California Riding Magazine • March, 2009

Darcy Edwards Training Center
Young trainer succeeds with a versatile business.

Versatile trainer Darcy Edwards jokingly blames her lifetime love affair with horses on her brother. “When I was 6 and my family moved from one part of San Diego to another, my brother missed soccer sign-ups. Instead, he chose to try horseback riding. When he decided after two lessons it wasn’t for him, I took the rest of the pack and that was it!” she relays.

Soon after, her family bought their first horse, an Arabian named Marcy. When the horse was more than they could handle, Darcy’s father suggested finding a trainer. Darcy began riding 23 years ago with Hunter Pleasure training with Collette McMillan of Mystic Plains Arabians, and began competing in Class A shows four months later. Since then, her show record has grown quite impressively.

She is a three-time National Champion in Half-Arabian Working Hunter Over Fences in both the Open and Amateur Owner divisions; and Reserve National Champion in Arabian Hunter Pleasure for Adult Amateur Owners. She has multiple National Top 10 awards in Hunter Pleasure, English Pleasure, Jumpers, Hunter and Saddle Seat Equitation, Sidesaddle, Show Hack and Dressage.
Darcy has worked with numerous trainers, including Lou Roper and Trish Nelson, to aid her in her well-rounded horse training skills. Although her focus is mainly hunters, she also teaches western, saddle seat, side saddle, dressage, horsemanship, showmanship, halter, show hack, sporthorse, jumpers, reining and all the equitation classes in between.

Darcy graduated the University of Arizona in May 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Chemistry. She also completed the University of San Diego Paralegal Program with high honors. After completing her schooling at U of A, Darcy accepted the position of Farm Supervisor for the University’s Horse Farm. There, her responsibilities included supervising staff and student employees, monitoring and keeping records for herd health, assisting with teaching and extension activities, routine maintenance of facilities, interaction with private horse owners and ordering feed and other supplies.

She returned home to San Diego and was hired as manager of the Poway Valley Stock Farm. She claimed professional status in the fall of 2003 and began training and teaching soon after. In 2004, she took her first students to the Arabian Youth Nationals where they claimed three National Top 10 Awards. Since then, she has qualified many other students for the Nationals and led many others to Achievement Award status in the more local Greater San Diego Hunter Jumper Association arena. In 2008, Darcy and her horses claimed the Reserve National Championship in Half-Arabian Sport Horse Show Hack, as well as two other Top 10 Awards at the Sport Horse Nationals in Nampa, ID.

In July 2005 Darcy and her parents purchased the El Capitan Equestrian Center located in San Diego County’s Lakeside. With earnest effort and a great deal of horse sense, they have brought together their knowledge and expertise to provide a very nice boarding and training facility open to the public. Darcy now manages all her training and lessons at ECEC, and she oversees the ranch.
Darcy Edwards Training Center (DETC) riders range in ages from 5 thru 55 and over. They learn basic horsemanship from the first lesson on how to clean and tack their horse and eventually move on through the gaits of english and western riding. Although Darcy deals with a variety of breeds including Quarter Horses, Saddlebreds, Paints, POA ponies, Dutch Harness Horses, Thoroughbreds and Morgans, she has a special fondness for Arabians and Half-Arabians.

Taking her students to the top is her goal, and she believes every horse and rider can get there with determination and the right attitude. Darcy and her students have achieved top honors at Local, GSDHJA, Class A, regional and national competitions.

DETC has the facilities and qualified instructors needed to provide lessons at all levels. DETC also offers training for horses, whether they are green and just starting out, or only in need of a tune up. DETC trains and shows Arabians, Quarter Horses and Paints as well as many other breeds and in a variety of disciplines. “We are a quick drive into the country from anywhere in San Diego,” says Darcy, who encourages visitors interested in any style or type of riding.

Darcy can be reached at 858-335-7105.