Learn About Head Trainer Megan Sorentino
Classical Horsemanship Instructor — Teaching Riders Worldwide
As a little girl, Megan was completely captivated by horses—her parents joke that she came into the world saying “horses.” At five years old she began riding lessons, dreaming of friendship and partnership with the horse. But most instructors in her youth told her to “Make the horse do it,” “Show the horse who’s boss,” or “Don’t let them do that.”
These harsh methods felt wrong to her, leaving a young Megan longing for a gentler way to connect.
Everything changed in 2012 when Megan discovered Classical Equitation through her mentor, Craig Stevens. This approach aligned perfectly with the partnership she had always imagined. Since that moment, Megan has devoted her life to sharing a better way of working with horses—one rooted in harmony, biomechanics, understanding, and kindness.
Classical Riding Training and Education
Megan studied the art of classical riding through the Foundation for the Equestrian Arts (FEA), an organization created to preserve, promote and share the art of French classical horsemanship. FEA supported the riding academy of the National School of Academic Equitation (NSAE), which offered clinics, professional training and certification in classical horsemanship.
Megan participated in over 20 NSAE clinics over the years, before NASE closed down in 2024. Among other topics, she has studied the biomechanics of the horse, work in hand, principles of seat-work and managing fear in the horse and rider. She uses this knowledge to put on similar classical riding clinics at Classical Horsemanship.
In 2016 Megan completed NSAE’s Professional’s Course. This year-long program included intensive daily study of classical equitation, teaching riders from around the world and working regularly with school horses to help them develop freedom in motion.
Certified instructor through The Foundation of the Equestrian Arts
Safe Sport Certified
Megan’s Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Science and Business from Colorado State University provides a scientific and business foundation for her horsemanship training.
Today, Megan not only teaches riders through her online programs but also travels to teach classical horsemanship clinics internationally, sharing these time-honored principles with equestrians across the globe.
Early Training and Natural Horsemanship
Megan grew up at local barns, taking lessons, caring for horses, and attending clinics in natural horsemanship. These experiences gave her confidence and a practical foundation in handling and training horses. Yet she found herself searching for more precision, more development—and a method that didn’t rely on fear.
This search ultimately led her to classical training, where she found the structure, refinement, and compassion she had always imagined horsemanship could be.
Life Long Learner
“My work with Megan was as one of her instructors in her credential program here at the Foundation for the Equestrian Arts. I was one of her professors, and also supervised her as an instructor when she was working in the riding academy here. Megan is a dedicated professional, she’s an experienced rider and trainer, and a scholar of the art of riding. Yet she’s also very down to earth, not ‘full of herself’ as so many riding instructors seem to be. She is as comfortable executing the highly focused movements of haute ecole, piaffe, passage, flying changes– as she is enjoying a day on the range rounding up cattle for branding with family and friends. It’s not about the tack! It’s about the tact. She’s funny, focused, and very well educated as a riding instructor, and highly skilled as a trainer. Megan’s warmth and empathy helps riders feel safe to make mistakes, and she is skilled at helping sort out the mistakes toward a more and more balanced and connected riding experience. The seatwork alone would be worth the lessons, but along with the balance, Megan’s teaching develops the rider’s ability to improve the horse through the intelligent use of the classical art. Megan Sorentino is both intuitive and intellectual, and she’s a lot of fun to be around, too. I highly recommend Megan Sorentino and Classical Horsemanship.”
-Mary Anne Campbell
Megan continues her study of Classical Equitation through continuing to read and study books written by the old masters. She loves incorporating her studying into her teaching and training. Always trying to find new ways to improve riders and horses.
Megan says, “When a horse or rider is having a problem in training I always think of it as something I need to improve upon. What could I be doing better? What am I not seeing? How can I explain this differently?”
Megan’s late mentor Craig Stevens, instilled in her this desire to learn and constantly improve. He always said, “Ride, Read, Reflect,” and Megan takes this moto to heart. Especially since Craig left her with his equestrian library upon his passing away.
Riding and Competition Experience
Megan bought her first horse, a pony named Fancy, at age 11. Fancy turned out to be greener than she anticipated, so Megan began her horse ownership and training career at the same time.
Over the years, Megan has competed in several types of competitions, including:
Jumping, eventing (a 3-phase competition with dressage, cross-country riding and show jumping), dressage and ranch sorting (a timed team event sorting calves from a herd).
Megan has pursued many different disciplines with her other horses, including trail-riding, working cattle, ranch sorting, working equitation and galloping through the pasture.
For many years every fall she would help with a cattle branding at a ranch near Weldona, Colorado and helps friends gather cattle throughout the year.
Megan finds trail-riding to be a great way to build a strong bond between rider and horse. It also helps strengthen muscles and build courage in the horse, and the horses enjoy the change from arena work. She especially enjoys trail rides in Soapstone Prairie Natural Area and the Pawnee Grasslands near Fort Collins, and the DT Ranch in Morgan County.
Competitive Dressage:
Megan purchased a Trakehner named Falcon in 2005. Although spooky at first, Falcon built confidence with Megan’s training. He became brave and calm on the trails and at horse shows.
Falcon and Megan have competed in many dressage competitions together and in 2010 qualified for the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society Regional Championships.
Summer of 2024 Megan decided to dip her toe back into the competitive dressage arena on a client’s horse named Julepe Erre (owned by Ashley Kirk). Megan successfully showed Juplepe at Fourth Level dressage but found that her heart is no longer in competing. Though she is more then happy to help clients with showing.
Megan says, “I hold the horse in my heart and that is the best possible prize a rider could ask for.”
Horse Training & Riding Lesson Experience
Megan has trained dozens of horses across a wide range of breeds and disciplines. She has brought multiple horses to high school dressage levels and has helped many horses with lameness or physical limitations return to sound, happy work.
Since incorporating classical equitation into her training, she has seen dramatic improvements in the horses she works with—and in the horses her students ride.
Her goal is always the same:
to develop curious, sound, enthusiastic horses who are excited to interact with people and enjoy their work.
Megan teaches riders in Colorado, across the United States, and around the world. Whether in person or through virtual lessons, online courses, and international clinics, her mission remains consistent:
To help every horse and rider cultivate a harmonious, deeply connected partnership.
“Naturally Gifted and Classically Trained Megan Sorentino’s gifts and skills with horses and students alike, know no limits. Watch her nurturing her horses, instructing her students or just caring for her barn and land, and you’ll see a abundance of love, talent, knowledge and professionalism. However, it is her amazing blend of patience and intuition that impresses me the most. Megan knows just when and how to bring me to the next level; her patience allows me to build confidence and never rushes me. Her intuition, in combination with her knowledge and skills, assures my continual progression and joy filled successes. A morning at her barn brings serenity and energy, along with humility and confidence.”
-Suzanne R.
