Teaching goes beyond me and my words; it becomes discovery for the horse and rider of which I am just the facilitator.
~ Danica
Danica Yates: Résumé & Bio
Resume
Training Bio
Philosophy:
My philosophy is to foster connection. Connection is a relationship, a bond between horse and rider that allows communication across the species barrier. The rider must communicate clearly through feel and the aids what she expects from the horse and then listen carefully to how the individual horse responds. My training and riding is very bold and accurate but extremely sensitive. My belief is that riders must first of all relate to each horse independently and adapt techniques to be in sync with the horse's personality and behaviors. I do not shy away from sitting certain horses down if need be, then immediately reward and finesse the communication when the horse is listening receptively. The point of training dressage is not to simply look pretty but to be effective; the truly effective rider is connected to the horse and the package presented is stunning. Also an integral part of the connection is a sense of humor- the understanding that both parties make mistakes and the baseline purpose of dressage is the spirited, blithe dance.
History and Technique:
My teaching technique is to effectively verbalize what I naturally feel and see. I draw heavily on my years of training with Debbie McDonald. She was an incredible mentor and I was very lucky to be found: I was riding hunter/jumpers in the summers up in Idaho- I was just some kid riding other people’s naughty horses- and Debbie saw me at a horseshow and said ‘you, should ride dressage, you have a natural talent.’ I was not too easily drawn over because I have always been more of a thrill seeker type. But when she invited me into full training at her private facility, it was an offer no one in their right mind would turn down. I respect and emulate Debbie’s sensitive, dynamic technique and natural feel for the animals.
Clear communication with not only the horse but the rider as well is integral to my technique. Debbie’s husband Bob told me, ‘you naturally feel the horse and do it right Danica, lessons for you are a matter of learning why you do what you do.’ I believe this is a very important part of being a good trainer- the ability to effectively verbalize why we do things and how we go about, step by step achieving our goals. With training and experience in multiple types of education and public speaking, I have developed skill and passion for making lessons understandable, rewarding and ultimately enjoyable for the horse and rider.
Personal Bio
My three biggest passions in life are horses, mountains and snow (in that order). Outside of the barn, I enjoy mountain and rock climbing- getting into ice climbing. I grew up skiing and racing, hence snow as a passion. I like all types of snow, being a noted ‘junk puppy’ for loving even the crud. My preference is backcountry skiing, and combining it with mountaineering. I like to look at the line we’ve skied off of Hood’s summit, towering above the pastures on a sunny day. I have a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies, Communication emphasis which, unlike many liberal arts college grads, I have used in the past. I worked for Utah Clean Energy, a policy and regulatory advocacy non-profit in Salt Lake. I liked it, but left to be a park ranger for my second season up in Denali, Alaska. Guiding off-trail hikes in the arctic was amazing, but I am somehow always drawn back to what I love the most, horses. 
Here is a Trip Report that my boyfriend wrote of our latest climb: http://cascadeclimbers.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=925371
