Midnite is doing great! Youth Rider of Midnight Skye, Montana Born, Ohio, June, 2010

Willie, My lesson was AWESOME!!! :) Thanks for all the new info about side passing, turns on the forehand, and the trotting while side passing thing that I love. :) That gives me new things to work on! Plus, I will try the stopping in the middle of the pole and side passing thing, too. :D Thanks for the great lesson! Thanks, Mollie, St. Paris, Ohio 5-10

Hi Willie, Kenny & Kelsey, I just wanted to send a note of thanks to express my gratitude, to all of you, for taking such good car ofBeauty & Gracie! You have a good group of boarders, clients & helpers. I'll miss seeing everyone! Stop by & see Addi any time! Brenda & Ward Griffith, Christiansburg, Ohio 2010

Mikey has been AWESOME!!!! He has been SO good about not moving while mounting, getting correct leads, transitions. He's GREAT! And showmanship is almost perfect!!! =D Just a couple more sessions and then he'll really have it down. His overall performance is FANTASTIC!~Mollie Greenlee, St. Paris, 2010

If you’ve ever considered taking horseback riding lessons, please make every attempt to go ahead and begin them! I’ve wanted to most of my life but kept putting it on the back burner. I finally woke up one day and realized I’m over forty years old. . . so I made the decision: it was now or never! After calling and visiting various riding centers in the area, I chose Bar W Equestrian Center. So far it’s one of THE most rewarding things I’ve ever done! The horses are such incredible creatures, with their own unique personalities, allowing you to feel relaxed, joyful, frustrated, excited, fearful. . . and most of all exhilarated (all at the same time)! With Willie as an instructor, there’s never a dull moment, you’re always learning something new, and she pays close attention to the ways and speed in which you learn, giving each student that unique experience. The fact that she starts teaching from the ground up and doesn’t stop is such a plus; you get the chance to learn the basics and beyond, depending on how much of yourself you choose to invest. The entire Center is fabulous. . . Willie & Kenny keep the place clean and ready for riding anytime, and the atmosphere is always enjoyable. Thanks guys! I only wish I could spend more time there. . . - - Vicki Stratton, Sidney OH, 2010

Willie has been a great trainer for my 9 year old daughter, Alli, and for me also. Safety is always Willie's first concern with children which really makes me happy. She keeps me informed and updated of everything currently going on in the "horse world" ie: shows, clinics, vet checks, etc. Alli and I, also bought a horse from Willie, his name is Zippn. Willie trained Zippn from birth. He's a very good horse for us. I am glad she sold him to us. Willie's facility is very nice for winter and summer riding. We have rode many of times in 25 degree weather in her indoor areana. There's not many places where you can do that. She also gives clinics which are very helpful. We were (barn beginners) so she taught us everything we need to know about owning and caring for our horse from riding, cleaning, loading, feeding, & showing. Willie has even helped me shop online to find tack, clothes, and accessories for Zippn and Alli. She's a really good trainer who loves her job. I'd say there isn't much she doesn't know, I refer to her as the horse queen!!! Ken, we know your Willie's backbone, your always working to keep things tidy, and your always willing to lend a helping hand, you deserve props too. Thanks guys for all you do. ~Julie and Alli Lowe, Springfield, Ohio 2009

I can speak from personal experience as Willie has put 90 days of training on my trail horse (reg Quarter Horse gelding/soon to be 13 years old) which in turn wound up being 90 days of training on me ultimately... We moved to Bar W in March of 2006. I am a full boarder and can't praise Willie and Kenny's meticulous care of my horse or their facility enough. Stormy is a completely different horse than what I started with. (Which was one owner in tears thinking she'd made the biggest mistake of her adult life to the happiest horse owner in Champaign County who trail rode at Carriage Hill, Kiser Lake, Buck Creek and Caesers Creek this past summer. No exaggeration. He was terrible.) My sister recently moved her QH mare and TWH mare to Bar W and my niece and the QH mare are currently in training for the 2009 show year. Willie has been working with Lola for (not quite) three weeks and it is astonishing the progress she has made with her. You really have to see it to believe it. While a horse is in training, the owner receives one "lesson" or training session per week so that they learn as the horse does. I haven't ever paid for lessons with Willie, but I've learned more about horses from her in two years than the previous FORTY years of my life! (Also - while Bar W specializes in training Western Pleasure horses and riders, I have no desire to show my horse whatsoever. BTDT! But I'm willing to bet I have one of the safest, surest trail horses I've ever ridden.... point being - Willie knows her stuff whether it be show ring or trail ride.) ~Cassie Spreher, 2009

Since my horse Sonny has been with Willie his attitude has changed tremendeously also his performance has greatly changed.Willie not only helped my horse she gave me riding lessons which helped my confidence. With Willie's help I did my best at fair this year in which I received a 1st place trophy, two 3rd place ribbons, and one 4th place ribbon.Thanks alot Willie you have helped me greatly. -Nikki Phillips, Christiansburg, 2008

