Howard & Erica Peet
Howard has been a part of the horse world for the past 22 years. He started his life with horses in California, at the age of 21, as a hunter jumper. With the help of his faithful horse Bold Jester, Howard learned how to ride. He went from being as green as grass to jumping as high as 4'9''. This was just the beginning. Howard had the bug. His goal was to become the best all around trainer he could be. This ment working and learning from the best. To do this he applied for a job at The Park, run by Bruce Howard. Bruce did not need a new hire, but Howard would not take "no" for an answer. He persisted for a couple of weeks. Finally, Bruce decided to put Howard through some tests to see what he could do. It involved driving three andalusian stallions under Bruce's care. Each horse presented Howard with a different challenge. Howard stuck it out and managed to complete the tests with flying colors, to Bruce's surprise. For the next three years Howard learned as much as he could from Bruce, from driving and riding to preparation and care of the horses.
In 1997, Howard would have his first go at competing. He went to the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association National Show in Fort Worth, TX. He showed well enough to earn some reserve titles and top five titles under saddle and driving. Not too bad for a first-timer. It also earned him the Rookie Trainer of the Year award through the IALHA. What Howard learned from the experience though, was that he needed to learn more. This took him to Indiana for a couple of years. There he learned how to train a halter horse from great Arabian horse trainers such as Keith Krichkie, Danny Burgren and Joe Polo. He also increased his western pleasure knowledge, from Jody Strand, and his saddle seat knowledge, from Bill Matton.
Howard decided to start his own business in 1999. He worked at a coffee shop until he set up shop and gained new clients in Cedar City, Utah. What an experience. Not only did the business blossom, but he had a blast doing it. He trained everything that walked through the gate. Miniatures, quarter horses, paso finos, arabians, paints, andalusians, fresians, and even fjords. It was amazing and quite the learning process as well.
In 1997, Howard would have his first go at competing. He went to the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association National Show in Fort Worth, TX. He showed well enough to earn some reserve titles and top five titles under saddle and driving. Not too bad for a first-timer. It also earned him the Rookie Trainer of the Year award through the IALHA. What Howard learned from the experience though, was that he needed to learn more. This took him to Indiana for a couple of years. There he learned how to train a halter horse from great Arabian horse trainers such as Keith Krichkie, Danny Burgren and Joe Polo. He also increased his western pleasure knowledge, from Jody Strand, and his saddle seat knowledge, from Bill Matton.
Howard decided to start his own business in 1999. He worked at a coffee shop until he set up shop and gained new clients in Cedar City, Utah. What an experience. Not only did the business blossom, but he had a blast doing it. He trained everything that walked through the gate. Miniatures, quarter horses, paso finos, arabians, paints, andalusians, fresians, and even fjords. It was amazing and quite the learning process as well.
In 2002, Howard partnered up with Erica. It quickly became clear that together they could accomplish anything they put their minds to. They even ended up showing at the IALHA in 2003 & 2004 while in Utah. In 2004, Howard won his first two national titles, both in dressage. Again, he was recognized by the association, this time, being given the Professional Horseman of the Year award. It was a great honor for Howard to be recognized by the people he had looked up to and respected.
While in Utah, Howard had a client, Johnny Briggner, who was interested in the Single Action Shooting Society. After some persuasion, Howard broke Johnny's appaloosa, Walker, to be driven in cart, by Howard, while Johnny fired a gun at targets. It turned out to be more fun then Howard had imagined. So, in 2005 they went to the SASS End of Trail competition in New Mexico. Howard and Johnny (and Walker) took first place, earning a World Championship in driven single action shooting! Again, what an experience.
From 2006 through 2009, Howard and Erica worked as resident trainers for Rothrock Andalusians and partnered with Spanish Legacy Andalusians. Over those 4 years they would earn a total of 51 National Grand Championships, 20 Reserve National Championships, and 4 Futurity Championships. In 2008, Erica was honored to be recognized by the IALHA who awarded her the Rookie Trainer of the Year award!
The best part of it all was that they didn't do it alone. For the first time they had a team, with amateur and youth competitors, who they taught, and then watched as they earned their titles as well. What a rewarding feeling!
In 2010, Howard and Erica started a new adventure. They decided to return to Utah and start up their own training business, in the Salt Lake City area. To their delight, it got off and running perfectly! They even picked up new Andalusian clients. For the first time they were able to compete at the Foundation Celebration Show. While there the Foundation had Howard put on the halter clinic as part of their clinic series. What an honor! Then in October, they returned to the IALHA National Show where they earned 3 Grand National Championships and 5 Reserve National titles. And to top it all off, and much to Howard's suprise, the IALHA again recognized him as the Professional Horseman of the Year! They could not have asked for any better start for their business! A huge thank you to their amazing clients Celia and Alan Stenfors-Dacre and Saul and Sandra Aguayo for believing in them and sending them such fantastic and FUN horses.
