Dressage at its finest...
ABOUT US
OUR MISSION
Cottonwood Farm is a premier Las Vegas Dressage facility. We pride ourselves on exceptional care of your equine partner. We offer daily dressage instruction and regular opportunities to participate in clinics and shows. Dressage is our passion, horses are our love. We look forward to helping riders of all levels achieve their dressage goals. Join us Down Centerline at Cottonwood Farm!
OWNER
Don Swanson
I was born and raised on a 1000 acre working farm in the rolling countryside of Northern Illinois. I purchased Cottonwood Farm, formerly known as Cooper Ranch, because the lush green pastures and beautiful landscaping reminded me of my childhood home. I am firmly committed to providing a top notch facility where the rider and horse can attain a higher level of performance through excellent training paired with quality services and the the highest level of care.
Barn Manager
Debbie Copp
702-860-5006 Cottonwoodfarmvegas@gmail.com
Instructor
Patti Thurman
435-640-1362
gatewaydressage@gmail.com
Patti grew up the daughter of an air officer. She had a unique opportunity to ride all over the
world. From England and Spain to the Philippines. As a young teenager she rode primarily
hunters and jumpers. In 2002 after a move to Park City Utah she found an opportunity to ride dressage for the Grey-Barron Ranch. She has not looked back. It has been a fun ride so far. Some of her accomplishments include:
Graduated the “L” program with distinction
Silver medal “with distinction”
Bronze medal “with distinction”
Multiple Local, Breed, Regional, and National Championships
Breed championships on Morgan’s, Arabians, Friesians, and PRE’s
Was high point FEI horse at many competitions on the great stallion Feike 395 Sport.
Competed and won at the PRE Celebration including riding the stallion Dominante XXIX to one of his functionality and overall champion awards. He was also FEI high point at the show with Patti aboard. On her own mare, Furstin Delia, Patti has earned many awards and high points. To date they have competed quite successfully through the I1 from California to Florida
USDF “Horse of the year” on the Grey-Barrón Ranch’s Greentree Courtney
Patti has trained multiple horses to the FEI and multiple breeds. She has been “down centerline” almost 600 times on over 25 different horses. She has had the opportunity to clinic and train extensively with some of the great dressage trainers like Jan Ebling, Gary Rockwell, Jane Weatherwax, Kristi Wysocki, Miguel Ralao Duarte, Melissa Cresswick, Silke Rembacz and David Blake.
Patti has invested heavily in her education through the judge training programs and seminars as well as attending many symposiums and trading conferences.
She has the pleasure to help numerous students to their silver medals and to achieve their goals.
Her passion and dedication to the sport of Dressage shines through in her empathy for the horse.
Instructor
Daniela Hunt
757-672-6338 dajuma76@ymail.com
Dani was born in Essen, Germany . She began her adoration of both horses and dressage at the age of 7.
In 1987 moved to Rheinberg in North Rhine-Westfalen, Germany, and started training with Dieter Vogel (Olympic bronze medal Stockholm 1996 Cross-Country, International Dressage Trainer in Rome and the Emirates 2008), as well as Edith Schless-Stoertenbecker (1990 bronze medal world championship eventing). In 1992 started training at a stallion breeding facility in Moers, Germany. Riding trained stallions as well as training and showing young horses. 1994 she received her German bronze from the FN (German equestrian federation), which requires riders to jump a course over 4ft., passed the theoretical written test and do 3rd level dressage.
Now living in Las Vegas she is still in contact with two of her best German trainers. She attends clinics with Conrad Schumacher (Olympic Dressage Trainer 1996-2000), Silke Rembacz (International Dressage Rider and Trainer), Jane Weatherwax (FEI Judge), David Blake (FEI Rider and Trainer), Nick Wagman (US Olympic Team) and trains with Charlotte Nord Nielson (International Silver and Gold Medalist).
Dani enjoys the daily work with her clients and their horses. Her goal is for rider and horse to be happy, understand and connect with each other. She bought her Andalusian grey gelding Valiente BP in Fall 2018 and got her American bronze medal on him 2 years later, as well as her Silver Medal on her self-trained boy in May 2024.
At the moment they enjoy working on FEI movements and Dani is excited to see where their journey will take them.
She says: “If I learned one thing over the years is that we never ever stop learning! So, I am trying to do my part, to achieve my personal goals to reach the next level, step by step, little by little, while taking lessons and going to clinics, to become a better rider, but mostly important to have a great time with my partner in crime, my horse! And I would love to help riders to achieve the same with their horse.”
