“Marian Ehlers is one to watch in the Juniors for the next two years and beyond. Mare came to me just before the 2022 Zone Jumper Championships. She had managed to qualify for the 1.15m Finals with only one show during the regular season. She was determined to make the most of her debut Jumper Championship and came to my barn 10 days out from the final. I was blown away by Mare’s focus and resolution as she came daily for morning flatting, afternoon schooling, feed preparation, daily hand walks, and night check. She was on top of every aspect of the horse’s preparation for the event. Her meticulous efforts produced results that were far beyond expectation and in the Championships she jumped 3 clear rounds to put her in the Jump Off for a podium position. Mare earning the Silver Medal for the USHJA Championships was true testament to what razor focus and unflinching determination can achieve. This rider has my full vote of confidence to go very far in this sport.”
~ Meredith Herman; Owner, Burgundy Farms, Sonoma, CA
“As a coach for Marian Ehlers during her junior years, I have had the pleasure of working with a wonderful horsewoman and human. During the past five years in my career I have not accepted any students to train, only my daughter Avery and my sale horses. Mare was accepted as a student only because I adore her. Her kindness and commitment to horses and this sport is a refreshing change to most successful athletes I have coached. She not only is just a wonderful hardworking young lady, she is a great athlete. Mare commuted from Oregon to California to ride with me. When she would come on weekends she would ride everything from ponies to high level jumpers and do it with a smile on her face and a willingness to learn. She improved quickly and is an excellent student. She went from 2’9 hunters to 3’6″ jumpers in the year seamlessly. I am very aware of what it takes to be a successful college athlete and teammate. Mare is a good friend, hard worker, cheerleader and a team leader. Whether she is on or off a horse she is a great asset to any program. I can be reached by email or phone for any further information on Marian Ehlers.”
~ Hope Glynn; Owner, Hope Glynn LLC., Petaluma, CA, (707)249-1518, hopeglynn@yahoo.com
“The first time I ever taught Mare was about one year ago. Right away I was impressed with her dedication and willingness to work hard. I was also impressed with her ability to take instruction from multiple different trainers. Mare and I both share a strong passion for the sport, so that makes working with her very enjoyable. In just a short time she has tremendously improved. Not only is Mare great to teach, but she is always helping the other kids in the barn and is always supporting other riders. I look forward to seeing Mares development over the next couple of years. I know she will be a force in our sport.”
– Jenn Serek; Canadian show jumper team member. (403) 630-4319
“Marian Ehlers has been a student of mine and a working student over the past two years. She is a very dedicated and passionate young horse woman. She is also a very talented rider. In my 30 years of training I have found it very rare to find a student that takes grooming, preparing and caring for her horses and catch rides with such a high level and also rides and competes with great talent and competitiveness. She understands how important all of these elements of horse care and preparation lead to success in the show ring. She would be an amazing asset to any team or riding program that is lucky enough to have her.”
– Ned Glynn; Sonoma Valley Stables and Sunnybrook Elite Riding Club, Santa Barbara CA, nedglynn.svs@gmail.com
“Sunnybrook Elite Riding Club has been lucky enough to have Mare help us out on multiple occasions riding and schooling our horses and ponies during the 2021/2022 horse show seasons. Mare is always very professional, put together and willing to do whatever is asked of her. She never complains even after long days when everyone is exhausted and always has a positive attitude. She schools the ponies and horses very well, gets along great with all our clients (from young children to older adults). She is mature beyond her years and always a team player. The horses respond well to her natural feel and kind spirit. Mare is eager to learn. She takes direction and is able to apply it to each horse while continuing to improve her riding skills.
She spent most of last summer helping us out with rides and showing/prepping our ponies in California, Kentucky and the Hampton Classic. She was a godsend and we were so grateful for her help. All the clients enjoyed having her around. Our only regret is that she doesn’t live closer to us. We don’t get to see as much of her as we would like. Mare is a very special person and a strong horse woman.”
Rebecca Bruce; Trainer/Owner Sunnybrook Elite Riding Club
“I had the opportunity to work with Marian Ehlers in the summer of 2022. Mare was in Kentucky to help ride ponies that were preparing for Pony Finals and her trainer reached out to me to see if I had any horses that she could partner with for the time she was in town. My business is largely sale horses, so I had a jumper that she could ride and show for those two weeks. The horse she partnered with in the Low Children’s Jumpers (1.0m) was a talented Thoroughbred, but
he had a tough lead change and needed a rider that was supportive in the ring. Mare, at the time being new to the jumper ring, stepped up with ease! She was dedicated to learning his quirks and after a few days of practice in her first week, she felt ready to compete the next. She was able to show in three different rings, two of which were small indoor arenas that can be hard to navigate. I was impressed by her calmness and re-assuring confidence with “Highroller”, taking any unexpected bobble in stride. She did a wonderful job and helping her was a joy! In just two weeks it was clear to me that Mare is a very focused young woman, dedicated to the sport and has the discipline that will help her succeed. She is incredibly kind to the horses and her fellow riders, always wearing a smile and eager to jump in to help with anything. She is a rider and person that any trainer would be proud to have on their team. I am familiar with Equestrian Team riding, as I have two daughters that were on teams, and have had a
half dozen riders graduate from our program to ride on NCAA D1 teams in college. Mare is a great candidate. She is supportive of her barn mates, and is respectful and hungry to learn more. Whether riding, caring for horses, or organizing and contributing to team events, I am certain Mare would excel.
