St. Croix Training Center's goal is to provide a rewarding experience for everyone that walks into the barn. Our approach is straight forward and fosters a fun, casual environment where horses and riders at every level our comfortable while having the opportunity to meet individual goals.

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it - Founder & Trainer

Gail Simpson, first and foremost, enjoys what she does. She’s trained horses pretty much her entire life. She founded St. Croix Training Center 22 years ago and has been in the same facility the entire time. That’s relatively unheard of in the horse industry. Those who know and work with Gail appreciate her no-nonsense approach to the horse business. She’s enjoyed numerous Top 10s at the National level while creating many National Champion Amateur Riders, both adult and youth competitors. She works with people to identify and then fulfill their goals with horses - whether riding well for the pure pleasure of it or aspirations of national titles. As Gail would say, “If you’re happy, I’m happy.” She’s also a Certified Arabian Horse Judge. Gail’s training focus is in hunt, western pleasure, and saddle seat.

Gail lives in Lakeland, Minnesota with husband Robb ("Big Dog") and English bull dog, Emma. She is the proud mother of two grown sons, Cory and Casey and mother-in-law to Lindsay (Casey’s wife).

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Melanie began riding at the age of five on her quarter horses. She has been training horses, teaching lessons and showing horses professionally for 25 years and is experienced in western, hunt and saddle seat riding. Melanie enjoys teaching riders of all ages and abilities.

Melanie and husband John live in Stillwater, Minnesota; have two married children and two grandchildren.

Monica's the newest member of the St. Croix staff and enjoys working with new riders of any age. She's definitely comfortable on the back of a horse having competed in both high school and college rodeo. She enjoys reining, western pleasure and hunt seat having won numerous Top Tens at the State Level. She's committed to youth and has been in 4-H for more than 12 years, now serving as leader of her own group. Monica holds a degree in Animal Science Equine Management from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.

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Abbie began riding as a teen and has been at it ever since. She showed on the Class A Arab circuit in Michigan before moving to the St. Croix River Valley. She works closely with Gail in the daily management and training of client horses.

Abbie and her faithful dog, Brody, live in Hudson, Wisconsin.

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Christi found horses (or more accurately they found her) when she was 12. She credits some of the great horses she's had the privilege to ride and one tough trainer, Frankie Fleishaker, for breaking her of her shyness. Suffice it to say when you meet her, “shy” is not a word that comes to mind. She rode hunter/jumper as a teen and like many out there, put her boots on the shelf for college, work and family. When her two sons showed an interest in western pleasure, horses were back in her life in a big way. Christi enjoys hunt, saddle seat, western pleasure and reining. Christi brings her experience in marketing, promotions, event planning and business development to St. Croix.

Christi lives in the Twin Cities with her husband Todd, son Sam, occasional visits from son Max when he tires of Ramen Noodles while away at school, and dogs Snickers and Toby Keith.