Past Clinicians & Events
Renowned Clinicians & Special Events
Transitions Equestrian Center has proudly hosted an impressive lineup of internationally respected clinicians and horsemen from a wide range of disciplines. Over the years our facility has welcomed world renowned trainers and educators specializing in dressage, reining, western dressage, liberty horsemanship, working equitation, and many other areas of horsemanship.
These clinics have provided riders with the opportunity to learn from some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the equestrian industry while continuing to grow their skills and understanding of horses.
Transitions is also known for one of our most exciting traditions — our annual Equestrian Extravaganza performances. For more than twelve years, these performances have brought together riders, trainers, performers, and horses for an unforgettable evening of horsemanship and entertainment.
The Extravaganza showcases a wide variety of performances including classical dressage, liberty work, trick training, musical freestyle, specialty acts, and unique demonstrations that highlight the incredible partnership between horse and rider. Over the years this event has grown into a large and highly anticipated performance that draws enthusiastic audiences and participants from throughout the region.
We are proud of the many talented riders, trainers, performers, and clinicians who have been part of these events and look forward to continuing to bring exceptional equestrian experiences to our community.
Redha Gharsa
With over 30 years of professional experience, Redha Gharsa is a respected horse trainer, dedicated instructor, and passionate horseman. He earned his second-degree equestrian certification in Algeria before competing internationally as a member of the Algerian National Show Jumping Team. After earning top honors at several Grand Prix events, Redha moved to the United States to continue his professional equestrian career
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Redha later became a featured performer in the World-Famous Lipizzaner Stallion Show, where he spent ten years training horses and riders to perform classical dressage and airs above the ground for large audiences across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
For more than a decade, Redha served as Head Trainer and Stable Department Manager for Medieval Times in Buena Park, California. During this time, he continued developing young horses through the FEI levels, high school movements, airs above the ground, and Alta Escuela training. He is also highly skilled in liberty and trick training, captivating audiences during nightly Medieval Times performances as well as special exhibitions including the annual Rose Parade and Las Vegas shows.
Outside of the performance arena, Redha continues to work with fellow professionals, adult amateurs, and young riders, sharing his knowledge through his thoughtful and thorough teaching methods.
Dan James — Double Dan Horsemanship
Born in Queensland, Australia on a small cattle farm, Dan James developed a passion for horses at a very young age. From his first pony and early colt starts as a teenager, his curiosity about how horses think and learn led him to pursue horsemanship at the highest level. After studying at Longreach Pastoral College, Dan traveled the world gaining experience across many disciplines—starting colts in Japan, training hundreds of horses each year in Australia, working cutting horses with renowned trainer Punk Carter, studying liberty training with Heath Harris, and managing horses on a large cattle station in Western Australia.
Dan has competed successfully in dressage, show jumping, eventing, camp drafting, cutting, reining, and colt starting, developing a reputation as a versatile and highly skilled horseman. His accomplishments include becoming a two-time International World Champion Colt Starter, winning the Equitana Asia Pacific “Way of the Horse,” the Road to the Horse International Colt Starting World Championship, and the Quarter Horse Congress Freestyle Reining Championship, as well as representing Australia at the 2018 World Equestrian Games.
Known for his exceptional training techniques, showmanship, and understanding of horse behavior, Dan continues to inspire riders and horsemen around the world.
Esther liano
Esther Liano is a highly respected dressage rider, trainer, and judge from the Netherlands with more than 35 years of experience in the equestrian industry. Known internationally for her work with Friesian horses, Esther has played an important role in developing and training Friesians at the highest levels of dressage.
Throughout her career, Esther has successfully trained numerous horses and riders while also serving as a dressage judge and educator. She has trained multiple KFPS-approved stallions, including Ielke 382 and Maurits 437, and was among the first trainers to successfully bring a Friesian horse to the Grand Prix level in dressage.
Esther operates a successful training facility in Harkema in the Netherlands where she works with riders and horses from around the world. Her training focuses on classical principles, correct biomechanics, and developing harmony between horse and rider.
Through clinics and international training opportunities, Esther continues to share her knowledge and experience with riders of all breeds and levels. Her thoughtful teaching style, deep understanding of horse biomechanics, and dedication to classical horsemanship have made her a sought-after clinician across Europe and abroad.
Mike Flarida
Transitions Equestrian Center has been proud to host some of the most respected horsemen in the industry, including NRHA Reining Hall of Famer Mike Flarida. Mike Flarida is widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and influential riders in the sport of reining. A National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame member, he is a multiple-time NRHA Futurity Champion, Derby Champion, and World Champion, with millions in NRHA lifetime earnings. Throughout his career, Mike has trained and shown some of the most successful reining horses in the world.
Known for his ability to clearly explain techniques and help riders develop better communication with their horses, Mike’s clinics are highly respected by riders of all levels. His time teaching at Transitions Equestrian Center provided riders with valuable insight into the fundamentals and advanced skills required for success in reining.