Since my horse Baxter has been with Willie I have noticed a tremendous difference in his attitude, he is now more respectful and willing. Not only has his attitude changed, but so has his performance. Willie does a great job at training the horse as well as the rider. It's comforting knowing I can trust her and trust that my horse is being taken care of. Both Willie and Kenny have great personalities and are always fun to be around! Thanks Willie!!! ~Devan Miller Troy, OH 2007 (he has since been sold)

At Bar W Equestrian Center, Willie teaches the beginning foundations of riding as well as the advanced principals of riding, showing, and training. Her students learn that the experience of horseback riding begins with learning how a horse moves their body and the judges insight to what makes that particular animal superior to another. Furthermore, I enjoyed the insight into the judging and training aspect of my learning at Bar W. Willie coached me through each challenge and helped me see the purpose of why and how the rider is able to communicate to the horse through body position, weight, feel, body movement, and timing and how to ask for the desired result. Every lesson has been an immense success! Knowing Willie Matthews is a privilege. She works harder than anyone I've ever met and inspires me with her tenacity, dedication, and her passion for training horses. She shows the utmost professionalism, high attention to detail, dedication, and excitement to teach lessons and train high quality horses. Her training philosophy goes far beyond the horse and extends into helping the rider and horse to be a team and to become the best they can be. She pushes hard, yet always looks for the good and the positive within each person, animal, and situation. I consider myself lucky to have found a trainer with this amount of compassion, honesty, and consideration. After seeing the results of how Willie worked with her show horse and how she works with the horse and rider both individually and as a team, I knew I had found the right match for me and my horse. Willie’s training practices yield exceptional results in a timely manner. I would not hesitate to recommend Willie Matthews and Bar W Equestrian Center to any dedicated hard working equestrian who seeks the right training and to make an investment in their horse! She has gone above and beyond what I have ever experienced before in a trainer. Willie prides herself in working not only to train my horse, but to teach me how to ask for the results that I desire as well. Even as a seasoned rider, I feel that her work with my paint mare has taken us to a whole new level to be able to begin my dream of showing again. Her instruction has further built my confidence that I needed to accomplish that dream. I can not say “Thank you” enough!`Katie Thobe-Maria Stein, Ohio, 2007

Willie is an amazing trainer! I have seen such a big improvement on Nutmeg in the past two months. Her gaits really have slowed down and she is much more responsive. She listens to me so much better and I actually enjoy riding her now. ~Megan Hausler, Bellefontaine Ohio, 2007

I bought a nine year old Quarter horse gelding in January and moved him to Bar W in March, so I have recent experience with another boarding stable. Trust me If you are looking for a trainer, Stormy and I highly recommend Willie Matthews and if you are looking for a place to board your horse, check out Bar W. You won’t be disappointed! UPDATED Testimonial: I wanted to let you know how happy I am with the progress you've made with Stormy. He is just a different horse - period! I started subscribing to Horse Illustrated and this month's issue Life With Horses column has an article about horses with "a lot of personality" If that isn't Stormy. It is such a good feeling to see Stormy succeeding. You've really worked wonders with him. Sincerely, Cassie Spreher, Christiansburg, Ohio 2006

We came to Bar W with very limited knowledge about horses. Willie took us under her wing and helped us lease a horse that was just right for our family. When it was time for us to purchase a horse, she assisted us in finding that perfect, family friendly horse. Willie is dedicated to her students, boarders and friends and to be any of these three is an honor and privilege. Our entire family has taken many hours of lessons given by Willie and have learned far more than we thought possible in such a short time. Our newly purchased horse has also spent time training at the Bar W facility, And we are very pleased at the results Willie has done a wonderful job not only getting our daughter ready for her first year of showing horses but also our horse. There are very few places we trust to instruct our child and horse, and we are proud that Bar W is one of them. I gotta tell you though... yours is the cleanest I have been to! Thank you Willie! David & Ingrid Snyder, Urbana, Ohio, 2005

"When I started riding horses I didn't have a clue what I was doing. Willie showed me a lot of riding skills that I needed to know to ride a horse. Me and my horse were both beginners. She also trained the horse. I learned how to sit, control my horse, walk, trot and basically everything else I needed to know how to ride a horse. When I finally got the hang of it, I started showing. We always placed high, (at least top 3 it seemed like). By Fair time I was ready, I placed high in all my events. I even placed 2nd in a Trail Class. I won a few 2nd's and a 3rd and 5th. Willie always told me to ride as much as possible and make the horse do what I wanted it to do. It was a great way to learn how to ride. Thanks for Everything! ~Nalan, St. Paris, Ohio. 2005