“People build confidence by having good experiences.” That observation from top hunter/jumper trainer and Grand Prix rider Liz Denny defines her philosophy and explains why she has gained both success and respect during her nearly 30 years as a professional in California.
Liz has a long history with the Flintridge Riding Club. She worked for the late Jimmy Williams and his assistant Susie Hutchison from 1990 to 1996. She then opened her own training barn there and has been busy and successful with that ever since. This month, Liz moves north to become the resident hunter/jumper trainer at Spirit Equestrian, the newly renovated training facility in Ventura County’s Somis.
Liz admits it is hard to leave Flintridge. She built a loyal clientele there with her own training barn over the past 12 years and has great memories, experiences and knowledge from her time with Jimmy and Susie.



As a trainer, Liz is all about helping students achieve their goals. In moving to Spirit Equestrian she is pursuing a goal of her own: to narrow her training focus to students with A circuit goals. “My teaching methods have always been geared toward competing,” she notes. “That’s how I want to gear the future of my business.”
Common goals are the main reason Liz chose Spirit Equestrian as the base for her newly focused Liz Denny Show Stables. “They want trainers of a certain caliber, to attract students who want quality, show-oriented training,” she says. It also helps that Spirit Equestrian is owned by Marie Knowles, a student of Liz’s for the past year and a half. Knowing Marie, Liz was confident about the way in which Spirit Equestrian would be operated. “They’ve done a great job with the facility,” Liz enthuses. “The rings and the barns and the whole renovation are great. They are also very supportive of what I’m doing.”
As its name suggests, Spirit Equestrian is a peaceful, quiet place that sits amidst groves of avocado and lemon trees. State of the art amenities include 100,000 square feet of new jumping arenas with what Liz describes as “excellent footing,” grass paddocks and turnouts, spacious stalls with comfort mats, a European hot walker and 24-hour security and emergency care.

Mutual Admiration
Liz’s admiration for what Marie and her husband Richard Knowles have done with the facility is returned in Marie’s respect for the trainer. “Liz is a model of professionalism,” says Marie. “Her carefully organized program encompasses thoughtful horse care with custom-tailored training for each horse and rider. Liz always gives the very best of herself to her horses and students.”
Over the years Liz has maintained a business of 25 to 30 horses and she hopes to continue at that level in her new location. She welcomes a range of experience levels in new students, but seeks the common denominator that they be riders who think it’s fun to be serious about their sport. “I try to teach people to their personal best and I try to work with each student’s riding personality and athleticism,” Liz explains. “Some people want to do things sooner than they are ready, and some are fearful and timid. My hope is to work with everybody within their comfort and safety zone to achieve their goals.”
“I want to keep it positive, yet a bit of a challenge for each rider.”
Liz likes the jumpers. The marketing slogan for her business lists the hunter/jumper divisions in the unusual order of jumpers, equitation, hunters and Grand Prix. “It’s not the normal sequence you see that in,” she acknowledges. “I really like teaching equitation because it leads to a great riding foundation and to good jumper riding.” If that path includes stops at any and all major equitation finals, Liz is happy to take her students there. With riders who’ve done well at the Maclay and USEF finals back East and all the West Coast finals, Liz knows the ropes at these high stakes competitions.
Hunters are welcome at Liz Denny Show Stables, too. She considers them particularly valuable for riders who are relatively new to the show circuit. “They give you a great foundation,” she notes.
She knows the jumper division well. Since finishing reserve in PCHA’s Grand Prix Rookie Rider of the Year standings in 1991, Liz has continued her winning ways in the big ring. She has won significant classes, including World Cup qualifiers, throughout the West Coast and is currently enjoying success with the young Grand Prix horse MMC Electrying, who she rides for longtime sponsors MMC.
A lifetime learner mindset has kept Liz’s training approach fresh over the years. She’s a big believer in having her students, and often herself, clinic with experts that have included George Morris, Conrad Homfeld and Rodney Jenkins. Judy Martin has helped Liz with her Grand Prix horses for many years, too.
For more information on Liz Denny Show Stables, please visit www.lizdennyshowstables.com or call her at 818-426-5128.