Testimonials

Dr. Pam Riggs DC CAC - Orangevale, CA

Mike Steele is a truly gifted coach. He understands horse and rider biomechanics and how to create correct work from both. He understands horse behavior and how to introduce something new whether you are riding a flaming dragon or one that needs a little extra encouragement. He has trained with some of the best dressage coaches and doesn’t skip steps in his training, so the horses learn to be correct. He is honest and acknowledges you and your horses unique qualities and your limitations. He is quiet when you need him to be so you can figure out what he is asking you and your horse to do. He is intuitive, calm and encouraging in just the right way.

Valerie Baker - Placerville, CA

I began working with Mike Steele in 2014 and I had my son work with Mike as his coach starting in 2015. Mike has fantastic knowledge of equine biomechanics, which is critical for riding in harmony with your dressage horse. He is willing to work with Arabians, and that is rare for a dressage trainer. Mike also has judge training and can apply that to his students who wish to compete.

Mike has coached both my son and me to 6 Top 10 placings at the Arabian Sport Horse National Championship shows over the years, as well as numerous Regional Championships. My son also achieved his Ruby award medal from the California Dressage Society, and his Junior Dressage Equitation medal under Mike's coaching. 

As a trainer myself, I find Mike's knowledge and information incredibly valuable to further my own riding skills and continue to seek him for dressage clinics

Michele Roush Rowe, DVM - North San Juan, CA

I had my first lesson with Mike in 2006, preparing for a 100-mile endurance race on a friend’s horse, Proud Legacy (Tyx x Destiny's Amira). Since then, I have had the privilege to work with Mike three or four times a year. Mike combines an intuitive eye with decades of classical training to offer a quiet, correct method of coaching that emphasizes the well-being of the horse. Under Mike’s tutelage, I was able to take my nine-year-old Arabian gelding, Gladzhotroddentykhoon (Khartoon Khlassic x Gladiola Bey), ‘Slim’ who had never been on the endurance trail, and whose first response to any rein contact was to shoot his head straight up in the air and stiffen his entire back, to the Tevis, which is arguably the most demanding and difficult 100 mile endurance race in the country, in the very short time span of nine months. Today, three years later, we are training at second level and have completed Tevis in the top twenty finishers three times in a row.

Kathy Webster - Pescadero, CA

I have been taking lessons from Mike for more than four years and he has really helped me become one with the horse and get the rhythm and synchronicity of the perfect dance partner. By working through small adjustments throughout position, he has not only helped me feel the difference, but Marquis de Fad (Fadjurs Prize x Cici) ‘Babee’ (now 27 years old) acts like he is 10 years younger.

Brynn Miura - Menlo Park, CA

I am pretty new to dressage and 3-day eventing, and so is my horse Theo. Working with Mike when he visits has helped Theo to have more bend and softness and rounds out the other training I do. I am excited because having a good dressage score is really important in 3-day eventing!

Rachel Miura - Menlo Park, CA

I have taken lessons with Mike since 2022 and immediately benefited from his guidance on contact and encouraging suppleness. Although my gelding Theo's primary discipline has been endurance, encouraging soft and fluid movement has only supercharged his capabilities on trail, and dressage is the perfect cross training for endurance. In 2023 we finished the 100-mile Tevis Cup with flying colors, and were also in the top five for our AERC region in our weight division. 

Lauren Lockliear - San Gregorio, CA

I have been working with Mike for over 5 years and working with Mike has been an absolute pleasure and the ways he has helped my horses and me is innumerable. My personal horse, Dora, has become much steadier in the contact, more precise in her transitions, and stronger and more flexible under Mike's tutelage. Mike has guided us up the levels of dressage and assisted me in teaching Dora to piaffe (no small feat for a 15.2 hand Quarter Horse!). In addition to working with Dora, Mike has helped me with multiple client horses (jumpers, Eventing and Dressage) throughout our years together. I have brought Mike horses of every discipline and every age (3 through 21!) and he has a tip or exercise for every horse. My clients have also had great successes in lessons with Mike - learning everything from impulsion and straightness through more advanced collection and lateral work, all while improving their position and riding skills. My favorite aspect of working with Mike is how he can always improve a horse, no matter how well you think they are already going, and he has the breadth of knowledge to see where a horse is at in their training and fitness and meet them there. He can tell when a horse isn't yet strong enough for a more difficult movement and has exercises to increase strength so that at the next lesson, we are ready to move forward. This is an invaluable trait, especially as I often bring him horses that are rehabilitating. Wherever you are in your riding journey, dressage or otherwise, you'll walk away with a whole new set of tools and a lot of education after working with Mike. I highly recommend it!

Suzy Haines - La Honda, CA

I've been training dressage for over 35 years and working with Mike for the last 10. He has helped me make the connection between relaxation (of the horse and the rider!) and impulsion that has allowed me to work through both mental and physical obstacles for better long-term performance.

Dom Freeman - San Gregorio, CA

I have been working with Mike for 20 years and his coaching has been an integral part of my program since 2004 when I was shortlisted for the British Team for the 2005 World Endurance Championships. Mike’s innate ability to see what the horse and rider need at the exact time of instruction has been instrumental in achieving the maximum efficiency and longevity is all of my endurance horses. The foundation and basics starting with the walk, keeping the horse supple and relaxed have enabled me to compete at national and international level in Continental (NAETC 2005 Off Continent Gold Medal), Pan American Championships (Costa Azul Uruguay 2007 Off Continent Gold Medal) and World Equestrian Games (Tryon 2018) with healthy happy horses. Retired endurance horses Rising Heat (Desert Heat VF x Zemina) “Raizin’ and Marquis de Fad (Fadjurs Prize x Cici) are now dressage school horses.