Transitions Equestrian Center is honored to have hosted such a legendary horseman as part of our clinic program.
Madison Shambaugh (“Mustang Maddy”)
Transitions Equestrian Center was proud to host Madison Shambaugh, widely known as “Mustang Maddy,” an internationally recognized trainer, competitor, and educator.
Madison is a three-time Extreme Mustang Makeover Freestyle Champion and the 2017 Mustang Magic Champion, where trainers have just 100 days to gentle and train a completely wild mustang. She has successfully started wild mustangs, rehabilitated difficult horses, and performed liberty demonstrations across the country with her team of mustangs.
Her work has been featured on Animal Planet, COWGIRL Magazine, and Horse & Rider Magazine, and she has been invited to teach, judge, and speak internationally.
Today, Madison is known for her work in positive reinforcement and clicker training, bringing science-based training methods to the horse industry and helping riders build clearer, safer partnerships with their horses.
donal Hancock
Donal Hancock is an accomplished Australian horseman known for his work in colt starting, liberty training, and performance horsemanship.
Raised on a remote cattle station, Donal learned to ride out of necessity while working cattle, an experience that sparked a lifelong passion for horsemanship. His dedication to learning led him to study with respected horsemen across multiple disciplines including liberty, reining, camp drafting, cutting, and dressage. He later completed an apprenticeship with Double Dan Horsemanship, where he specialized in liberty and theatrical equine performance.
After returning to Australia, Donal founded Hancock Horsemanship, focusing on colt starting, restarting horses, and advancing the education of horses and riders. He has been involved in equine entertainment shows, television appearances, and music videos, and has competed in several major colt-starting and liberty events. His accomplishments include winning the 2017 TEQ Trainers Challenge, the 2019 Equitana New Zealand “Way of the Horse” (Team Australia), and the 2021 Cowgirls Gathering Liberty Competition. He has also competed in prestigious events including Road to the Horse and the Man From Snowy River Colt Start.
Transitions Equestrian Center was honored to welcome Donal as part of our clinician program.
mike major
Raised in New Mexico as the son of a cattleman, Mike Major developed his horsemanship through real ranch work—pushing cattle, starting colts, match racing, and competing in rodeos across the Southwest. His early years working on large ranches built the foundation for the horseman he would become.
Mike later competed in bull riding and team roping before focusing on cutting horses and building his own breeding and training program. After purchasing the Flying A Ranch in Colorado, he ran large cattle operations while continuing to develop dependable ranch horses and a successful breeding program built around his “Stik” bloodlines.
His stallion Smart Whiskey Doc helped launch Mike’s career in ranch horse competition. Together they won the 2006 Bayer Select Working Cow Horse World Championship, followed by the AQHA Versatility Ranch Horse Open World Championships in 2009 and 2010. Mike also won the Project Cowboy Championship and the Battle in the Saddle Ranch Remuda Challenge with Black Hope Stik.
Known for his emphasis on softness, collection, and correct foundation training, Mike has spent decades producing versatile horses that succeed both on the ranch and in the show arena. Today he continues training horses and competing in AQHA and Stock Horse of Texas events, while still ranching cattle with his family.
Kaleigh Marie (Braveheart Beasts)
Kaleigh Marie is an equestrian, trainer, and educator dedicated to strengthening the connection between horses and humans. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, she discovered her passion for horses at a young age after moving to Vermont, where she spent much of her childhood riding and working with livestock.
Kaleigh first developed her training skills working with a pair of Holstein steers she trained as oxen, successfully competing with them at the national level and demonstrating unique skills including liberty work, trick training, and Roman riding. Her success with these animals led to early teaching opportunities and the foundation of the training program she runs today.
As her career grew, Kaleigh expanded her work to include horses, donkeys, and mules. She has studied classical dressage with the Tempel Lipizzans, started young horses, retrained problem horses, and rehabilitated rescues. Her passion for liberty work and horse psychology eventually led her to begin teaching clinics, performing with her horses, and sharing her training methods with students around the world.
Through her program, Braveheart Beasts, Kaleigh combines classical dressage principles, psychology, and positive reinforcement to help riders develop deeper partnerships with their horses through liberty work, bridleless riding, and connection-based training.
Chantal Corminboeuf (formerly Chantal
Chantal has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry as a stunt performer, acrobat, dancer, and animal trainer. Her career began in film and stage performance, where she worked across multiple areas of production including wardrobe, décor, and makeup while continuing to develop her passion for training horses.
What started as a hobby soon became her primary profession, leading her to work as an animal trainer for film and television. After moving to the United States in 2010, Chantal worked as both an animal trainer and stunt performer on major productions including The Walking Dead, Underground, and The Blacklist.
She continues to work internationally in film and television and spends summers in Montreal working with the production company Entourage TV as an artistic coordinator. Her unique background in performance, film production, and horsemanship has taken her to sets around the world.
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