All Highland Riding School Instructors have CPR/First aid certification.

Sarah Vernlund: The owner of Highland Riding has been a full-time instructor since 1980. Sarah is a USEA Certified Instructor, level II. She has thirty years teaching experience in competitive dressage and eventing, and has a Masters Degree with a minor in Adult and Extension Education. A competitive rider since the mid 1970's, Sarah has competed in eventing at the Advanced level and has earned the USDF Bronze medal. Sarah was selected to train with the USET combined training team in the 1980's. She has trained and shown many novice-advanced eventing horses to national awards. Sarah trains and coaches Beginning Novice through Advanced level eventers, and instructs dressage riders through Second level.

Sarah offers dressage/balanced seat lessons on a few weekday mornings from 9:30 - 12:00 by appointment. A private dressage lesson with a school horse is $65 in cost. Please call Highland Riding if you are interested in scheduling a lesson with Sarah.

Jen Roudebush has been riding for 12 years starting her career in the Napa Valley riding and working her way up to an Assistant Barn Manager position while still in High School. She has trained and competed in hunter/jumpers winning all three 3'3” jumper classes at the Napa Valley Classic Horse Show on her 14.2 hand pony, and has also shown numerous other horses in training.  After graduating from High School she traveled to England for an intense week of instruction at Yorkshire Riding School, then was off to college to compete for the Fresno State Equestrian Team.  Her first two summers of college were spent training horses and riders in Reno Nevada, followed by two summers working at River Way Ranch Camp, a children's summer camp, teaching horseback riding to kids of all ages and abilities.  After 3 months spent in Arizona retraining an ex-racehorse in the Spring of 2009 she has returned to California to be closer to family and friends and to pursue her love of teaching. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with a degree in Equine Science.

Lucy Villegas currently rides and competes Sarah Vernlund’s mare Talis. In 2006, Lucy and Talis were Training Level Champions at the Northern California Junior Dressage Championships. In 2007, they were successful yet again, placing third at First Level at Championships. In 2008, they competed in Second Level at the Championships. Lucy has received her C-3 rating in Pony Club. Lucy graduated in June 2009 from Monte Vista High School and is attending Las Positas College.

All Highland Riding School Instructors have CPR/First aid certification.