Coaches

Randi Gardner
Hunt Seat Team

A Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) master-level instructor, Randi Gardner joined the Held Center staff in October.  Previously an instructor, stable manager, and team coach at YMCA Camp Letts Equestrian Center just outside of Washington, D.C., Gardner has a wealth of experience working with horses and riders in multiple disciplines, including hunt seat, western, eventing, dressage, and even polocrosse.  Prior to her work at Camp Letts, she was the barn manager and head riding instructor at Reverie Acres Riding Academy, the first United States Pony Club-approved riding center in Maryland.  Gardner was also the center administrator for the USPC program at Reverie Acres, as well as the leader for the stable’s 4-H club.

At the Held Center, Gardner’s daily tasks include all aspects of stable management, including oversight of the barn staff, arrangement of feeding and turnout schedules, scheduling for all vet, farrier, and specialist visits, horse show and event support, and instruction of students.

Danielle Menteer
Dressage Team

Previously an instructor and coach at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, Danielle Menteer joined the staff of the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center in July of 2007. She holds a B.S. degree in Equine Studies from Lake Erie and represented the Lake Erie Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) hunt seat team at the IHSA National Finals during her time as a student there.

Since then, Menteer has worked in eastern Ohio as a professional trainer and stable manager, working with horses and riders in dressage, hunters, and jumpers. Her experience is extensive: she has successfully competed on the Florida winter circuit, shown hunters and jumpers in "A" rated shows, and earned her United States Dressage Federation (USDF) bronze and silver medals in recognized dressage competitions, competing through the FEI level. Currently, she competes Albion College Lenox at Prix St. George and Intermediate I.

Menteer coached the Albion Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team to National Finals berths in 2008, 2009, and 2010, with top ten team finishes.  She has also coached three reserve national champion individual riders to their titles, the most recent being Lauren Levy in 2012.

Denise Webber
Stock Seat Team

Denise Webber brings over 45 years of riding experience to her role as coach of the Albion College western team. As owner and head trainer of Nottawa Paint Horses, LLC in nearby Marshall, Michigan, Webber is active as both a trainer and a judge for 4-H, open, and Pony of the Americas (POA) horse show circuits.

As coach of the Albion College team, Webber's riders have won multiple high point and reserve high point awards not only as a team, but also as individuals. In 2009, Webber coached Trish Marheine '10 to a berth in the IHSA national championship show and in 2010 and 2011, she coached Sarah Spencer '11 and Katie Petchell '13 to berths in the IHSA Semi-Finals. In just a few short years, Webber has built the western program into a top contender in IHSA Zone 6, Region 4, consistently qualifying her riders for post-season competition in the Regional, Zone, and National finals.  In 2012, individual riders Katie Petchell and Morgan Carey appeared at the IHSA Nationals under Webber's tutelage.