Marissa's Bit O' Luck Stable, Williamstown

Any coach will tell you that teaching absolute beginners requires patience. As luck would have it, Marissa Theobald of Marissa's Bit O' Luck Stable has patience in spades. She needed it to complete her equine industries degree at the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, earn a license as a riding instructor and trainer, and work with problem horses, especially when they would ask, "Are we there yet?" from the trailer. Novice riders enjoy her calm, levelheaded approach as they learn the German method of riding, which emphasizes a balanced seat and developing a relationship with the horse—core tenets at any experience level. As riders advance, they can continue their education in dressage, jumping, and eventing under Marissa's tutelage, occasionally sneaking off to enjoy the miles of trails that abut the 9-acre ranch.