Meet the Trainers
At Winter Rose, our trainers are more than instructors—they're horsemen and horsewomen with heart. With decades of combined experience across English, Western, natural horsemanship, and equine-assisted coaching, our team brings deep skill, patience, and passion to every lesson and every horse.
Rachel Ference
Taryn Ronning
Mekenzie Dyer
Lisa Sommers
Rachel Ference is an accomplished show jumper who began riding at age 12 after discovering her love for horses on summer trail rides in Utah. Her career took her to the Grand Prix level and Young Jumper Championships, with experience training under Olympians and managing top facilities across the U.S., Germany, and Australia.​
Now the head trainer at Winter Rose, Rachel blends elite-level expertise with a compassionate, student-centered approach. She also founded WRE Team Nonprofit to help young riders compete affordably while building confidence, discipline, and a lifelong love of horsemanship.
Taryn Ronning is a dedicated horsewoman originating from Vancouver, Canada, with extensive expertise in both English and Western riding. Taryn embarked on her equestrian journey at the tender age of five, dedicating her life to the care, rehabilitation, and advanced training of dogs and horses.
​
Currently, Taryn serves as a jumper coach for Team Winter Rose with the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA). Alongside her dedicated partnership with Rachel Farance, Taryn's mentor. Their program specializes in addressing complex behavioral issues and unlocking peak performance. "Team Winter Rose has experienced phenomenal growth and success; our students have succeeded in competition and are a force in the show ring."
​
By the age of 18, she founded an animal rescue focused on the rehabilitation of abused and neglected animals, showcasing her unwavering commitment to animal welfare. Building upon this foundation, Taryn has cultivated extensive expertise spanning full-spectrum equine rehabilitation and professional training - taking horses seamlessly from initial breaking all the way through the show ring.
​
As a passionate advocate for natural horsemanship, Taryn provides customized training, care, and rehabilitation programs tailored to riders of all levels and disciplines. Her techniques, including the Masterson Method, emphasize the importance of building trust, mutual understanding, and fostering a profound, harmonious bond between horse and rider.​
Mekenzie Dyer is an Arizona native who grew up riding trails and exploring the back-country of this beautiful state on horses and mules. Through her high school years, she raced barrels and poles at local rodeos until she left the valley to attend NAU, where she received a bachelors in English Education and a masters in creative writing. In 2019, Mekenzie returned to the valley and began training wild mustangs after school hours, using knowledge of natural horsemanship passed down to her from greats like Ray Hunt and Buck Brannaman.
After nearly a decade of teaching middle school and high school, she launched her full time equestrian career in the spring of 2024. Mekenzie blends her expertise as a teacher to help seasoned and beginner riders alike, teaching Western and English lessons, and helping riders of all ages become confident and knowledgeable equestrians.
Lisa Somers has spent a lifetime in the equestrian world, from competing in West Coast hunter/jumper shows as a junior to managing a 200-acre ranch in New Zealand. She now serves as an assistant trainer at Winter Rose Equestrian.
With 25+ years in elementary education and certification as a life coach, Lisa has supported children, at-risk teens, and sober adults in building confidence and resilience.
She is now launching Running Wind Academy—a micro-school that blends academics with equine experiences for a holistic, transformative education.
Join Our IEA Team
The Winter Rose IEA Team gives middle and high school riders the chance to compete in a team-based format without needing to own their own horse.
Whether you're new to showing or ready to compete at a national level, we provide expert coaching, supportive teammates, and unforgettable experiences.
Plan Your Visit
Ready to experience the beauty of our equestrian facility? Schedule a tour and get a firsthand look at our boarding options, training arenas, and picturesque surroundings.