Hi! I'm Danielle! 

Founder of Ke'Aloha Equestrian Centre.  Unique to most horse professionals, I have a Master’s degree in mental health counseling with a minor in marriage and family therapy. I am a certified PATH instructor and have a premiere accredited center. Having the education in psychology not only helps me to be a better business person, trainer, and rider, but it helps me to specialize in reducing anxiety and improving confidence for my clients on and off the horse. After getting an education in a helping profession that specializes in the art of language and relationships, I have found the relationships between horse and rider, as well as responses from the horse, have changed tremendously. My philosophy is to not only improve the horse and rider’s performance, but I aim to improve the existing relationship between horse and rider, and help both to become the best versions of themselves.

My experience in the riding ring has been extensive and diverse. I have competed across the nation in equitation, hunters and jumpers. By the age of 15 I was riding in the junior amateur jumpers, as well as the higher levels of equitation such as the ASPCA Maclay and the USET. I have competed in the regular working hunters, hunter derbies and handy hunters in the hunter ring. My training process for horses is that you get much farther with negative and positive reinforcement than you do with punishment; this is also an evidence based practice that has been used in behavior modification for centuries. My philosophy with horses is more of a humanistic approach; the idea is that usually the issue is directly linked to a lack of communication or clarification on the rider’s part, which causes frustration and acting out, in both the horse and rider alike.

 At our barn we do not discriminate and become wrapped up in financial displays of power. I try my best to provide a stress free, humorous atmosphere in which people can relax and enjoy the art of horseback riding. Clients are not only riders, they are friends.