Meet the CRE Team


Owners / Instructors / Trainers

Amy Prechter

Amy Prechter, Owner of Cedar Ridge Equine in Bozeman, MT

Amy has had a passion for horses all her life and considers herself extremely fortunate to have found a way to make them a part of her everyday life. She grew up in Grass Valley, CA on a small horse ranch owned by her family. Growing up, she spent every spare moment she had in the saddle, often competing in youth divisions for Pony Club and Morgan horse sanctioned breed shows. Throughout her youth, she competed in a variety of disciplines, including hunter seat equitation, pleasure events, western pleasure, pleasure driving, halter and showmanship, dressage and Cowboy dressage events.

When not riding, Amy spent countless hours at not only her barn, but the barns of other local trainers assisting with horse maintenance and care. She spent many hours observing and studying these trainers and their horses. Additionally, Amy sought out lessons and clinics offered by a variety of notable horse trainers/instructors, including Eitan Beth-Halachmy (founder of Cowboy Dressage), Jon Ensign, Claus Bergener, Sharon Camarillo, Speed Williams and Clay O'Brien Cooper.

In high school, Amy continued to compete with Morgans at regional, national and world championship levels of competition. She also took up an interest in barrel racing/high school rodeo events. This is when she met Susan Van Galder, one of the lead instructors at CRE. Sue mentored Amy over the years and even introduced her to one of her best horses, Surfer. Surfer is an athletic, correct AQHA stallion known as ‘Wata Newsy Count.' Amy owned and competed on Surfer for several years until his passing in 2009. His spirit lives on in many of his offspring that she still works with on a daily basis.

Amy moved to Bozeman, MT in the summer of 2009 to pursue her bachelor's degree in Psychology at Montana State University. She loved the university and community so much that she stayed and finished a second bachelor's degree in Agriculture Education. Then, she moved right into a Master's of Science in Agriculture Education and completed a college teaching certificate. After graduating in 2014, Amy purchased her current facility and began building her lifelong dream of her very own equestrian operation. Throughout the years she has assisted with local community events and organizations, including leading the local Gallatin Gallopers 4H Horseless Horse Club for several years. She has also maintained her certification as an Equine Specialist in the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. In addition to running her business and instructing her students, Amy is currently pursuing a PhD in Interdisciplinary Education at Montana State University. She is also active in promoting the discipline of Cowboy Dressage and is currently the ambassador of Cowboy Dressage in Montana and has completed the requirements and became a CD Level1 Clinician. In the fall of 2018, Amy competed on her Morgan gelding, Holiday's Hijo De Oro at the Cowboy Dressage World Finals and finished 10th in the CD Riding for the Brand Competition. Since then Amy has returned every year to the Cowboy Dressage World Finals, in 2022 she finished third in the riding for the brand competition aboard AQHA gelding Nic Bar Express owned by one of her clients. When not at home in her own arena Amy often finds herself competing at barrel races near and far. After hosting summer camps and year-round riding lessons for over 20 years now, Amy is happy to say she is living her dream.


Edward Prechter

Edward Prechter, 1943-2021, Owner / Founder of Cedar Ridge Morgans

In 2021 we lost the owner and founder of Cedar Ridge Morgans. Edward Prechter started Cedar Ridge Morgans in the early 90s alongside his wife Beverly (1948-2002). They developed Cedar Ridge Morgans with the vision of breeding top quality, competitive Morgan show horses, as a small family side business outside of his career as a general dentist of more than forty years. Beyond the horse show arena, Dr. Prechter enjoyed taking his horses out on the trail for recreation as well as on hunting/fishing/pack trips. In last few years, he has downsized his Grass Valley, CA facility, but still enjoyed all aspects of owning horses. He was very excited about CRE's latest addition, a 2017 Morgan stud colt (EBP Kai’s Stormy) sired by EBP Electric Storm and EBP Beverly's Promise, who now resides with at Amy’s Bozeman, MT. Facility. This pedigree cross was one of Edward's ultimate goals to accomplish in his Morgan breeding program.

Camp Assistants:

Theresa Walker Bozeman Horse Camp Assistant

Theresa Walker

Theresa has spent the last 35 years in the Early Childhood Profession.

Horses have always been a part of her life. From riding in the Angles National Forest as a youngster,to Head Wrangler at Summer Girl Scout Camps,to Riding the Trails of the Big Sky Country.

In the summer of 2017 Theresa crossed paths with Cedar Ridge while looking for a Equine Riding Program for her Granddaughter and a perfect match was made.

Her passion for Horses and her love of Children made a perfect fit.

Since retiring from the Early Childhood Profession,Theresa has been able to combine these two passion at Cedar Ridge and assist year round with special project and camps.


Guest Instructors / Trainers

Susan Van Galder

Susan Van Galder, Instructor/Trainer

Susan Van Galder of Kissing S Enterprises, has expressed a love of horses for as long as she can remember. She started riding in an English saddle at the age of 6, in Germany, under a German riding professor, learning English horsemanship and jumping. It wasn't until moving back to the States three years later that Sue was introduced to the western style of riding. Through 4-H and private lessons over the next decade, she learned Western, English, driving under harness, and timed gymkhana events. Sue competed at these disciplines at local and state levels, winning many awards.

