Mary Hjelmstad
Owner/Head Trainer
Mary grew up under the instruction of Patty Shellman of Patrician Arabians in Monument, CO from age eleven. From the beginning, Mary had a heart and passion for all things horses and soon into her learning decided she would pursue it as a career. Mary began teaching at age fifteen under the mentorship of Patty and went on to inherit her horses and clients as well as leasing the forty acres where she learned to ride and operate the boarding business alongside the help of her parents at age sixteen. By nineteen, Mary had fully taken over the business and was operating a lesson program at max capacity.
Mary is a Certified Horsemanship Association Level 3 certified instructor as well as being Safe Sport Certified and she is currently working towards her Eventing Coaches Program level 1 certification. She has competed in eventing with great success all over Area IX and is continuing to pursue her eventing career on her 11-year-old OTTB, Maverick. Mary is highly involved in the eventing community and is the president of the Central Colorado Eventing club and puts on the Spring Gulch Horse Trials as well as many other fun and educational events for the front range.
While her true love is eventing, Mary is also working her way to her USDF Bronze Medal having achieved her First Level scores in 2024.
Mary highly values continuing education and attends the Eventing Coaches Program Symposium in Ocala, FL every year as well as studies under ECP Certified Instructor and USDF Gold Medalist, Laura Backus.