Welcome to Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses

Discover the perfect blend of expertise, passion, and personalized instruction at Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses.

Passion, Purpose, & Horses at Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses

At Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses, our passion for excellence drives everything that we do. With over 35 years of experience, Marissa Mendoza has dedicated her life to mastering the art of riding, training, and coaching.

Her program is designed to develop well-rounded, confident riders and equine partners. She believes in a personalized approach, where each horse and rider's unique needs are met with care, expertise, and a commitment to bringing out the best in both in their own time.

Join us in our mission to create lasting connection between horse and rider, built on trust, skillful knowledge, and a shared love for the journey.

Services

Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses offers a personalized approach that brings out the best in each horse and rider

Lessons

Tailored riding lessons for all levels, designed to build confidence and skill in both English & Western disciplines.

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Horse Training

Customized training programs that develop well-rounded, responsive horses ready to excel in any discipline.

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Sales & Leases

Expert guidance in finding the perfect horse through our curated sales and leasing opportunities.

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Camps & Clinics

Immersive camps and clinics offering intensive, hands-on learning experiences for riders of all ages.

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Testimonials From Happy Riders

Discover the authentic voices of students and their families who have shared their stories, testimonials, and glowing reviews on Google and Facebook

Sheryl Smith

Student

Marissa teaches true horsemanship both on the ground and through riding lessons. She is extremely knowledgeable, willing to share in her teachings, and builds the student's confidence through her calm, kind and patient demeanor. Her lesson horses are well trained and experienced. I highly recommended Marissa Mendoza Performance Horses.

Jeremy Joseph

Parent

Extraordinary teacher!! Exceptional location. Marissa provided our family with an intensive camp during our spring break. We have ridden in many different locations in town and Marissa was BY FAR the best. So knowledgeable for riders of different abilities and ages and interest levels. We learned so much from her and really appreciate her focused but easy-going approach. Can’t wait to ride more with Marissa soon.

Taryn Ronning Kuman

Student

I have been working with Marissa for the past two days and have to say how wonderful she is. She has a way with horses. I have been working with a stubborn green mare and I needed help with our liberty. Marissa took the lead rope won over the mare and taught me how to earn respect, love and discipline. I’m so excited I’ve started this liberty journey with Marissa!

Anita Howell

Student

This lady is an amazing trainer. Marissa has the Patience ,Instinct and drive that it takes to handle any Horse or Rider around. I have had the pleasure of watching her teach and train for over a year and her knowledge that she has and shared is life changing. she is gentle but firm. The horses respect her yet are not afraid of her. she has allowed me to photograph/video her as I wish and has taken time out of training and helped my daughter and I when she sees us struggle to achieve a needed skill. She keeps us safe! Her Passion for training has saved my daughter as well as the horse from being frustrated. My daughter found her smile again !compassionate and Super professional . She's 5 star all the way!

Tiffany Person

Student

I'm an adult amateur that hadn't been on a horse in over a year. Marissa was kind, pleasant, and encouraging. My experience was exactly what I needed to re-gain some long lost confidence! She will teach without talking down to you or,making you feel like what you already know doesn' t matter. But, she'll also help get you to the next place in your journey to become a stronger rider. Not everyone can teach adults as well as kids. But, Marissa can! I definitely recommend her!

Carrie Ward

Parent

I started riding with Marissa in March of 2023 with my 14 year old son, who has never ridden before. The reason we chose Marissa is because of her wonderful demeanor, her extensive horsemanship knowledge and the positive attitude that surrounds her barn. Marissa's philosophy is to ensure my son and I, and all her students, obtain a holistic education in horsemanship which includes barn etiquette, handling horses out of the saddle, grooming, tacking, understanding why a horse may act in certain ways and how to mitigate any potential situation that may arise. Marissa was wonderful with my son who is on the spectrum, and he got to the point where he was grooming, tacking and riding on his own and even cantering. Marissa instilled confidence in Aaron and myself as we continued to improve in our riding, and she had patience and understanding that further boosted our confidence. I always felt safe within the Barn and could go to Marissa with any questions or concerns I had, and received prompt response and guidance. The atmosphere in the Barn is like family and there is an intimacy between teacher and rider and horse. We are so thankful we found Marissa.

Brooke

Parent

My daughters have been with Marissa for over a year and we are beyond thankful to have found her! Her barn is both of my daughters’ favorite place to be, and Marissa is a big part of that. She takes the time to discover and understand the unique needs of her students, offering them patience and challenge at all the right times. Her interactions with them are kind and caring, yet firm and disciplined, and she instills in them valuable skills and lessons that are useful beyond an arena. Just the right balance of nurture and grit! As a parent, I am so grateful for her program. It is well-rounded and tailored to each student’s needs and abilities. We love Marissa!

Tabitha Zapata

Parent

We’ve had such a positive experience with Marissa! She’s a patient and gentle instructor who knows how to be firm when needed, striking the perfect balance in her teaching approach. Her attention to detail really stands out, and it’s clear she’s skilled at working with riders of all ages and experience levels. Most importantly, my daughter absolutely loves her lessons and always looks forward to them. We couldn’t be happier with the progress she’s making under Marissa’s guidance!