About

Hannah Schultz

Growing up in Rhode Island, Hannah knew very early on that she wanted to train horses and teach people professionally. Although the Schultz family wasn’t involved with livestock or horses, Hannah began taking riding lessons as a young child, and it quickly became clear that horses were her passion.

“I remember, as a kid, always being obsessed with horses. When I wasn’t riding horses, I was working at the riding stable doing barn chores. I loved every minute of mucking out stalls, grooming, feeding, and loading hay. When I wasn’t at the barn, I was reading any book or magazine that I could get my hands on about horses. When I wasn’t reading, I was watching TV shows and DVDs about horses and training. It was truly a full-on obsession.”

At age 10, Hannah began riding at a facility with trainers that specialized in Natural Horsemanship and realized her true passion lied with the training process itself.

“Once I realized that you could actually communicate with a horse, teach him new things, and set things up so he wanted to do his job, I was hooked on training. Seeing the horse’s attitude change, or the difference in his behavior and knowing that it was directly related to what I was doing – I found it more rewarding than anything else.”

Throughout her middle and high school years, Hannah gained experience training green horses, learning how to start colts, and reform problem horses of all breeds and disciplines. On the weekends, she competed heavily in barrel racing and local gymkhanas with her personal horses. Over time, she started teaching lessons and realized the value and importance of being an accomplished communicator.

“Being able to teach and in a masterful way is an art and it takes time and work to develop a style – at least for me it did. Having a tool kit of phrases, analogies, and exercises to help each individual learn and enjoy the process is key. If you can’t convey your knowledge, you are limited in your ability to help other riders and aspiring horsemen. I feel fortunate to have been in the company of charismatic trainers and clinicians who emphasized the importance of being able to communicate your philosophy and methods to others.”

After graduating high school in 2012, Hannah left the confines of New England, pursuing multiple apprenticeships with some of the top trainers throughout the United States, both in the clinician and performance horse fields. Hannah has worked under world-renowned clinicians, 2 past champions of Road to the Horse, as well as NRCHA and NRHA professionals.

“I am a firm believer that you can learn something and better yourself from every professional in this industry, regardless of their discipline, training methods, communication style, or accomplishments. Everyone brings something to the table and has something to offer if you have an open mind.”

In 2019, Hannah brought her apprenticeship phase to a close and started Schultz Performance Horsemanship in Pilot Point, TX. Having the experience in both the clinician and performance industries has shaped Hannah’s training philosophy and teaching style, culminating in a program that gives you the best of both worlds: high-level performance but achieved through communication that the horse can understand.