Erin McElmurry Hawthorne Sterling Farms Horrible Horse Trainer, barn owner & lesson teacher. kalamazoo, Michigan

Erin is a great trainer who behaves professionally at all times.  I've been a riding student of hers for the past year and I can vouch for her sensitivity to both horses and people.  As for the claims about Erin's treatment of horses--the horses she's trained are supple, good-minded, relaxed, and enjoy the work. She could not achieve these results if she used harsh methods, and if she had been "turned in multiple times to show officials" there would be a record with the USDF and/or Animal Control and there are no such reports.

Additionally, Erin works with FEI/Former Olympians to refine her own methods.  I doubt these international dressage professionals would work with the person described in this report.  I encourage anyone considering riding with Erin to do their own research.  Who are your going to believe?  An unsigned report on the internet?  Take time to visit her farm, website, etc, and it will be obvious the kind of professional she is. 

As for the court/payment issues mentioned in the bottom--this is true.  Erin had a former employee who attempted to extort money from her.  I wouldn't be surprised if this report came from the very same source. 

I am currently a Hawthorne Sterling Farms client for a year now. I am very upset to find these accusations being said about Erin because they are completely false. 

Erin provides the best possible care any trainer and barn owner can offer. She goes over and beyond to make sure my horse is in the best form of health possible. She treats her boarders horses to the same level of care as she does with her own.

During my lessons there is an absolute positive atmosphere. There is never any yelling, anger, or flying objects and I cannot fathom how someone could come up with such an accusation. I have never witnessed any form of negativity in any lessons of mine or others. Erin is nothing but praiseful during the duration of the lesson. She is the best trainer I know in the area and I am extremely greatful to find her.

I have an inactive pelvic muscle condition which can effect my riding greatly, but that doesn't turn Erin away. Erin and I are working on gaining my muscle activity back in my hip and we work on that with specific riding stretches and techniques. My physical therapists and doctors thinking highly of Erin and her work with me. They believe this is a crucial step in finding a cure to my condition.

The abuse allegations are completely and absolutely false. Erin has NEVER harmed any living creature. I know this for a fact. She cares trumendously about all her animals she cares for. There are no complaints made against Erin at USDF or Region Show Grounds. The only thing said to Erin at such shows are praise and congratulations because she is a marvelous trainer, teacher, and rider.

I get more than my pennies worth boarding with Erin at Hawthorne sterling Farms. Her prices are very reasonable for the highest level of quality and care given by Erin and her staff. I have been nothing but happy being at Hawthorne sterling Farms and would not take my horse anywhere else.

I am a happier person ever since training and boarding with Erin. I don't worry about my horse when I am not there. I know he is in the best hands and care possible. So please, do not fall into the false traps set by this report or any other negative reports about Erin McElmurry and Hawthorne Sterling Farms. Go out and see Hawthorne Sterling Farms and meet Erin McElmurry yourself. You will see the truth with your own eyes that she is an amazing dressage trainer, teacher, and farm owner!

YES, the orginal report it true. And the proof is out there! You can contact any Kalamazoo court about the claims made against her for failure of payment, it is in their records. When it come to abuse of her horses, I have seen it first hand, and there was complaints made to the Waterloo show committees. It is known from a judge that reported the witnessed abuse at the show. She does over spur and whip her horses where they are lathered up in sweat and welts.

She is only in the business to unfairly suck the money out of each client, becuase all of the clients she has lost she needs as much as she can get out of you. The comment made by the "5" year person with their horses in training, is completely false. She has only had one person that has stuck around throught the torture that long. However she is currently LEAVING.

Erin has not had a consistent boarder EVER, everyone leaves within 2 years. She has also gotten kicked out of every barn she has ever been in becuase of bad business techinques and deals.

She will scream the entire time at the lessons, throw stuff, and a successful lesson in her mind will leave each client crying. She thinks that these lessons ending in crying are successful!

She also has bi-polar tendencies, which might relate to her verbal and mental abuse to her boarders, clients, and herself.

I would highly recommend staying away from this trainer and barn at all costs.

As a boarder of Hawthorne Sterling Farms I find it extremely upsetting that these vicious things have been said about Erin.  They simply are not true.  I have nothing but praise for Erin and the care she gives my horse and other boarders horses.  The care goes above and beyond any boarding facility I've ever been at.  I get every penny's worth and more for my board and lessons.

Erin is extremely knowledgeable.  It's amazing to watch her work with her students and their horses.  The hard work that she and her students do together produces great results.

It's interesting, the person I suspect that is heading up these attacks on Erin has no problem boasting about accomplishments that Erin helped her achieve while being on the dressage team.  She has the nerve to post a picture of Erin and the dressage team on her very own new horse business website.

As a boarder of Hawthorne Sterling Farms I find it extremely upsetting that these vicious things have been said about Erin McElmurry.  They simply are not true.  I have nothing but praise for Erin and the care she gives my horse and other boarders horses.  The care goes above and beyond any boarding facility I have ever been at.  I get every penny's worth and more for my board and lesson money.

Erin in extremely knowledgeable.  It's amazing to watch her work with her students and their horses.  The hard work that she and her students do together produces great results.  Happy riders and horses.

It's interesting, the person I suspect that is heading up these attacks on Erin has no problem boasting about accomplishments that Erin helped her achieve while being on the dressage team.  She has the nerve to post a picture of Erin and the dressage team on her very own new found horse business website.

After having Erin train several of my horses over the past 5 years I have nothing but praise for her methods employed in the training of my horses. She is a competent and thorough horse trainer, she is very focused, and understanding horses the way Erin understands horses she has the unique ability to work with a horse at any level.

Erin has a love of horses that is obvious to anyone who takes the time to watch her work with a horse, watch her care for horses, and watch her teach her students. I have never witnessed any of the abuse stated in the report listed above. Her prices are are in line with the area, she has given more than asked, spent more time than she has  charged for and is always looking after the horses welfare. 


The author of the negative report is into trashing someone who they obviously do not know, the report is simply not true.

It is very unfortunate that web sites like this allow anonymous slandering of an individual at will with the promise of immunity.

As a student and former employee of Hawthorne Sterling Farms, I have to profoundly disagree with all of the information provided in this report.  All of the allegations stated in this slanderous report are false and I encourage the author to provide evidence of this alleged malfeasance; however, this will never happen because the events in question did not occur.  My personal experience with Erin McElmurry has been nothing short of incredible.  She has helped me confront the shortcomings in my riding and I would not be where I am at today without her.  If you have doubts about doing business with Hawthorne Sterling Farms, put them aside.  You will soon be delighted with the results of the new relationship that you have with your horse and the wonderful sport of dressage.