earn lessons once a week starting at the age of six. Working for lessons was a great way to learn true horsemanship.
After working for lessons for ten years, Kaylee was offered the opportunity to ride horses for their owners ~ along with teaching lessons and running horse camps ~ at the Los Angeles Equestrian center. At the age of 17 she was working for Voltaire Design and traveled to A circuit shows to help with saddle fittings. She then began exercise riding and playing polo in Virginia and Florida along with showing jumpers and fox hunting. During this time Kaylee got certified in the first level of the British Horse Society. When she moved back to California, she worked to become PATH certified, teaching therapeutic riding. Kaylee then found a new horse home at Far West Farms in Calabasas, California. Here, she ran the riding school, schooling horses, managing camp, along with directing schooling shows.
Kaylee loves sharing her passion for horses with those she gets to teach. Safety, education and fun are her priorities when she is teaching lessons. “Horses are our divine mirrors, and -if we listen – we can learn more than we ever imagined about ourselves and how we communicate with these amazing animals.”
Marie Louise Barrett
Marie Louise grew up on Green Apple Farm in Virginia, where she lived and learned all aspects of horsemanship. She and her siblings cared for 14 horses, cows, sheep, and chickens. Active in Pony Club, she earned a rating of B-3. Her disciplines at that time included Cross Country Jumping, Fox Hunting and Hunter/Jumper Shows.
Marie Louise had her own teaching program in the 1980s and 1990s. She had a stable of 13 horses in training, and instructed their owners at home and in recognized competitions. Hunters, Jumpers and trail riding were a vital part of her program, as she began to focus on Dressage. Her students were able to expand their horsemanship beyond the ring through trial riding, pair paces, and fox hunting.
Dressage became her main focus, and for 25 years, ML worked as the Dressage Trainer and Riding Instructor for the owners of Berryfield Farm. She successfully trained and competed horses at Recognized Dressage shows in the New England area, Regional Finals, as well as USDF National Finals. While competing through FEI level I1, ML earned her USDF Bronze and Silver medals. Berryfield Farm also sponsored a therapeutic riding program. Responsible for training their therapy horses, ML coordinated with the PATH.int instructors on strategies to keep horses thriving in their roles. This included low level jumping and frequent trail riding. At this facility, Marie Louise also had the joy of continuing to work with children. She taught their granddaughter from age 5yrs to 16 – when their finest show horse was given to her. Lucky girl! The owners passed away in 2022, and the farm was sold.
We are fortunate that ML has returned to Colorado, and so blessed that she chose to share her decades of knowledge with our clients!
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