Brittany Massey - Head Trainer

Brittany grew up riding on her parent’s ranch in Northern California and as a teen worked for a local trainer which allowed her to compete on the Arabian Horse Show Association and Arabian Sport Horse circuits at the A, Regional and National level (1996-2000). In 2000 she was hired to start colts and compete young Arabian Sport Horses for a breeding farm in Michigan. While in Michigan she started young horses for dressage, eventing, endurance, and the Arabian Sport Horse circuit. In 2002 she was the assistant trainer for Garn Walker of Garn Walker Stables in Auburn, CA, riding and showing horses, starting colts and traveling extensively, preparing horses for competition from A shows to World Finals. Brittany managed Five Oak Farms hunter/jumper barn in Orangevale, CA from 2004 to 2007 managing daily operations of a competitive 25 horse operation while competing her own horses and sale horses. She maintained a robust beginner lesson program while attending college to pursue her Biology degree. Continuing to compete her own horses, Brittany started BTH Equestrian Enterprises LLC in 2009 and continues to operate BTH as a sport horse training program for all ages of riders and levels of horses. Her clients have competed extensively throughout the western US with success in USHJA, USEA, and USDF recognized competition as well as year end awards both locally and regionally. Brittany continues her education with clinicians and trainers from several disciplines and maintains a robust clinic schedule at Silver Spur Stables.

From trailer loading to show jumping, the goal of the BTH program is to develop happy, relaxed horses who understand and enjoy their jobs while teaching their riders and handlers how to best communicate through effective aids, proper equitation, and good timing.

Lauren McCullough - Assistant Trainer

Lauren started with BTH Equestrians volunteering to hack horses and help out a couple of years ago while she was home for the summers from Humbolt State University. Lauren had ridden with fellow trainer Audrie Kerr at Folly Farms and Christine DeVere at Black Bay Equestrian and had many years as a junior showing and working for both barns in the summers helping with summer camps, barn chores and all aspects of horse care. The summer of 2018 Lauren decided to take a sabbatical from her college courses and try a year as a full time working student at BTH Equestrians with the hope of developing her skills to become an assistant trainer. While she plans to complete her schooling, horses are where her heart is. Lauren comes to BTH with a wonderful and calm demeanor, many years of riding green or tough horses has helped to develop a very settled and soft way of riding and the show experience to assist at the rings as needed when we compete. She strives to bring her relaxed attitude to the lessons she teaches and to the horses she rides.

Gale De Rosa is passionate about both human and equine wellness.  She graduated United Stated Pony Club in 1989 at age 21 as an HA, and as she continued to volunteer for USPC, found that helping riders prepare for C3 testing (the level at which USPC believes you’ve attained the knowledge and skills to own and care for horses effectively for the rest of your life) extraordinarily satisfying. She continued to compete in Combined Training and Dressage, but as her career as an Air Traffic Control Frontline Manager became more demanding, horses and competition necessarily took a back seat.

That's when she started racing her bicycle to stay fit and healthy, and the drive to compete and achieve naturally followed. She’s competed internationally, placing 3rd in Grey County, Toronto, Canada in a UCI race which qualified her for Worlds Masters in Perth Australia in 2016. Going to Australia was an experience of a lifetime. Racing for the USA and wearing the USA jersey was one of those moments in life to remember, and placing 20th in a huge field on a world stage was not a disappointment. These experiences have make Gale particularly good at identifying and preparing students for competitive endeavors.

Upon her retirement from the Federal Aviation Administration at Northern California TRACON in 2015, Gale finally had the time to return to her love of horses, competing at Desert International Horse Park in 2021 for the USHJA Winter Circuit, and working at a local barn as an instructor and rider. Gale is ecstatic to join the BTH team leading the beginner riding program and coaching the IEA team!