Sue was given her first horse at the age of 14 by her grandfather, and by the age of 16, she took particular interest in the sport of Rodeo, mainly barrel racing and roping. Sue competed in Jr. Rodeo, College Rodeo, International Professional Rodeo (being ranked #11 in the nation in barrel racing) and earned her Woman's Professional Rodeo Association card in 1985. She continues to compete in barrel racing and is a member of the National Barrel Horse Association, where she recently won several state year-end awards in both the open and senior divisions. Sue has also trained and competed on futurity horses. She is currently staying active by competing in divisional pay-off jackpots both in Arizona over the winter and in Montana during the summer.

Sue's official training of horses started in 1983 when she started race horses prior to them going to the track. This evolved into breaking horses for all disciplines and eventually specializing in the training of barrel racing horses. During the past 35 years, Sue has attended clinics from many of the top named barrel racers, including Lynn MacKenzie, Jerri Mann, Gail Tyson, Sharon Camarillo, Ed Wright, Judy Myllymaki, Charmayne James and Sharin Hall. Horses she trained have successfully competed in all levels of competition, including roping, barrel racing, western riding and dressage. Sue has since retired from training outside horses but continues to train her own youngsters.

Equine instruction has been a major part of her career for the past 35 years. Sue enjoys teaching anything to do with horses and has developed and organized step-by-step instruction. This approach develops consistency and confidence in students and is especially effective for week long camps, schools, and long-term students. During the highlight of her instruction, Sue provided up to 150 lessons per week, ranging from western horsemanship to specific event emphasis. Sue has been associated with Ms. Amy Perry for over 16 years, first serving as a mentor for Amy as a barrel racing student in high school. Later, Amy and Sue's relationship evolved as they became business associates with CRE. It continues to be Sue's pleasure to help Amy with the instruction of summer camps and lessons at CRE.


Jose Mendoza Horse Trainer

Jose Mendoza, Instructor/Trainer

Jose has had a lifetime involvement around horses. He began working in Morgan show barns in 1994 and then branched out on his own training horses in 2000. His expertise and experience includes training and showing horses for a variety of disciplines stemming from hunt seat, western pleasure, western dressage, halter and driving events to trail riding, starting young horses and working with problem horses. In his spare time, he enjoys competing and training horses for dancing in parades. He has many successes and championship titles aboard our Morgan stallion, EBP Electric Storm. Jose currently trains, teaches lessons and assists with our summer camp programming at our CRE facility in Grass Valley, CA.


Linda Scholtz Trick Riding

Linda Scholtz, Instructor/Trainer

Linda Scholtz from Pueblo Colorado will be offering Trick Riding clinics at Cedar Ridge Equine.

Linda has been featured in both the Western Horseman and America's Horse magazines. She has performed across the US at such rodeos as : Madison Square Gardens in NYC; The American Royal in Kansas City; Prescott Frontier Days in AZ; Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, CO; Oklahoma State Fair; Montana State Fair; South Dakota State Fair; Ohio State Fair; Kansas State Fair; Pendleton, OR; Ellensburg, WA; Salt Lake City; Ft. Worth; Denver; Morris, Manitoba; Dodge City; Pikes Peak or Bust, in Colorado Springs, CO; El Paso, TX; Ft Smith, AR;. She has also performed at other venues such as the Belmont Stakes Horse Fair in NYC; Presidential command performance in Washington DC; Inaugural Parade in Washington, DC; and twice at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.

As a PRCA Gold Card member, Linda has been in Pro Rodeo since 1980. She rode for 14 years with PRCA Trickrider and Roman Rider Vickie Tyer, with the All American Trickriders, carrying the largest flag in the world ever carried horseback. It measured 10 ft tall and 20 ft long.

She learned the art of trickriding from former PRCA trickrider Karen Womack Vold, wife of PRCA stock contractor Harry Vold. Karen and Linda now teach trickriding schools together at the Vold Ranch in Colorado, every March and April for the last 31 years.

In addition to her trick riding clinics, Linda ministers at rodeos and cowboy church services through music and speaking. Linda's performing spirit lends itself heartily to her talents of playing both the piano and guitar and singing. Linda also travels to some Rodeo Bible Camps and ladies retreats across the country.

"I feel trickriding has been a God given talent, that I could use to entertain people. It has been a truly rewarding challenge. Knowing I have given just one child or adult enjoyment for eight minutes – well – it makes it easy for me to smile!"


Lyn Ringrose Moe Horse Instructor

Lyn Ringrose Moe, Instructor

Certified Cowboy Dressage Clinician

www.LRMEquestrian.com

Lyn Ringrose-Moe grew up in the central California foothills in Mariposa County. As a child she was always impressed with the California stock horses. Lyn has always been a cowgirl at heart and has always loved horses – all kinds.

Always striving to give the horse the benefit of the doubt, Lyn travels internationally helping riders and horses achieve their goals while always maintaining a gentle, kind approach. As a coach, Lyn helps many riders achieve their personal best through her positive, supportive coaching methods. She believes in the possibilities in each horse (or mule) and rider and strives to bring out the best qualities in each.

Lyn has a keen interest in teaching others how to ride their horses and mules into a state of mental and physical soundness, stressing the importance of groundwork for developing a deep connection and partnership. She is constantly advancing her own knowledge of both equine and rider biomechanics. Because of her multi-discipline background, she understands the difficulties found within each equine discipline and has developed ways to help both horses and riders. Keeping horses and mules sound well into their senior years is a passion for Lyn. She is all about balanced horses (mules) with balanced riders, while having FUN.