Meet Michelle
As a typical young, horse crazy girl, she took every opportunity she could to ride, learn, and experience the world of horses and animal care. She was fortunate enough to be able to develop her feel thru the “tough” horses; Shetland ponies, young colts, and the like. Most of the time we rode bareback or “made” tack fit… safely for the horse of course. We rode thru deep snow, rough trails, and jumped homemade obstacles. At the time she was just enamored because she got to ride, but looking back now it truly was a blessing in many ways as it really developed a natural seat and balance and feel for the horse that I don’t believe can be learned as well in the traditional way, not that it can’t by any means but let’s face it if you can learn to effectively stay on a naughty, tight, bucking Shetland and continue the lesson you develop quite the balance.
Michelle was 16 when she got her FIRST horse of her own and proper tack (woohoo): He was a welsh cob/appaloosa gelding she adopted from a rescue. Casper came with a lot of baggage from his previous years, which proved challenging and frustrating at the time, however he also taught Michelle so much about all aspects of horsemanship that helped make her into the horse person she is. He was the best all-around guy, he willingly and sometimes not so much but did it anyways, took Michelle thru western play days, trail rides, jumping, dressage lessons, cattle drives, college rodeo club and anything else she threw at him. He was a little stinker but he was amazing. Casper was taken to soon at the young age of 12 due to an untreatable autoimmune condition.
Michelle decided to continue her education of horses and animal health and attended the University of Minnesota Crookston and obtained a B.S. Degree in Equine Science and a minor in Business Management. She graduated not as valedictorian but nonetheless at the top of her class.
Michelle was in the animal pharmaceutical world for a few years and then returned to NE Minnesota where with her family owns and operates J&M Retrievers. www.jmretrievers.com
Michelle is fluent in complex animal health matters; wound care, nutrition, stable management, physiology and anatomy, pasture management, as well as numerous other topics. She is a certified equine instructor, currently working on her dressage judges license, and 1 score away from her USDF Bronze Medal.
Michelle specializes in thoroughbreds; however, she currently has and continually will train many other breeds, even those that aren’t “supposed” to be dressage horses.
Michelle was 16 when she got her FIRST horse of her own and proper tack (woohoo): He was a welsh cob/appaloosa gelding she adopted from a rescue. Casper came with a lot of baggage from his previous years, which proved challenging and frustrating at the time, however he also taught Michelle so much about all aspects of horsemanship that helped make her into the horse person she is. He was the best all-around guy, he willingly and sometimes not so much but did it anyways, took Michelle thru western play days, trail rides, jumping, dressage lessons, cattle drives, college rodeo club and anything else she threw at him. He was a little stinker but he was amazing. Casper was taken to soon at the young age of 12 due to an untreatable autoimmune condition.
Michelle decided to continue her education of horses and animal health and attended the University of Minnesota Crookston and obtained a B.S. Degree in Equine Science and a minor in Business Management. She graduated not as valedictorian but nonetheless at the top of her class.
Michelle was in the animal pharmaceutical world for a few years and then returned to NE Minnesota where with her family owns and operates J&M Retrievers. www.jmretrievers.com
Michelle is fluent in complex animal health matters; wound care, nutrition, stable management, physiology and anatomy, pasture management, as well as numerous other topics. She is a certified equine instructor, currently working on her dressage judges license, and 1 score away from her USDF Bronze Medal.
Michelle specializes in thoroughbreds; however, she currently has and continually will train many other breeds, even those that aren’t “supposed” to be dressage horses.
