Get To Know Us A Little Better!

              Unity Farms trainer/owner Ashley Cates-Leibbrand has grown up on horseback. Starting at the age of 3 after riding a pony at a birthday party, the love of horses began. Riding lessons turned into a job at the local stable and other ranches, which then grew into a mobile horse exercising business. During this time Ashley rode both english & western, as well as starting her experience with training young horses at a charro ranch. Riding any and every horse she could get her hands on to develop her skills and work within the horse industry turned into a busy riding schedule along with giving lessons to novice riders and caring for her own horses. In 2004 it was decided that her business would move north to Terra Bella, where Unity Farms is now located. It was also decided that the farm would not only be an equine business, but now an agribusiness that included the growing of citrus & nuts for diversification. In the beginning of the new location the business was focused on training, boarding, transport, & stallions at stud. More recently there has been a strong focus on riding lessons and Ashley has developed her own curriculum for beginning riders to come and learn not only how to ride and care for horses, but how to develop the best equine & rider relationship they can through feeling and understanding of our horses behavior. With her diverse background, Ashley welcomes all classes of horses and styles of riding to Unity Farms, there is a place here for the trail rider, the dressage rider, the jumper, the pleasure rider and the competitive equestrian. *Specializing in colt starting, finishing young horses, gymkhana and barrel horse training.*

"My goal as a trainer and riding instructor is to have happy horses and riders... Horses that understand their job are happy, riders that understand their horse are happy. This is the only way to bring the horse and rider together, through understanding and communication. For every rider I educate, I give a horse a better life and horses have given me a better life, so this is how I can pay them back for that. I saw a need for equestrian education in the valley for our youth and rose to the opportunity even though it was not in my plans, sometimes you are led beautiful places that were not on your map and that is where the horses led me with this riding program. I have found educating riders through lessons, camps, our show team and our equine care program incredibly fulfilling and will continue to provide the best learning experience I can for all of my students and the horses here at Unity Farms, where horse & rider become one."

                               – Ashley Cates-Leibbrand, Trainer/Owner of Unity Farms