If you have any questions or should you need any additional information, please feel free to contact me.”
– Andrea Simpson; Fairbanks Riding, Lexington KY fairbanksriding@gmail.com (858) 775-2778.
“It is my pleasure to enthusiastically recommend Marian as a rider, individual and Ambassador. Marian is a longtime Ambassador for the nonprofit organization, JustWorld International. She is a valuable supporter who continues to go above and beyond what is expected from her role.
Taking it upon herself to lead by example, Marian has opened the door to secure partnerships with horse shows, lead the end-to-end execution of annual fundraising auctions, and plan, produce and direct vital awareness building activities. Positively representing the organization, both in and outside of the ring, Marian introduces the power of philanthropy to her fellow riders and friends, directly leading to the growth of the Ambassador program. Marian shows exemplary efforts in giving children in impoverished communities a “leg up” to a brighter future.
Marian is kind, respectful, and creative with an admirable work ethic. Marian is dedicated to both the equestrian sport and the community around her. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside Marian and I am confident she will continue to be successful and a positive asset in any endeavor she pursues.”
– Molly McDougal; JustWorld International
“Marian, or as I know her, “Mare” has been a very special person in my life for as long as I can remember. In a sense, Mare and I have grown up together. I have such distinct memories of babysitting Mare when I myself was just a kid. I have had the pleasure of watching Mare grow up both in and out of the saddle. Mare has become truly one of the most outstanding and well-rounded people I know. She is not only academically at the top of her class and involved in countless philanthropy events, but in the saddle displays both the skill and the dedication it takes to be a true top equestrian athlete. In her free time she is either: watching videos of her equestrian role models compete, attending clinics, or watching her peers ride. She never wants to stop learning. At horse shows Mare is always the first kid in the barn to show up in the morning and the last kid to leave. She is always lending a helping hand and offering help to anyone that needs it. She will leave her helmet on from 6am- 6pm, just for the chance to maybe get to ride a couple extra horses. Her work ethic and team camaraderie is most admirable.
Most importantly Mare has so much compassion for the horses and will put the horse above anything else.
Mare would be an asset to any school and to any equestrian team. I am so proud of her and excited to see her figure unfold.”
– Tayler Cobb; Professional Sales Horse Rider (541) 914-1161
“Before I trained Marian Ehlers as a client of Some Day Farm, I knew her as a talented and focused young rider. For several years, Marian spent more time in California than in Bend, OR, so I only saw her on a sporadic basis. However, when her family visited Bend, Oregon, whether she was in town for a day, a week, or a month, Marian rode as many horses as she could at any farm that had a horse to offer her. Her abilities far surpassed those of the school horses that were available to her on such trips, but she graciously accepted any opportunity to ride and to learn. She approached each lesson with a serious demeanor, always aiming to improve herself and the horse to which she was assigned. With each visit, she demonstrated notable improvement and better understanding of the horses. In the past year, Marian’s family transitioned to living in Bend on more of a full-time basis, which allowed her to consistently train at Some Day Farm. She brings the same intensity to each lesson, day after day, month after month; and in the process she has transformed from a pretty rider with potential into an effective and polished horsewoman. Her accomplishments this year included multiple wins and championships in the equitation and hunters, as well as a double silver medal finish at the Zone Team Championships in the 1.10-1.15m Children’s Jumpers. In the coming year, her rapid ascent through the levels will continue as she takes on the 3’6″ equitation and 1.20m+ jumpers. Her intelligence, talent, drive, and ability to collaborate with her trainers and peers make it very gratifying to be a part of her journey. As that journey continues into the realm of collegiate competition, these qualities will make her an asset to any team.”
~ Germaine Dougherty; Some Day Farm, Bend, OR
“My name is Betsy Soule. I have a smaller, local riding program at a barn that Marian used to ride at, with another trainer in a more show oriented program. I have known Marian for 5 years or so, and have watched her grow and develop as a very good rider, and all around good horse woman. When she was quite a bit younger, she leased a pony of mine for a couple of bigger shows. She did a great job catch riding and came back with good ribbons and 2 reserve championships. She has now moved into more advanced riding and showing with a great trainer outside of our area, but when she’s home, she volunteers to school ponies for me and has done some clipping without any expectation of renumeration. I’ve noticed how good she is about helping the younger kids who are coming up. She generously gives her time and energy to help others without fail. Every horse she gets on loves her. She’s kind, and soft, and has an incredible feel without being a push over. Marian would be an amazing asset to any team. She works hard, takes coaching well, and is definitely a team player. If you choose her for your team, you won’t regret it.”
~ Betsy Soule; Horse Butte Head Trainer, Bend, OR