Instructors
Rockin W Ranch strives to build a solid foundation through its lesson program for all of the riders in the RWR program. Rockin W Ranch has several instructors, each with varying qualifications.
Regina Carlton:
Horsemanship Instructor
Regina Carlton began showing at the age of 40 and has since achieved national success in Hunt Seat and Versatility Ranch Horse Competitions. Her accomplishments include a Top 10 national ranking and multiple "Leading the Nation" Top Five titles in Masters Equitation, Hunter Under Saddle, and Equitation. As well as Versatile Ranch Horse Championships in Trail and Ranch Riding in 2020 and 2021; In 2022 she was awarded the Florida Ranch and Cutting Club VRH Amateur Champion. She has coached Special Olympics athletes for seven years and continues to share her passion through teaching athletes with great teamwork from fellow instructors at Rockin W Ranch.
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Julia Plumley:
Horsemanship Instructor
Julia has been part of Rockin W Ranch for 11 years. She started at the age of 10, participating in Rockin W Ranch’s camps. After camp, she began taking horsemanship lessons, advancing through the CHA Level Program, learning how to take care of horses and ride in different disciplines. She showed horses in 4-H from 2016 to 2023 and has won multiple High Point Awards, mainly in Traditional Dressage and Hunt Seat. She has experience showing and riding Western and Traditional Dressage, Ranch Riding, Western Pleasure, Trail, Hunt Seat, and Saddle Seat. She is a volunteer coach with the Special Olympics Equestrian Team and A Heart for HERO's program and enjoys teaching horsemanship skills to riders and seeing their accomplishments.
Olivia Claussen:
Horsemanship Instructor
Olivia grew up learning and riding horses at RWR 20 years ago. Over those years, she learned how to ride various disciplines, including western pleasure, horsemanship, Hunter under saddle, hunter equitation, saddle seat, dressage, and showmanship. More importantly, she learned how to properly take care of a horse, including equine nutrition, equine safety, equine first aid, and how to build a relationship with your horse. Olivia has completed CHA levels through level 5 and became a certified junior instructor at the age of 13, which is where her love for teaching began. A few years later, she became an advanced instructor as well as an assistant coach for the Special Olympics Equestrian team in 2017 and 2018. Over the course of those years, she showed in 4-H from age 8 through her senior year of high school. Mostly showing in western pleasure and hunt seat in younger years, then pursued Dressage with her own dressage horse through her high school years, claiming multiple District, State, and Regional titles in 4H and showing in USDF-rated shows as well. In 2017, Oliva and her horse Bentley competed in the USDF regional championships, where they competed and placed top 6 in both freestyle dressage and first level dressage. During her junior and senior years of high school, she had the opportunity to grow her skills in the ranch division, where she learned ranch riding, ranch reining, ranch roping, ranch trail, and western dressage, claiming multiple District, State, and Regional 4H titles in the Ranch division. Dressage is Olivia's first love; ranch riding is a close second. She went to college in Ocala, earning a Bachelor's Degree in Equine Business Management. She is back home now and has the opportunity again to be a horsemanship instructor here at RWR. "I take pride in sharing my knowledge with others, as well as helping others learn and grow relationships with their horses."
Delana Hawkins:
Special Needs Instructor
Delana has been riding horses for as long as she can remember—since she was a baby—and has been part of the Rockin W Ranch family her entire life. She began taking riding lessons as a child and started teaching lessons as a teenager. She bought her first pony at 13 and has competed successfully over the years, earning numerous ribbons and participating in district horse shows.
Outside of the barn, she is a mother of four, including two autistic children, and aids in the care of her severely autistic brother-in-law. With over eight years of experience working with individuals with special needs, Delana is passionate about making horseback riding accessible and enjoyable for every student, regardless of their unique abilities or learning style.
Rebecca Clements:
Horsemanship Instructor
Rebecca started riding at age 8 and got her first horse when she was 10, with 2 more shortly after. She showed hunters and other English disciplines until her early 20’s, then continued riding her horses and enjoying them at her home. She taught second grade for 16 years, and recently has had time to volunteer at Rockin W Ranch with the Special Olympics team. She teaches according to the CHA guidelines, both English and Western.
Terry Welsh:
Horsemanship Instructor
"My first horse as a toddler was a rocking horse, and the horses operated by coins in front of Publix." At age 6, Terry started riding at Camp Keystone in Tampa for six weeks in the summer; then went for eight weeks the next year. She attended Circle F camp outside of Lake Wales and additionally rode at the Lazy W outside of Lake Alford in the 70's. Terry worked at the Girl Scout camp and started a horseback riding unit with Marnie Ward, Carolyn, and Kinsley. She taught Horse Riding for the Girl Scout camp for eight years.
Kim Williams:
Special Needs Instructor
Kim got her first horse when she was 9. Through her teens and twenties, life happened. She got her next horse as an adult after her son was born. Kim has had Tennessee Walking Horses for the past 25 years and has learned everything from her father, who was a John Lyons trainer in Colorado. She has taught the kids of my family and friends to love, appreciate, and ride horses over those years. Eight years ago, she became involved in Special Olympics. She's been a horse handler and trainer/coach for them ever since. "My joys in life are my family, horses, and children."
