Michael Colvin – A Life In Horses

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34 – July/August, 2024

By Elizabeth Arnold

Renowned trainer Michael Colvin is known for his talent and decades of success developing world-class riders. An Oklahoma native, Colvin knew early on that horses were his future. Since those early days in the Oklahoma green country, Colvin’s life in horses has taken him around the world and almost back again. Today, he is partnered with the Rippeon family of Mount Airy, Maryland and is coaching sisters Madeline (Maddie) and Alexandra (Allie) along with several other exhibitors.

It All Started in Oklahoma

Colvin grew up in Claremore, Oklahoma. “There were always animals and horses around,” says Colvin. “My uncle had a horse, and I was fascinated with it. My dad also loved horses, but he never rode. They bought me a pony early on; I was crazy about horses from a young age.” The training bug hit Colvin early in his life after his father purchased a mare and they raised the colt. Twelve-year-old Colvin would rush home from school to get home before his parents returned from their jobs so he could work with the young horse. “He had to be the most gentle horse on earth,” says Colvin.

Before long, Colvin was riding the young horse down the road to the neighbors who showed Quarter Horses and competed at the Congress and AQHA World Show. “I would ride my horse to the Collins’ house and ride with them. I didn’t even know what leads were at that time,” says Colvin. With the help of the Collins family, Colvin began showing in 4-H and at open shows.

“I learned a lot from Lois Collins,” says Colvin. “The Collins family had many children, several of whom were my age, and we all trained together. Eventually, I became proficient. At sixteen years old, I got my first horse that someone paid me to train. All I wanted to do was spend time with horses and ride, and everything really developed from there.”

Click here to read the complete article
34 – July/August, 2024