At Cantera Equestrian, our staff shares a deep passion for horses and the powerful impact they have on people’s lives.
We have built a program rooted in community, where riders of all ages are supported in developing strong horsemanship, confidence, and character. Through the process of learning to ride, our students gain more than just skills—they develop responsibility, resilience, and a meaningful connection with the horse.
Since opening in 2013, Cantera has been dedicated to developing not only well-rounded riders, but thoughtful, capable individuals through the experience of working with horses.
Julie Kennedy — Owner
Scheduling • Summer Camps • Clinics • Billing • Equine Bodywork
Julie’s love of horses began at the age of four on a pony named Jack. After convincing her parents to support riding lessons, she began riding in earnest in elementary school and spent her youth developing as a rider and competing in horse shows. She was also a dedicated 9-year member of 4-H.
Julie has carried that lifelong passion into both her professional work and her family, sharing her love of horses with her two sons and daughter.
Prior to founding Cantera Equestrian, Julie built a career in corporate America managing customer care and billing teams. She now brings that organizational expertise into the day-to-day operations of Cantera.
In addition to her role at the barn, Julie is a licensed Large Animal Massage Therapist specializing in structural integration, playing an integral role in maintaining the health and performance of the horses in the program.
Julie’s vision for Cantera is to develop both riders and horses with care, intention, and respect, while fostering a positive and supportive community.
Desiree Fisher — Co-Owner & Head Trainer
Show Team • Ridgefield Location
Desiree has been a core part of Cantera Equestrian for many years, developing a deep foundation in horsemanship and instruction. Mentored by accomplished riders and trainers, she was brought up through a classical, fundamentals-based approach to riding and training.
She further expanded her experience internationally, working within top-level programs in Europe, including Germany, Portugal, and Belgium. She has also worked on the East Coast with a prominent competition stable, gaining valuable insight into high-performance training environments.
Desiree now serves as head trainer at our Ridgfield location, where she develops riders through all levels and leads our show team at rated competitions. She also teaches a few select classes at Marigold, supporting riders across the broader Cantera program.
She is known for her strong eye, structured approach, and ability to develop riders into confident, competitive horsemen.
Sarah Crampton — Trainer
Marigold • Flatwork, Dressage & Jumping
Ridgefield • Flatwork & Dressage
Sarah brings a diverse and well-rounded background to the Cantera program. She became a certified British Horse Society instructor while working at a dressage facility in England and has extensive experience across hunter/jumper, eventing, and dressage.
She began her riding career in pony hunters and has spent many years teaching, training, and competing. She continues to pursue her passion for dressage and is currently showing her Friesian cross gelding at Third Level.
Sarah emphasizes the importance of a strong dressage foundation for all riders and disciplines. She focuses on developing correct position, balance, and feel—helping riders build confidence, security, and effectiveness in the saddle. She also supports riders in introductory jumping, helping them apply these fundamentals over fences.
A core part of Sarah’s program is horsemanship education. She is passionate about teaching riders how to properly care for, handle, and understand their horses, developing well-rounded equestrians both in and out of the saddle.
In addition to her teaching experience, Sarah spent 20 years as a trainer and manager of a large Quarter Horse ranch, where she oversaw horse care, training, and daily operations.
Bill Miller — Trainer
Jumping Program • Show Coaching
Bill brings decades of experience in the hunter/jumper world to the Cantera program. A lifelong horseman, he has spent many years riding, training, and competing, developing a deep understanding of both horses and riders.
At Cantera, Bill leads our jumping program at the Marigold location and coaches riders at local shows. He is also an experienced judge at local schooling shows, bringing a valuable perspective to riders as they develop both in the ring and in competition.
Bill is known for his steady, practical approach and his ability to help riders build confidence and consistency over fences. His instruction emphasizes fundamentals, feel, and preparation for success in the show ring.
Annemarie Taylor — IEA Head Coach
Substitute Instructor • IEA Zone 9 Region 2 President
Annemarie brings over 30 years of experience working with horses across multiple disciplines, including hunt seat equitation, fox hunting, eventing, and racing. She grew up riding and competing on the East Coast and showed on both local and rated circuits.
She holds a degree in Animal Science and rode on the University of Delaware Equestrian Team. She later operated her own boarding and lesson facility, teaching riders and training horses.
Annemarie now serves as head coach of our Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) team and is the IEA Zone 9 Region 2 President. She also supports Cantera as a substitute instructor.
In addition to her work at Cantera, she is a high school teacher and FFA Advisor at Mt. View High School.