bios

With over 20 years as a professional recording artist and concert performer,

Judy Taylor uses her entertainment skills to engage kids in her educational horse clinic. Her free to run program is about finding the momentum and passion that drives us. By tapping into the unbroken spirit in each of us, we can jump the walls and fences that pretend to contain us. Kids are like wild mustangs, they have a free spirit and an unencumbered imagination, the trick is to stay that way and gain the skill power to achieve unthinkable goals.

Music and stories are a part of Judy's positive motivational tools. Her successful career as a family edutainer, has won her a popular position in the San Diego school district, Sea world and the San Diego Zoo. Kids will learn how to find their voice in song or instrument as they participate in the nightly concerts during their camp stay. Judy is also a skilled wild- west performer and will perform and teach the art of fancy trick roping.

Even the most shy and reserved kid will leave Judy's show feeling empowered and thrilled as they experience a fun and interactive wild west adventure.

When Dr. Sandra Thorpe moved to Borrego Springs in September of 1997, she knew she wanted to combine her lifelong passion for horses with her extensive experience of working with at risk children. Seven years later this quest has given rise to Smoketree School of Equine Experiential Learning, home of the "Equine Encounters" program. Starting with three Arabian horses, which she boarded at Rivera Farms, Sandra has grown her business to the point where she now has ten beautiful animals living in the modern Smoketree facility at 302 Palm Canyon Drive. First born at the ranch, Pepper Rose, an adorable red roan burro follows her around like a faithful puppy. On April 30th of this year, the newest addition to the Smoketree herd arrived, a beautiful buckskin colt named "Smokey's Dream".

As a year round resident, Sandra alternates her activities between guided trail rides, equestrian learning programs, and teaching for Borrego Springs School District. Sandra is also involved with launching the Equine

Encounters program, which employs the principle of "Equine Assisted Psychotherapy." EAP is an emerging field of learning where the horses aid in the emotional growth for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Horses are acknowledged to have the power to influence people in extraordinary ways. Developing relationships, training, horsemanship instruction, and caring for horses naturally affects those involved by allowing for unique insights. The benefits of enhanced work ethic, responsibility, assertiveness, communication, and healthy relationships has been substantiated for the past twenty years by leaders in this new learning model. During her more than thirty years in teaching grades kindergarten through the masters level in college, Sandra has dealt with learning styles, and how people process information, she now takes this one step further by combining both in the horse/human connection. Smoketree Institute and Ranch offers courses in leadership that incorporate the mirroring that horses provide to assist humans in self-empowerment and communication.