About the Instructors-
Nori Crain started riding at 2-1/2 years old. She received lessons from her mother, Sayler Shiningstar, and grandmother, Dukie Ferrin. Her teenage years involved growing up on, and working at, the family horse rescue and sanctuary. She worked with horses, varying in breeds, dispositions, ages, and training. Nori excels in assisting riders to understand and have better communication with their horses. By utilizing her knowledge of Dressage and Hunt Seat Equitation she is able to translate the body mechanics of the horse and rider, breaking this down in easy terms for the rider to understand, and then execute. Nori tailor's each ride to meet the horse and rider's needs, and sets realistic expectations for both. Sayler Shiningstar loves the magic and healing of being with horses, riding, nature, and sharing these with others. Her father bought her her first horse 10, and she started showing the following year. Sayler has shown American Saddlebred Academy Saddleseat Equitation and Juvenile Three-Gaited, Quarter Horses in Adult Western Pleasure and Adult English Pleasure, and her childhood pinto pony. After her daughter, Nori, was born, Sayler became a Waldorf Early Childhood Teacher and after 13 years in the classroom, she retired. Now, her classroom is at the stables, combining horses, children, nature, and healing.
“There is nothing so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse.” Sayler believes tihs is even more so for women and children. Riding is a wonderful way of learning/experiencing greater confidence and balance, leadership and team building skills, communication, rhythm, math and science. How does it get any better than this? Instructors Assistant-
Kristen Brendel is an integral part of our SpiritWind family, having grown up riding with Sayler Shiningstar and Nori Crain. Kristen started riding western as a young child, and then switched to Hunter Jumper riding with SpiritWind and other instructors such as Laura Carpenter and Elizabeth Johnson. She is currently furthering her understanding and horsemanship Education in the fundamentals of horse showing through William Woods University and is experiencing success in the show ring. Kristens love for the horses and particularly Connemara ponies is shared with the children with so much enthusiasm and grace.
