About Us

Gerrie Barnes

Gerrie Barnes brings a unique perspective to her lessons, clinics, demonstrations, and presentations. Unlike many other trainers and clinicians who grew up around horses, Gerrie began her involvement in horses as an adult, following the sale of a successful business.

As an adult learner, Gerrie had to learn every aspect of horses and riding . . . How to manage the horse on the ground, grooming and tacking, riding with good balance, and use of cues and aids. Once these basics were mastered, she turned her attention to learning specific events including versatility ranch horse. One horse and rider compete in all five VRH classes: Ranch Riding, Ranch Trail, Ranch Cutting, Working Ranch Horse (including reining and cattle work), and Conformation.

What Gerrie believes has taken her from a skilled rider to a horsewoman is her insight into “riding the horse’s mind”. This takes an understanding of the horse as a separate species. Understanding the horse’s natural flight and herd instincts provides the rider with the information that the rider can use to teach and motivate the horse, avoid behavioral and riding problems – resulting in more successful end goals.

Gerrie holds a B.S. degree in Education, taught various subjects at the junior high, high school, and community college levels. She then applied her education-related skills to her business, developing a significant training program for thousands of employees. Her equine-related activities are supported by her years of experience as a professional educator. Whether it is a lesson, clinic, demonstration, or presentation her information and instruction are organized, interactive, warm, and customized to each individual rider and horse. Gerrie understands and can relate to the 80% of the horse owners nationally who are recreational riders - either starting their horse journey as an adult or re-starting that journey as an adult who had some amount of childhood riding experience. For more advanced riders, Gerrie can provide tips for improvement as well as problem-solving of specific issues. She is effective with groups of all sizes.

With an MA in Counseling, Gerrie is effective with riders who have confidence or fear issues. She has also done behavioral research on the difference between how men and women with no horse experience relate to and interact with horses.

Jeff Barnes

Jeff Barnes is employed by a commercial contractor as Construction Manager for the State of Colorado. Jeff is an invaluable part of the Barnes Ranch instructional team. He is available during the week in the evenings, on weekends, or by special arrangement.

Born in Central Illinois, this small-town boy first learned about horses with a friend's feisty Shetland pony. Graduating to helping round-up and re-train the wintering dude ranch horses, Jeff advanced his horsemanship skills until he left Illinois to work in the construction industry in Arizona. Jeff assisted an outfitter with horseback hunting trips into New Mexico's wilderness areas. Moving to Colorado added cattle work, cattle drives, roping and branding to Jeff's skills.

The 2002 advent of the new Versatility Ranch Horse event caught Jeff's interest, bringing together a life-time of horse experience. By 2004, he had put an RMQHA Ranch Horse Champion on one horse and by 2006 he had put an RMQHA Ranch Horse Champion and Supreme Ranch Horse Champion on another horse.

Jeff is well-spoken with an easy-going and encouraging style. His focus is helping the intermediate to advanced riders change habits, slow down their hands and horses - and create a riding situation that allows both the rider and horse to perform correctly with a solid understanding between them. Once the rider/horse team are on the same page, the maneuvers and skills can be sped up to a recreational or competition level.

This approach results in a softer, more-willing horse that understands its job and can be more successful in responding to the rider’s expectations, and end goals.

In additional to performance riding, Jeff specializes in cattle work and ranch roping.

Both Jeff and Gerrie believe that the rider needs to be involved in the instruction and riding of his or her horse. Having a professional trainer do the work and hand the horse back to the rider can result in the horse returning to the same skill level (or problems) as before the professional training because the rider has not learned and improved along with the horse. To accomplish positive changes in both the rider and the horse, Jeff and Gerrie generally prefer private, semi-private, or small group lessons. Even the Barnes Ranch specialty clinics are small in size and more productive.

However, when larger venues are needed – such as association clinics, horse fairs, etc. – Gerrie and Jeff have the skills to involve larger groups with excellent results.

"We thought Gerrie was exceptional! Loved her approach and how she presented everything, breaking it down step by step and keeping things basic and simple." Susie J.

"Gerrie and Jeff Barnes are superb trainers. They give instruction and practical exercises tailored to the skill-level of each participant." John S.

"I not only enjoyed the content of the clinic, but I thoroughly enjoyed working with you two. Your hospitality, caring and warmth was a welcome change." Andie L.