Meet Our Staff

Our staff is an important part of the success of our business.

Don Eckhardt - Owner, Trainer

Don has been involved in the driving world for over 20 years. He has been competing in Combined Driving, in the Northwest since it's beginning here, 20 some years ago. Don and navigator Lisa, along with his one of a kind horse Gem, won many Combined Driving events in the US as well as in Canada, through the upper levels, until her retirement in 1998.

After many successful seasons in Combined Driving as well as pleasure shows, Don decided to go ahead and train professionally, after the many requests to do so. He has been professionally training for over 12 years.

As well as competing, coaching, training horses and officiating, Don has served in numerous capacities with national and local equestrian organizations and filled almost every conceivable positition for horse competition management. This includes 2 years as Director of Equestrian Institutes Combined Driving Committee and a stint as an ADS Technical Delegate. In addition, he was responsible for establishing "Equifriends" disabled driving program.

Don and his wife Lisa own and operate the Driving Training Center in Snohomish, Washington along with the boarding facility French Creek Stables. They train all breeds and sizes of horses from Mini's to Clydesdales. All horses are started with complete and gentle ground work in a relaxed atmospnhere, stressing safety and the driver/horse relationship.

Management out for a night on the town

Gem - The Morgan that started it all.

Lisa Eckhardt - Farm Manager, Trainer

Lisa, with 30 years horse experience, is a valuable asset to the Training Center. Her ridden dressage experience, as applied to the driving horses, is one of the primary reasons the horses go on the bit, bend, and go round. With 16 years as Don's partner and navigator is the driving competitions she knows her way around a horse and carriage, but the time spent on the horses back in a training situation is what makes her shine.

Matt Greer - Maintaince & Grounds

Matt has been a fixture on the farm for over 20 years. He has responsibility for maintainance and repair of everything from fences to buildings. In the summer he spends a major amount of time mowing and weed eating.

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The welfare of the horse is the central focus of our training business.

The Driving Training Center, 16717 96th St. SE, Snohomish, Washington 98290