With 2011 came a exciting opportunity. Saul and Sandra offered their property in Mira Loma, CA for us to work out of. How could we pass up the chance to be in horse country where our business could truly grow. And what a year it was. The barn was completely full! We attended our first California shows, which included IALHA & ANNCE shows. (its hard to believe that we had never shown there before.) While at the Foundation Celebration Show, Howard received the Champion of the Breed Service Award, which he was very honored to get as it is not an award that is given out often. It was a year full of many more victories and we only hope to repeat that for many more years to come.
In 2012, life presented an amazing opportunity for us to learn & grow as trainers. Thanks to a generous scholarship given by The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse, we were sent to Spain, to the ranch of Yeguada La Pena De Bejar, owned by Jose Conesa, to work with his halter trainer Nourddine. We learned the ins and outs of how to present in front of a Spanish judge, the training program that Nourddine used, and as a bonus we got to ride with the saddle trainer, Juan Antonio, and even do a bit of driving! In exchange for the trip we offered to share what we learned in Spain with anyone that wanted to learn. So, for the first time, we put on a series of halter clinics around the US & passed on the knowledge that we had received.
While in Utah, Howard had a client, Johnny Briggner, who was interested in the Single Action Shooting Society. After some persuasion, Howard broke Johnny's appaloosa, Walker, to be driven in cart, by Howard, while Johnny fired a gun at targets. It turned out to be more fun then Howard had imagined. So, in 2005 they went to the SASS End of Trail competition in New Mexico. Howard and Johnny (and Walker) took first place, earning a World Championship in driven single action shooting! Again, what an experience.
From 2006 through 2009, Howard and Erica worked as resident trainers for Rothrock Andalusians and partnered with Spanish Legacy Andalusians. Over those 4 years they would earn a total of 51 National Grand Championships, 20 Reserve National Championships, and 4 Futurity Championships. In 2008, Erica was honored to be recognized by the IALHA who awarded her the Rookie Trainer of the Year award!
The best part of it all was that they didn't do it alone. For the first time they had a team, with amateur and youth competitors, who they taught, and then watched as they earned their titles as well. What a rewarding feeling!
In 2010, Howard and Erica started a new adventure. They decided to return to Utah and start up their own training business, in the Salt Lake City area. To their delight, it got off and running perfectly! They even picked up new Andalusian clients. For the first time they were able to compete at the Foundation Celebration Show. While there the Foundation had Howard put on the halter clinic as part of their clinic series. What an honor! Then in October, they returned to the IALHA National Show where they earned 3 Grand National Championships and 5 Reserve National titles. And to top it all off, and much to Howard's suprise, the IALHA again recognized him as the Professional Horseman of the Year! They could not have asked for any better start for their business! A huge thank you to their amazing clients Celia and Alan Stenfors-Dacre and Saul and Sandra Aguayo for believing in them and sending them such fantastic and FUN horses.
With 2011 came a exciting opportunity. Saul and Sandra offered their property in Mira Loma, CA for us to work out of. How could we pass up the chance to be in horse country where our business could truly grow. And what a year it was. The barn was completely full! We attended our first California shows, which included IALHA & ANNCE shows. (its hard to believe that we had never shown there before.) While at the Foundation Celebration Show, Howard received the Champion of the Breed Service Award, which he was very honored to get as it is not an award that is given out often. It was a year full of many more victories and we only hope to repeat that for many more years to come.
In 2012, life presented an amazing opportunity for us to learn & grow as trainers. Thanks to a generous scholarship given by The Foundation for the Pure Spanish Horse, we were sent to Spain, to the ranch of Yeguada La Pena De Bejar, owned by Jose Conesa, to work with his halter trainer Nourddine. We learned the ins and outs of how to present in front of a Spanish judge, the training program that Nourddine used, and as a bonus we got to ride with the saddle trainer, Juan Antonio, and even do a bit of driving! In exchange for the trip we offered to share what we learned in Spain with anyone that wanted to learn. So, for the first time, we put on a series of halter clinics around the US & passed on the knowledge that we had received.
Peet Equestrian's Official Logo Is Revealed!
Our logo was created by Erica Peet. The horse is made up of three different parts, an E, H and P, which stands for Howard and Erica Peet. And of course, the circle stands for our bond in everything we do.
