Tessa Lawson
Tessa Lawson is the founder of Zion Riding Academy. After working for other people teaching lessons for years, she saw the same pattern repeat itself. Student takes lessons for a bit, decides to buy a horse, and runs into all kinds of problems because of a lack of preparation. In most lesson programs, the student arrives to find their horse groomed and tacked, they ride for an hour, dismount and leave their lesson horse with Stable Staff. Tessa envisioned a program that truly prepares students for ownership if they so choose. She wants students to graduate the academy with an understanding of all that entails good horse husbandry. Interestingly enough, Tessa didn't begin riding horses until she was an adult, at the age of 18. She wanted to ride her entire life, dreamed of it, prayed for it, begged for it, but it wasn't until she was an adult that she could pursue her horse passion. As an answer to prayer, she was hired at Rawhide Ranch. She began with little to no understanding of horses or riding and ended as one of two lead riding instructors for Rawhide's beginner program. She also taught lessons in equestrian vaulting, archery, animal science and pony cart driving. When her husband finished his enlistment in the Marine Corps, stationed at Camp Pendleton in the San Diego area, they moved back home to Fortuna, Ca. Tessa began to teach lessons as a hobby, because she loved it. The idea for what is now Zion Riding Academy began forming and what began as a hobby grew into a full-on Riding Academy. She still feels so blessed to even have a horse to love and ride, let alone share that passion with countless people. Her goal is to make an impact on the horse community by bringing up responsible young people full of compassion, patience and knowledge. "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it" Proverbs 22:6
Abigail Price
Abi has a background in barrels, poles, goat tying, gymkhana and other rodeo events with extensive knowledge of horsemanship and husbandry practices. We love that she is a barrel racer with finesse, not the 'spur and jerk' type of rider. She's a wonderful addition to our team in bringing our students instruction in safe, responsible horsemanship.
Gabrielle Samaniego
Abby has a background in both western and english, having shown and won ribbons, buckles, and saddles in both. She's done everything from Gymkhana to English Pleasure and is patient, kind and professional with children and horses. She heads up our Fortuna location at 6H Farm and Stables on Rhonerville Road. She's the embodiment of our values in safe, responsible horsemanship.
