About Us

About DERS

At Denver Equestrians Riding School, we provide the instructors and horses for your lessons in our beautiful 32,000sf Equestrian Paradise!

DERS offers a wide range of programs designed to suit riders of all ages and skill levels, from brand new beginners to experienced equestrians looking to refine their skills.

Guided by our talented Horseback Riding Instructors, our lesson programs emphasize safety, education, and fun!

We strive to provide a quality learning experience that goes beyond the basics of riding. Our lessons are crafted to help students build confidence, develop strong horsemanship skills, and form meaningful connections with horses and like-minded friends.

Whether you're interested in recreational riding, competition, or simply enjoying the companionship of horses, we at DERS are here to support your equestrian journey every step of the way.

🏇 Our Vision

To be THE premier equestrian center where passion for horses fosters personal growth and community, inspiring riders of all ages to achieve their full potential. We aim to set the standard for excellence in horse care and equestrian education, while creating a welcoming space where horse lovers everywhere can thrive and grow.

🐴 Our Mission

To provide a family-friendly environment where horse lovers of all ages learn, thrive and grow. To deliver exceptional equestrian education on our healthy, happy school horses, empowering riders with confidence and skills. We are committed to offering the best horses, a premium facility, and educated instructors to nurture those with a love for horses and riding.

Explore Our Team of Riding Professionals

At Denver Equestrians Riding School, our team of riding professionals is dedicated to providing top-notch equestrian education and support. Each instructor brings a wealth of experience, a passion for teaching, and a commitment to fostering a positive learning environment.

Hanna Powers

Hanna is a lifelong equestrian with more than 20 years of experience in the hunter, jumper, and equitation rings. A nationally ranked USEF competitor for over a decade, Hanna trained and competed at the highest levels—riding in Junior Jumpers, Hunters, and Big Eq divisions at all major indoor finals. She’s been recognized with numerous year-end awards from both USEF and USHJA and has represented her teams in Nations Cup–formatted events up to 1.40m.

Hanna’s journey began in the pony divisions, where she broke, trained, and showed her own ponies—earning top ribbons and qualifying for Pony Finals. That early hands-on experience built a foundation of patience, empathy, and attention to detail that continues to shape her approach as both a rider and instructor.

She went on to compete as an NCAA Division I athlete for the University of South Carolina’s Equestrian Team, earning a scholarship and riding in Equitation on the Flat and over Fences. After college, Hanna continued to ride, show, and help train and bring along imported hunters and jumpers for sale, combining her competitive instincts with a genuine love for developing horses.

At DERS, Hanna is passionate about helping riders grow through confidence and connection—whether they’re taking their first lessons or preparing for the show ring. Her teaching style emphasizes classic equitation, effective communication, and making every ride positive and purposeful.

Allison Palmer

Allison is a dedicated equestrian with a lifelong love for horses and a background in English riding. She earned her degree in Equine Sciences from Colorado State University and brings both academic knowledge and hands-on experience into her teaching.

Her background includes teaching riding lessons and equine education classes, training and working with a variety of horses, and owning and caring for her own horses. Allison has experience starting young horses, developing foundational skills on the ground and under saddle, and adapting her training approach to meet the needs of each individual horse and rider. She also has experience managing group lessons and creating structured, safety-focused learning environments.

At DERS, Allison combines her experience in training, horse care, and instruction to support riders as they build confidence, consistency, and strong fundamentals. She values patience, clear communication, and thoughtful horsemanship, and strives to create positive experiences that help horses and riders thrive.

Fun fact: Allison played polo in college, adding a dynamic, team-oriented dimension to her riding background.

Kaylee Doeding

Kaylee began her equestrian journey at the age of 2yrs on trail rides in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Soon thereafter, she was taking English riding lessons that she would earn by mucking out stalls. By 17, she was professionally riding and training horses for their owners, teaching lessons to children and adults, and running summer camps at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.

Kaylee expanded her education by working at A circuit horse shows, and riding in Virginia and Florida. She has earned her BHS PATH certifications to teach riding lessons and therapeutic riding. Kaylee also ran the riding school and horse camps at Far West Farm in Calabasas, CA.

Kaylee's cheery energy and passion for horses shines, and she prioritizes safety, education, and fun in every lesson.

Lucy Ambrose

Lucy began her equestrian journey at the age of six, after seeing horses along the trail where she rode her bike. Through the age of 13, Lucy competed for the East Tennessee Hunter Jumper Association (ETHJA) for the Fox Hollow Riding Academy. During her time there, she focused not only on her riding skills in the ring but on working with the green horses from their first ride through multiple shows. Lucy found love in training the horses and seeing improvement in each ride.

From there, Lucy moved to Florida and continued her equestrian journey in eventing and jumpers. She began riding with the professional, Christina Kelly. While working with her, Lucy spent her summers in Aiken, South Carolina, and her winters in Ocala, Florida, following the show circuit. She did everything from cleaning stalls to showing horses alongside Christina.

After obtaining a bachelor's and master's degree in Florida, Lucy moved to Denver, Colorado, and reconnected with equestrian life at DERS. With experience running numerous riding camps and teaching students and horses, Lucy knew that DERS would be a perfect fit to bring her passion and love for the sport to students of all ages. She was always taught that the horse’s needs come first, and that is the kind of care she strives to bring to the equine world.

Fun fact: Lucy won the sportsmanship award with ETHJA and always strives to teach those values in young riders

Sarah T, DERS Director of Operations

Sarah has been passionate about horses from a very young age. Growing up in the U.K., she was fortunate to have her own horses and spent much of her time riding and competing in friendly local shows, with a special love for cross-country jumping.

After taking a break from riding to raise her son—who is now a familiar and helpful face around the barn—Sarah returned to the saddle and quickly reconnected with her lifelong passion. She describes herself as a strong amateur rider who is always eager to learn and grow alongside the horses.

Sarah decided to step away from the corporate world to pursue a career more closely aligned with her heart. When she and her family moved to Colorado, she discovered Denver Equestrians while searching for a welcoming place to ride. What she found was more than just a barn—it became a true community and family.

Now, as part of the Denver Equestrians team, Sarah hopes to greet everyone who walks through the doors with the same warm friendly welcome she first received. She is dedicated to making each rider’s experience not only memorable, but also filled with the same joy, connection, and passion for horses that has shaped her own journey.

Corinne M. Lettau

Founder, Denver Equestrians Riding School

Owner, Colorado Equestrian Center

Corinne's love for horses began on a trail ride with her dad for her 8th birthday, sparking a lifelong passion for horses and riding. By age 10, she was attending summer camps and winning ribbons. After college, Corinne returned to the dude ranch where she first rode, this time guiding the trail rides and teaching beginners. In 1993, Corinne became a Certified Riding Instructor, and enjoyed teaching lessons to children, running summer camps, and creating community riding programs for adults.

Her journey through various disciplines eventually led her to Dressage in 1994, where she found her true calling in mastering the art of communication between horse and rider. Corinne became a working student and trained under Olympic Medalist Michelle Gibson i1998-2000, and continues to host clinics with Michelle to this day. The founder of DERS, Corinne is dedicated to creating a family-friendly environment focused on safety, education, and the well-being of horses. Her vision is to raise the standards of equine education and provide a space where horse lovers of all ages can learn, thrive, and grow.