Diamond Edge LLC, Wauconda

Diamond Edge LLC's head instructor, Samantha Swanson, got her start as an equestrian when she was just four years old. Because her parents lived on a dude ranch, Samantha started out with Western riding before transitioning to English riding at the age of six—a discipline that would carry her to prestigious circuit championships all the way through high school. Today, with her competition years behind her, she grooms new legions of riders to compete at the same high level. She starts beginners out with the basics of communication with the horse—including vocal commands, body language, and love letters written in hoof tracks—until they're ready to move on to entry-level jumping and showing in intermediate lessons. Students can also fine tune their skills in advanced lessons, and truly push themselves to perform their best if they're willing and able to take on the challenge of show team lessons.