Mark’s wife, Crissi McDonald was born and raised in Arizona, sat on her first horse when she was two and began riding lessons at eleven. By the time she was twenty, she was a certified Camp Horsemanship Instructor, giving lessons and managing a Girl Scout riding program in New Mexico during the summer months. She also worked as a trail guide and horse wrangler for a ranch in southeastern Arizona, where she helped out with cattle work. Though she initially learned to ride Western, in the mid-1990s, she expanded her skills to include riding and showing Hunt Seat and later, Dressage, which she continues to pursue. She has also been training in aikido for the past four years.
Crissi is an accomplished clinician in her own right, and has been an instructor and horse trainer for over 20 years. She currently divides her time between giving private lessons in and around Colorado, as well as occasionally traveling and teaching with Mark. Students who ride in clinics also have the opportunity to continue their work with Crissi following their sessions with Mark. While guided by the same principles of building trust, communication and seeking softness, Crissi offers additional perspective on the work to help people and horses fully understand the skill they wish to improve.
Crissi is now offering private horsemanship and riding lessons at your home or barn, and can be reached at: heartlinehorse@gmail.com.
Due to their travel schedule, however, neither she nor Mark are able to do any colt starting or take in horses for boarding or training.
