The Mackinac Island Festival of the Horse would not be possible without our many volunteers and caretakers of our "kings," the horses!. We are assembling bios and photos of these valuable helpers. If you are a volunteer and have not submitted your bio and photo, please email info@mackinachorses.org.
Maryanke Alexander
Maryanke Alexander, living in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan with her husband Paul, 3 dogs, 4 cats and 6 horses, has 5 children. We have been summer residents of Mackinac Island for the past 6 years. More information... |
Jack Armstrong
Jack and his wife Terrie have had their home on the Island for 11 years. Jack and Terrie have three children, Collin and Hailey attending the Mackinac Island Public School and Jordan at Michigan State University
More information... |
Lisa Brock
As a lifetime lover of horses, it is a dream come true to have my Quarter Horse mare, Rosie and Friesian Sport horse gelding, Ringo, in my life. More information... |
Leanne Brodeur
Leanne Brodeur, year round permanent resident of the Island, graduated from Mackinac Island Public School in 1972. More information... |
Rose Canino
Rose specializes in:
- Face Painting
- Party Packages
- Themed Photography Sessions
- Custom Illustrated Books
More information... |
Robin Clinton
I'm Robin Clinton, Owner and trainer at Shivering Cactus Riding Center, in Mesick, MI. I was born and raised in MI, and actually caught horse fever pretty early on. Actually at age 3, my mom used to put me on the back of her old, half-blind pony "Satin" lead me down the track then let us go! Since then horses have become a central fixture in my life. More information... |
Candice Dunnigan
Candice Dunnigan grew up riding horses on Mackinac Island. She is now a long time resident, equestrian, and writer on Mackinac. For the past twelve years, her equine column, "Horse Tales" has appeared weekly in the Mackinac Island Town Crier. More information... |
Lisa & Don Eckhardt
Don has been involved in the driving world for the last 20 years. He has been competing in Combined Driving, in the Northwest since its beginning, 19 years ago. Don and navigator Lisa, along with his one of a kind horse Gem, won many Combined Driving events in the US as well as in Canada More information on Don and Lisa and their Driving School... |
Paula Hitzler
Paula Hitzler's career with horses spans nearly 40 years. Paula entered the horse world at the age of nine when she began showing her family's Arabian horses. By the time Paula turned 18, she had numerous regional and national titles under her belt. Paula then went on to attend Michigan State University and enroll in its Animal Science program. More information... |
Janice Groat
Janice Groat is a certified Riding Instructor, specializing in the gaited horse. Her husband, Jim Groat, is the Building Contractor for the new Community Barn on the Island.
Together they own Mystic Meadows Farm in South Lyon, Michigan. Both feel very blessed to be a part of the Mackinac Horsemen's Association, in so promoting the love of the horse. More information... |
Kate Levy
Kate Levy grew up spending her summers on Mackinac Island. She spent a winter on the island and taught art classes at Mackinac Island Public School. She works as a freelance editorial and portrait photographer in Denver and Mackinac Island.
More information... |
Patricia Martin (Trish)
Patricia Martin (Trish), grew up on Mackinac Island and lives there year round. She has continually had horses since the age of eight. More information... |
Clay Meier
View information about Clay Meier at his website... |
Ben Mosley
Ben Mosley is the Head Coachman for the Historic Grand Hotel and year round resident of Mackinac Island. More information... |
Cady Ness-Smith
Cady Ness competes in the sport of carriage driving and enjoys the history and traditions that carriage drivers practice, especially collecting and wearing hats.
She competes in pleasure driving, combined driving, arena driving trials and distance driving with her formerly wild burro, Seymour. Cady and Seymour have appeared on the cover of Driving Digest, in the Whip, the New York Times, on Animal Planet, and in the April 2010 issue of Car and Driver Magazine.
More information... |
Jann Normington
Jann Normington has been involved in the sport of carriage driving since the early 90's. Starting with light horse
s, Jann now drives Percherons. She is a member of the Carriage Association of America, Michigan Horse Drawn Vehicle Association, Metamora Driving Club, South West Michigan Buggy Club, and American Driving Society.
More information... |
Marta Olson
Marta Olson is a long-time member of the Mackinac Horsemen's Association and a former board member. She grew up living in Fort Mackinac during the summers with her parents. More information... |
Steve Rilenge
Having had owned a horse in my early years and with my experiance as a building contractor and owning a home on Mackinac, became facinated with the "Mackinac Island Horse Culture". More information... |
Lin Sheppard
Lin Sheppard’s love of horses goes back as far as she can remember. More information... |
Richard Shrake
- Creator of the Resistance Free® Training & Riding methods
- Judge of 16 World Championship Shows for 5 major breeds
- Teacher at over 4000 clinics
- Demonstrator at over 300 Horse Expos & Fairs nationwide
- Author of four best-selling equestrian books
Visit his website... |
Michelle Stuck
Michelle Stuck will be riding Gysbert. Michelle bought her Mackinac cottage on the fall of 1999. More information...
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Karen Waite
Karen Waite is a product of the Michigan 4-H Program. Her primary project focus was horses, along with Teen Leadership and various other projects. More information... |
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