Meet our People

Michele Skerl has been a horsemanship teacher, horse trainer, and breeder for over 30 years.

She has always sought out mentors and pursued learning in any way she could. Her first trainer was Jim Dilley who taught Michele that her horse was the one instilling her with confidence and independence. As a young girl, she competed in her first 4-H show where she developed her outlook on competition: what matters most is did her horse get better and did they do the best that they could together. Michele’s next mentor was Clay Wright. Michele started working for Clay by supporting him as he started colts. Clay also taught Michele Ray Hunt’s beliefs. Clay then introduced her to Buck Brannaman. Buck became Michele’s strongest inspiration because of the feel, timing, and try that his methods instill in a horse. After Michele and Joe got married  in 1999 they opened Freedom Equine (a breeding and training ranch) in 2001. Shortly after that Michele attended a Walkabout Tour Stop which introduced her to Clinton Anderson’s methods. Those methods helped Michele articulate the training of her horses. In 2015 Michele became a certified practitioner of the Anat Baniel Method® of NeuroMovement®. She uses her NeuroMovement® training to give her students and horses information the way the brain needs it in order to learn at a deeper level, as well as techniques for improving riders awareness of their own bodies so that they improve their feel and timing. Since then, Michele has played with Ray’s beliefs, Buck’s feel and timing, Clinton’s articulation, and NeuroMovements® learning techniques to create her own philosophies which she teaches through clinics, horse training and lessons.

Freedom Equine wouldn’t exist without Joe. He takes care of everything: from the grounds to the feed to the people. He provides incredible encouragement. He can always be counted on for a joke and a good time. He is a mechanical god and is frequently referred to as the “Go Go Gadget Man” because of his knowledge and collection of gadgets. He loves his tractors. Joe is the friendliest man who spares no expense in this care of his people. As an experienced outdoorsman, Joe’s vast knowledge of the back country will keep you safe, and confident that you are going to have a great time on your trail rides. He will make sure to keep you cool in the shade and find the prettiest spot for lunch. He is a constant source of strength for Freedom Equine. Joe is the glue that holds Freedom Equine together.

Freedom Equine Partners

Anya is a certified practitioner of the Anat Baniel Method® of NeuroMovement® who established Clarity Education Design in order to apply NeuroMovement principals to helping educators be more effective at delivering potent and impactful learning to students of all learning styles. Her work in program development & course design targets the root of how our brains learn best, which allows students to realize their goals and become more empowered for future learning. Anya has over 15 years of experience with workshops and seminars, from both the perspectives of teacher and student.

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Clarity Education Design and Freedom Equine have been partnering for 5 years and as a result have come up with a unique methodology for horsemanship education and training currently taught in their clinic series.