Meet the Team
At Swan River Stables, our instructors work as a team, sharing knowledge and experience to provide consistent, high-quality instruction. Together, our staff brings more than 100 years of combined experience in the horse industry.
Lesson Program Director
Samantha Cotter
Sam has been teaching horseback riding for more than 20 years and has worked with riders of all ages and experience levels throughout her career. Her experience includes everything from therapeutic riding programs and beginner lessons to competitive riders and collegiate equestrian teams. She has also developed and managed summer camp programs, coached riders pursuing a variety of goals, and helped countless students build confidence both in and out of the saddle.
As Lesson Program Director at Swan River Stables, Sam oversees rider placement, curriculum development, and instructor coordination while continuing to teach lessons herself. She believes that every rider learns differently and strives to create a positive, supportive environment where students can develop strong horsemanship skills, gain confidence, and enjoy a lifelong connection with horses.
When she's not teaching, Sam enjoys spending time with her horses, Wiggles and Gunner, volunteering with the Sherburne County Mounted Patrol, and sharing her love of horses with her husband and three children.
One Team, One Program
Our instructors work together to provide a consistent, high-quality learning experience for every rider. By sharing knowledge, communicating regularly, and supporting one another, we are able to match riders with the instructors, horses, and opportunities that best fit their goals. While each instructor brings unique strengths to the program, we are united by a shared commitment to safety, horsemanship, confidence, and fun.
Meet Gina
Gina began teaching riding lessons as a teenager at a YMCA camp, where she quickly became known for her ability to explain concepts clearly—and for somehow being able to tell all eleven gray ponies apart. She later spent many years teaching dressage and jumping under the mentorship of a professional trainer before continuing her teaching career independently.
A former eventer with a strong foundation in dressage, Gina brings a well-rounded approach to rider and horse development. She believes in thoughtful cross-training and has developed a deep appreciation for the hunter, jumper, and equitation disciplines. Her specialty is helping riders build confidence, particularly those returning to riding after time away or working through nerves and anxiety in the saddle.
Gina owns two horses: Chip, a 22-year-old she has raised since birth and trained through Third Level dressage, and Iris, a Percheron/Quarter Horse cross. After suffering an injury as a foal, Iris became Gina's personal biomechanics project, and Gina has dedicated years to helping her develop strength, balance, and soundness through correct training.
Known for her patient, encouraging teaching style, Gina is passionate about creating a supportive learning environment where riders feel safe, challenged, and successful. She enjoys helping riders develop strong fundamentals, confidence, and meaningful partnerships with their horses, and is excited to share her knowledge and experience with the Swan River Stables community.
Meet Kellie
Kellie began riding at a local lesson barn at six years old and still remembers the horses and instructors who inspired her. Because of that, she understands how important "lesson day" is and shows up for her students excited and ready to make their time at the barn and in the saddle count.
For more than 20 years, Kellie has taught riders of all ages and experience levels. She trained under Olympian Jane Bartle-Wilson at the Yorkshire Riding Centre in England, where she completed British Horse Society certifications through Level 3.
Her career has taken her from a classical dressage apprenticeship in Portugal to working as an exercise rider at Belmont Park, serving as a rider and trainer for CANTER Kentucky, and retraining her own off-track Thoroughbred for eventing.
In addition to teaching, Kellie has volunteered with therapeutic riding programs and is the founder of At Liberty, an equine-assisted wellness program developed in partnership with This Old Horse. She is passionate about horse rescue and rehabilitation and currently shares her life with six rescue horses and a mini donkey.
Kellie believes the best lessons build confidence, partnership, and a lifelong love of horses—whether a rider is stepping into the saddle for the first time or pursuing competitive goals.
Meet Monica
Monica began riding in the second grade and has developed a well-rounded equestrian background through a variety of disciplines. She started in the western riding world, competing in western pleasure and enjoying trail riding and recreational jumping before eventually discovering a passion for eventing.
Throughout high school and college, Monica competed in eventing, including as a member of the University of Kentucky Eventing Team. During her collegiate career, she also competed on the Intercollegiate Dressage Association circuit, qualifying for Nationals and placing ninth in the country.
Her love of dressage continued to grow through her partnership with her Off-the-Track Thoroughbred, Horseradish. Together, they progressed from Training Level through Third Level and earned all the scores required for her USDF Bronze Medal. Monica remains actively involved in competition and is currently pursuing her Bronze Medal with Distinction.
In addition to her equestrian career, Monica is a high school teacher with several years of experience working with students in grades 7–12. Her background in education has strengthened her ability to communicate clearly, adapt instruction to individual learning styles, and create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and challenging themselves.
As an instructor, Monica believes that growth happens just outside of your comfort zone. She encourages riders to set meaningful goals, embrace challenges, and celebrate progress along the way. Viewing both horse and rider as athletes, she emphasizes strong partnerships, effective communication, and a lifelong commitment to learning. Her lessons focus on building confidence, developing skills, and helping riders reach their individual goals—whether they are riding for fun, personal growth, or competition.
