About
High Desert Equestrian Center ( HDEC) is located on the edge of BLM land on a 40-acre parcel. We are a horse-centered barn where we endeavor to balance horses' needs with their human partners. Horse lovers of all disciplines can enjoy and expand their capabilities with multiple indoor and outdoor arenas including:
Dressage
Jumping
Western Riding
We welcome all levels and types of riding and want our barn to be a place of joy, fun, and learning for the horse and rider. The 15-stall insulated barn is privately located in the center of the property. We have many varied options for horses including stalls with runs and large pens with shelters both of which have access to large grass turnout. We also have a beautiful 5-acre pasture for horses with a substantial loafing shed.
What We Offer
Facilities:
- Large Working Equitation Ring
- Insulated Indoor Arena.
- Regulation Size Dressage Arena 20x60
- Large Outdoor Oval Jumping arena
- Perimeter riding track with varied cross country jumps.
- Two Large Round Pens
Full-Service Stall
- Hay (alfalfa and/or grass) twice/day with slow-feed options available.
- Graining (owner provides)
- Stall cleaning twice/day.
- Daily grass large paddock turn-out.
- Blanketing
- Generous Bedding
Basic-Service Stall
- Hay (alfalfaand/orgrass twice/day)
- Stall cleaning twice/day
- Graining (owner provides)
Large Pens with Shelters (30x90)
- Hay twice daily (alfalfa and/or grass)
- Pen Cleaning 1 time/day.
- Graining (owner provides)
Limited Pasture
- large dry lot with generous loafing shed attached to pasture.
- Summer night turn out
- Winter 24/7 turn-out.
Haul-In Facility Use
Horse Hauling Service Available.
Meet Our Team
Welcome to High Desert Equestrian Center (HDEC). At HDEC, we work to create an organic, supportive, safe, and joyous place for horses and the people who love them. Since last summer, when we bought the barn, we have worked tirelessly to improve the barn experience for the horses and the people who love them.
My father gave me a pony when I was a young girl, and it didn’t just change my life; that pony became my world, my freedom, and my sole responsibility. It was an exploration of Alpine Meadows, trails, Pony Club, afternoons spent cleaning tack, and river crossings, and it was the beginning of a journey that has never ended, one that we could pass on to our children.
I’ve seen the best barns and not-so-great barns. At HDEC, we strive to put the horses first. In my experience, the best barns are where the horse’s needs take priority.
At HDEC we are trying to develop a fun, supportive, safe, joyous place for horses and those who love them.
OUR TEAM
David & Annie Mueller
OUR TEAM
Laurie (Strang) Cunningham - Trainer
Hello!
My name is Laurie (Strang) Cunningham. I recently moved back to Molina, Colorado where we have our horses and opened an Equine Retirement Facility on 70 acres. Annie has very nicely asked me if I can come teach at High Desert Equestrian Center while Holly is away and or as requested. I can make myself available and would love to come teach once a week or more if time and interest allows. For those who don’t know me, here is a little background.
I grew up in Carbondale on my family’s ranch where we did 4H, Pony Club, Vaulting, Fox Hunting, Eventing, a little rodeo and gymkhana, and even some Polo. My sister, Bridget, and I trained and showed the thoroughbreds my family raised. The past 35+ years I have been based in Thermal, CA running my own busy show barn Tahquitz Equestrian, raising my own homebred warmbloods, and competing on the A and B H/J circuits in Southern California. Throughout the year we hosted classical dressage, working equitation, natural horsemanship, pony club ratings, and H/J clinics. Our own Tahquitz Pony Club Riding Center competed at The Pony Club Championships in Kentucky with a national title in 2014 and other top placings 2017 and 2024.
My ideology is and always has been “the horse comes first” and one that you are all familiar with “less is more”. I am excited to be back in Colorado and share my love for these amazing animals. I am available to give lessons once a week or more if time allows. I would also be very excited to start a Pony Club Riding Center at High Desert Equestrian Center. Pony Club (www.ponyclub.org) is the oldest recognized horsemanship program in the world and has something to offer everyone! Please reach out if you or your child is interested!
Please reach out through me or Annie for details and more information. I look forward to meeting everyone.
