Over The Top

I have been riding for over thirty years and fifteen of those years have been with Karen Colston. She is a consumate professional. My old trainer had retired from training and I spent several months searching for a new trainer. I always went and watched a trainer give lessons before I would sign up for a lesson myself. When I watched Karen giving lessons, I knew that I had finally found the right trainer to continue my journey with horses. She instills an excellent command of the basics before she allows her students to move on. You will not find students better versed in the basics than Karen’s. Once the student is a safe rider with a good command of the basics, Karen will then help them to move into jumping with lessons that include not only how to do something but with an understanding of the theory and reasons as to why it should be done that way. She develops lesson plans that help her riders at all levels establish or refine certain riding skills. She is also great at adapting her teaching style and lessons to various ages and skill levels. I have watched her patience with young beginners, her just right amount of encouragement to intermediate riders to advance, her excellent eye with advanced riders to help them hone their skills and her patience with some of us fossils over fences that still enjoy jumping but aren’t out to prove how high or fast we can go anymore and just ride for the joy of it. She is teaching at Pacific Equestrian Center in Wilton which is an excellent facility in a lovely setting. You can’t go wrong riding with Karen.

I’ve been riding with Karen for 3 years and highly recommend her for riders of all ages and levels. She offers classes for beginners to accomplished riders wishing to show. She is creative and encouraging and has a calm, supportive teaching style. Karen has a talent for getting you to work just a bit above your comfort level to progress in riding and feel successful. Her horses are very well trained and dependable, and she stresses a connection with the horse based on natural horsemanship techniques. The barn offers a beautiful outdoor arena and a large covered indoor arena so that riding continues year round. I love riding with Karen at PEC!

Over The Top is a hunter jumper and equitation training facility run by Trainer Karen Colston. Over The Top is located at the Pacific Equestrian Center in Wilton, California. Lessons are offered weekly for all ages on lessons horses, or on your own horse if you wish. The facility welcomes all horse lovers who wish to learn and perfect their riding in the hunter jumper discipline. From the beginning first time in the saddle rider, to the experience seasoned showing rider. The facility is welcoming with friendly riders of all levels, no intimidation!
I’ve been training under Karen Colston for a year and a half. She is a great trainer and within a year and a half I’ve moved up quick and now own my horse horse. My horse and I train and show under Over The Top Equestrian and love every single minute of it! If you’re looking for a dedicated trainer who will be there for you from the first time under her instruction, to being by your side at the show ring, then this is the place you’ll want to train! :)