“I teach a wicked first lesson,” jokes Erin Brown-Milman, owner of Blue Sky Eventing at Creek Hollow Ranch in San Diego County’s Ramona. Though Erin jokes about her teaching ability, there is little doubt that, with her eventing experience, she could teach even the most avid of competitors a few things.
A native Californian, Erin grew up riding under the guidance of eventing greats Sarah Vernland, Brian Sabo and Dana Lynd Pugh. As a junior she won the USPC CT National Championships, the Area VII OI Championships and placed top 10 in both the Fritz Cup and the NAYRC**.
“I came really close to making the 1992 Olympics,” explains Erin. “But while training in Middleburg, VA., my horse, Witt’s End, suffered a suspensory injury. It was heart wrenching.”
However, it was during Witt’s End’s rehabilitation that Erin found her niche, training and competing friends’ horses. At the age of 17, while many of her friends were getting out of horses, Erin was immersing herself in the equine world. She would take her friend’s unwanted horses, train them up and compete them. Riding sale horses, Erin went on to successfully compete in Fourth Level dressage and had numerous wins in the open jumper arena.
After graduating from San Francisco State University, Erin took a teaching position at Golden Gate Stables. “I learned a lot about people and different horse personalities at Golden Gate,” explains Erin. “Every horse, like every person you work with, is different. There is more to training than just trying to match up horse and rider, you also have to figure out the horse’s mind. Each horse has his own way for learning and if they’re not happy, they won’t do their job well.”
After teaching at Baywood Equestrain Center in Marin and then at Cremeyre Brook Farm in Utah, Erin followed her husband, Damon, to Australia on what she describes as a whirlwind adventure. In Australia she had the chance to work with Simone Kann, Rebel Morrow, Kevin McNabb and show jumper Michelle Lang.
“Australia was a breath of fresh air,” says Erin, with a grin in her voice. “The events there where absolutely amazing. I had the opportunity to work with some incredible eventers and I really enjoyed the Australians’ no nonsense, let’s-get-this-done approach. I had a few horses while I was there and I even got to ride some of Rebel’s main horses while she was in Athens.”

Around The World and Back Again

After spending three years in Australia Erin has returned to California to teach and train. She offers a full range of services for horses and riders at Creek Hollow Ranch including: cross country schooling, individual training sessions, show rider and sales prep, as well as full and partial training packages. Horses in training and horses owned by students of Blue Sky Eventing receive full care.
“I am very picky about the way my horses are maintained and I expect the same for my client’s horses as well,” explains Erin.
Creek Hollow Ranch is an ideal training facility for eventers. Along with a full size dressage court, a huge jumping arena, indoor and covered arenas, it has conditioning tracks with hills. Management at Creek Hollow puts in daily effort to groom and water the arenas and tracks. With an endless supply of sand and a manure spreader, proper footing can be maintained over the 350-acre property.
“I like the space at Creek Hollow Ranch,” says Erin. “I can turn out my horses in large paddocks, ride in un-crowded arenas and there is room to train cross country and condition there.” With new stables and a cross country course coming soon, the future looks bright at Creek Hollow Ranch.
Erin carefully tailors her lessons to meet her client’s individual goals and needs. “I don’t like the cookie cutter approach,” says Erin. “I work off a classical training system but take in consideration temperaments of both horse and rider.” Erin firmly believes that working hard and having fun should not be mutually exclusive.
A past pony clubber, Erin is currently involved in training the San Vincente and Ramona Trails Pony Clubs. However, her goal is to continue to gather eventers of all levels and ages to Blue Sky Eventing.
“I want to create a really great event team that wants to go around and show,” says Erin. “But I also welcome people that don’t want to show. I’m very good with young horses and I have ridden many different disciplines.”
She currently has three prospects for sale and prides herself on producing great event horses. Additional information about Erin’s sale horses is available on her website and Erin is always on the hunt for wonderful horses to train and sell.
“It’s all about my students and their horses,” says Erin. “I’m very interactive. I want the owners to be interactive with their horses, to love their horses and to be able to ride their own horse.”
For more information on Erin and Blue Sky Eventing call 562-277-4364, visit www.blueskyeventing.com or email Erin at erin@blueskyeventing.com.