Betsy Rebar Sell started riding at age 9 and never looked back. She began the journey riding school horses at a public riding stable then graduated to her own pony, then her own horses. Her well-rounded background included lessons in lunging, jumping, cross country and dressage. She showed ponies as a child. As a junior, she showed horses in hunter, jumper and dressage competitions. After her junior years, she went on to focus on dressage. Shade Tree Farm was purchased in 1990 and became the home base for training.

 

Betsy studied under several top international trainers over the years and trained, taught riding, and competed various horses through the levels. She earned her USDF gold, silver and bronze medals. With her best horse, Wonderful Walden, she competed in the 1999 Pan American Games and won a dressage team gold medal and finished 4th individually. The pair continued to compete very successfully at the Grand Prix level against top competition at important shows in the midwest, east and Florida for the next decade. Betsy continues to hone her own skills and share her experience with others.