About Us

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Brenda Peters-Beare

USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist

Born with a passion for horses, Brenda has spent most of her life working with and learning about the horse and she feels very fortunate to be able to share her experiences, knowledge and passion with others

Brenda has owned and operated Beare Equestrian Services and Training (B.E.S.T.) since 1993. In both Dressage and Eventing, Brenda has successfully introduced horses and riders to the sport, many of them excelling to win local, state, regional and national awards.

Brenda believes in continuing education, as she feels that there is always something new and valuable that someone can teach us, and with horses, the learning never ends. Brenda started taking professional riding instruction at the age of 10 and has tried not to miss an opportunity to learn ever since. Brenda gained experience with different riding styles and disciplines for several years before finding her real niche was in the sport of Dressage and Eventing. She regularly clinics with FEI Dressage trainer and USEF “R” judge Heidi Gaian and her eventing coach is past USEA president, Brian Sabo. Over the past years, Brenda has participated in many clinics and trained with professionals such as Alfred Knopfhart, Gerhard Politz, Gunter Zach, Rachel Saavedra, Bruce Davidson, Richard Mead, Capt. Mark Phillips, Jil Walton, Denny Emerson, Joe Farges and many others. Brenda also attends and participates in symposiums, seminars, lectures and workshops put on by USDF, CDS, USEA and other equestrian organizations.

Brenda accepts and enjoys working with riders of all ages and levels of experience who share the passion for horses and the desire to learn more about them.

Brenda has been successful working with all types of breeds and finds that creating a partnership with each one has been very rewarding.

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Ari Kann-Ortua

Instructor/Trainer

Horse-Crazy from birth, Ari always knew she wanted to spend her life surrounded by horses. She started taking riding lessons in the 1st grade riding Arabians in Breed Shows. However, her heart was always set on Jumping, and she moved into hunter/jumpers and equitation and was a bonafide “barn rat.”  While riding was her heart, running track as a Division I and II NCAA athlete paid for her degree from 4-year university.  While she wasn’t actively competitive during this time, she was still able to ride her OTTB, Millie.

Ari then joined Janelle Dunn as a working student and began her adventure in the world of 3-Day Eventing. After her time with Janelle, she worked with a “true cowgirl,” Frankie Backlund, in colt-starting-applying methods consistent with philosophies of Ray Hunt and Buck Branaman. She has worked for other trainers including Connie Arthur, JM Durr, and most currently Elena Flaharty. In all of these experiences, Ari values the importance of continuing to learn and grow-with the belief that you never stop learning.  She has cliniced with Valerie Owen, Hawley Bennett, Don Sachey, Bunnie Sexton, Yves Savignon, and Jimmy Wofford. Ari has competed through the Preliminary level, with a dream of riding at the upper-most levels of the sport. She also loves developing young horses and working with horses that can be “tricky,” as well as working with both riders and their horses in developing their partnership with a focus on building confidence, trust, and happiness.

Ari is also a certified personal trainer. She has worked in the fitness industry since 2009 in bootcamp gyms, HIIT training, weight training, and most recently managing a kickboxing studio in the East Bay. This knowledge in fitness and biomechanics has proven to be particularly applicable to her equestrian pursuits.

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Sophie Tice

Instructor

Sophie Tice is from Danville, California and has known Brenda Beare since she began riding at nine years old. Now, at age twenty-one, she is currently training her young horse, Viva, to progress up the levels in the sport of Eventing. She has previously competed up to the intermediate/ FEI 3* level and has a background in the Pony Club program. As a young rider, she had been selected two years in a row to participate in the Developing Riders Under 18 program to train with Olympic gold medalist, Leslie Law. She was also selected by the Area VI (California and Hawaii) team to compete in the North American Youth Championships at both the CCI 2* and CIC 3* level. Sophie has many goals that she aspires to achieve within the sport of Eventing including competing at the 5* level and representing the U.S. in future Olympics. With these aspirations of her own, Sophie is passionate about helping others achieve their riding goals. She aims to provide specialized training that makes her students feel safe, secure, strong, and connected with the horse.

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