Our Team

Leah Daniels - Owner

Immersed in the equestrian world for over 25 years, Leah began with eventing and progressed to higher levels through dedicated training and competition. Along this journey, she has been fortunate to learn from esteemed professionals such as Yves Sauvignon, Debbie Port, Valerie Bertoli, Susan Jan Hornstein, and Nathalie Guion. Her experience spans working with diverse horses, from spirited off-the-track Thoroughbreds to robust Morgan breeds. Volunteering at horse rescues further enriched her skills, aiding neglected or abused horses in their recovery, retraining, and trust-building process.

Rooted in classical riding, Leah's expertise extends to training young horses and rehabilitating "problem" horses, emphasizing trust and confidence building. She advocates for holistic approaches, blending cross-training methods for physical and mental well-being, including groundwork, bodywork, trails, flatwork, and polework in the arena. Her background also encompasses diverse stable management roles, from non-profit rescues to private barns and veterinary clinics, shaping her vision for Silver Oak, where safety and meticulous care tailored to each horse's needs are paramount.

In addition to hands-on experience, Leah is passionate about teaching and sharing her knowledge with others. She offers personalized instruction to riders and horse handlers of all levels, focusing on developing strong foundational skills and building harmonious relationships between horse and rider. Her teaching approach is tailored to each individual, ensuring that every student gains confidence, competence, and a deeper understanding of horsemanship.

Andre Ganc - Trainer

Andre is an accomplished dressage rider and has achieved the title of Brazilian National Champion in dressage. He is an S dressage and WE judge in Brazil. He is also a dressage trainer for competition horses as well as a coach for riders in multiple equestrian disciplines. Andre is an approved Lusitano Breed National Judge. Andre has availability for partial training, and lessons in classical dressage and Working Equitation. Haul ins are welcome and frequent.