Bio

Mike Steele has over 40 years of experience teaching and training horses and riders, with a deep background in the training and development of all breeds of horses. Mike has earned the USDF Silver and Bronze Medals and has trained with many national and international trainers, including extensive training in Germany.

In the 1970s, Mike worked for Violet Hopkins in her working student program. During his time with Violet Hopkins (Vi), a pioneer of dressage, Grand Prix trainer and judge in the United States, Vi created the USDF ‘Violet M. Hopkins National Dressage Instructors Seminar’, the first of its kind in the U.S. Mike volunteered both behind the scenes and as a rider for instructional sessions for the seminar which included US dressage trainers and international clinicians such as Major Anders Lindgren, Col. Aage Sommer, and Sally Swift. Mike’s participation in the USDF Violet M. Hopkins National Dressage Instructors Seminar continued until it was relocated to Lincoln Nebraska in the mid-80s.

Mike went on to participate in Sally Swifts ‘Training Program for Dressage Instructors’, achieving his certificate. Mike then trained with Kurd Albrecht Von Ziegner over the course of three years in Germany. Mike has carried his background in Dressage, Biomechanics, body awareness, and massage therapy to graduation from West Wind Academy for Massage Therapy and his experience teaching at Scottsdale Community College in the Equine Science Program for three years.

Mike has produced many dressage horse and rider partnerships from training level into the Grand Prix, many of which earned their USDF Medals and championships.

Mike coached an international para-equestrian rider for many years who competed in the World Equestrian Games as well as Para Equestrian Olympics and helped her earn her USDF Bronze Medal.

Mike’s experience has also contributed to the success of many endurance riders, with top 10 Tevis completions, best condition awards, national standings, as well as North American, Pan American (winning the individual Gold Medal at the Pan Am Games in Uruguay) and international championships, including the World Equestrian Games.

Mike continues to travel around the United States teaching clinics, helping riders to develop a unified partnership with their horses.