Shawn Kelly is a gentle giant, a big man with a big smile, soft hands, and a warm and accessible personality.
His specialty is building your confidence. Originally from Iowa, Shawn moved West years ago after a stint in the U.S. Army as a firearms instructor.  His resume includes time at a number of guest ranches, working cattle ranches and even a buffalo ranch.

Friendly and gentle, but focused and disciplined at the same time, Shawn has long been a disciple of the horse training principles of the famed Pat Parelli. He's also a member of the Parelli organization's Savvy Horse Club, which caters to serious equine enthusiasts looking to advance their skills. The Hideout shares Shawn's enthusiasm, and provided the chance for him to attend Parelli’s Riding in Fluidity training at the Parelli Center in Ocala, Florida.  Shawn has also attended Natural Horsemanship clinics lead by Chip Ward, one of the first Parelli certified instructors to achieve the coveted Level Three designation.

During his first year at The Hideout, Shawn also travelled for three weeks to France to train at Dominique Reynaud’s Reining Stables. One of the leading Western stables in France, Reynaud’s is known for producing horses that compete on an international and global level.

Come winter, Shawn moonlights as a snowboard instructor. And he's currently attending a seven month Physio-Therapist training in Salt Lake City, learning the finer points of massage, a skill he'll be using here at The Hideout.

Shawn offers:

•  Groundwork, trailer loading & unloading
• Confidence building
•  Trail riding training
• A patient and gentle training approach ideal for those in need of building confidence with horses, or overcoming past problems.