Matina Aliseo’s love of horses started way before she was even a thought in this world as her poppy was a part of the State Island’s pony express and would deliver The Advance around town to his neighbors and would later go on to become a jockey. Her mom and aunt also grew up teaching themselves to ride when their father bought them a horse and pony for their back yard.
Matina grew up on the coast of New Jersey splitting her time between her local beach town jobs and the barn. At a young age she joined her local 4H Club and was eager to learn as much as she could about these animals that fascinated her so much. While riding was fun she couldn’t help but find her self wanting more time at the barn. As time went on she discovered the world of eventing and through that Pony Club.
Through Pony Club she not only grew in her riding abilities but also began to expand her knowledge on horse management. She started working horses for who ever would let her and helping around the barn whenever she could. Matina owes her introduction to the eventing world to a spicy little grey quarter horse named Bella who decided she was more of a jumper pony than a hunter. That spicy little mare took her all the way to the Rolex Arena in Lexington, Kentucky to win an individual 3rd for Pony Club Nationals.
Matina then went on to get her first OTTB, her red headed boy named Jake. At 5 years old he had a lot of learning to do but to this day he has the biggest heart and try with any obstacle she would point him at. Living on the east coast allowed them to train with well established riders such as Jennie Brannigan, Laine Ashker, and Philip Dutton.
Over the years of soaking in as much knowledge as she could from as many trainers she could she came to the conclusion that working with these animals not only helped shape the rider she is today, but the person she is today. She wouldn’t be half the person she is today with out these animals in her life and because of that she knew she had too share her love of them with as many students as she could.
In 2021 Matina moved out to Grand Junction and brought her boy Jake along with her. Not even a full year later she found herself acquiring another red headed boy, Pedro. Pedro has since helped Matina to teach many beginner riders get their start into becoming the next local barn rat.
Lesson’s with Matina not only include riding instructions but have a large focus in horse management and help build your confidence with these animals starting from the ground and carrying over to the saddle. She believes that in caring for them properly and learning to work with them in various ground work exercises helps to shape the relationship you will go on to cultivate with them in the saddle.
No matter your age or riding level she is eager and excited for both the challenge and the opportunity to work with new students and show them why these animals captured her heart since before she can remember.
Serena grew up riding hunter/jumpers in upstate New York. As a teenager, she competed in both local and rated horse shows. Serena won year-end awards from the Western New England Professional Horseman Association in both the equitation and jumper divisions. She broadened her horsemanship education in Pony Club and at Brown Ledge Camp. Serena graduated from St. Lawrence University in 2019 where she competed on the riding team and continued learning about horse care and riding instruction. After 2 years on the riding staff at Brown Ledge Camp in 2017 and 2018 she served as the Assistant Head of Riding in 2021. Her teaching emphasizes horsemanship and strong basics in a safe and fun environment.
My name is Sora, and I am the owner of Kickin’ Dust Horsemanship. Since before I could walk, I have been working with horses. Growing up, I took riding lessons, leased horses, and helped train horses. In 2017, I adopted my first horse, Freya. Freya was a very green mustang, adopted from Canyon City. It was a bumpy start, but these past 5 years, we have taken on the world together. Freya and I have competed in numerous rodeos and competitive trail rides, joined a drill team, attended Cheyenne Frontier Days, hosted summer camps, and more. Owning Freya has taught me so much, and I love passing my knowledge on to others.
In 2020, I made the move to Grand Junction from Fort Collins to attend Colorado Mesa University. I began as a nursing major, in the hopes to work with people. The path ended up not being for me, so I fell backwards on my backup plan and made the switch to elementary education. I love being able to work with kids especially and have yet to second guess my decision.
Come May of 2021, I wanted to take my next step and combine my love for teaching with my love for horses. I made a post on a local Grand Junction Facebook group offering my services only thinking I’d get a few responses. This post ended up taking off and here we are with Kickin’ Dust Horsemanship.
I offer riding lessons to all levels and all ages with a variety of different options. If you are interested at all, please give me a call/text at (970) 270-7593 and give Kickin’ Dust Horsemanship Facebook a view.
OUR TEAM
Sora - Trainer
