Motlow Creek Equestrian Center

Crystal Bohnen

Crystal Bohnen has been a trainer at Motlow Creek since September 2008. She specializes in hunter/jumper and also has a background in Dressage. She has extensive experience in training horses and any level rider. She attends local through “A” rated shows with students. She also serves as one of the coaches for the IEA Team.

Crystal graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Equine Studies from Virginia Intermont College. She rode for their highly competitive IHSA team as well as the IDA team (Intercollegiate Dressage Association). While in school, she had the opportunity to work with and train several different professionals around the southeast.

Upon graduation, Crystal moved to Flowood, Mississippi where she became the head trainer and barn manager of a hunter/jumper facility. Her students and horses successfully competed on the local through “A” rated circuit. She ran the 15-horse facility for two years before moving to South Carolina.

Not only has Crystal had the opportunity to be the assistant trainer at Sovan Hill Farm in Landrum, SC, but she has also served as the coach of the 2009 Clemson University Equestrian Team, which saw riders attend nationals. She also worked with the Converse College Equestrian Team for one year and was actively involved in re-starting their program, which became very successful. 

Katie Barnette-Whisenant

Katie is originally from Greenwood, South Carolina. She started riding when she was five years old and progressed to showing in Equitation and Hunter classes at local "B" and "C" rated horse shows around South Carolina. When Katie turned 12, she began riding with Gerald and Betsy Pack (Stoney Knoll Farms, Columbus, NC) where her riding progressed to an advanced level with their expert training techniques. During her years with the Packs, Katie enjoyed foxhunting and competed successfully at "A" rated horse shows throughout the east coast in the hunter, jumper and equitation divisions.

Katie attended Sweet Briar College in Virginia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Economics. She earned a spot on several of their highly competitive equestrian teams coached by Paul Cronin, Shelby French, Mimi Wroten, Troy Hendricks: 2004 Reserve Champion ANRC (American National Riding Commission) Team, Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and SBC Hunter Show Team competing at NC and Va. area "A" horse shows. After working in the advertising industry for two and a half years, Katie returned to horses. Riding and competing show hunters and jumpers is her passion and being able to pass on her knowledge of horsemanship and fundamental riding techniques as an instructor and trainer is a true calling for Katie.

Carolyn West

Carolyn grew up in Pennsylvania with a Pony Club background. She competed up the levels winning the team gold medal at the National Rally for C2 in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated A. Carolyn was also very involved with foxhunting, a member of Pickering Hunt. Carolyn worked in Mexico with Conchita Cintron, classical dressage rider and horseback bullfighter. This is where she became totally infatuated with the Spanish horse and the ease in which they perform advanced dressage. Carolyn was then hired by Sugarman Ranch in Ca. to work their Andalusians. With the direction of Hilda Gurney, Carolyn and Sugarman Ranch's Admirado competed sucessfully at Grand Prix.

In the following years, Carolyn had many competitive success with her own riding and her students. She was USDF First Level Horse of the Year with the Hanoverian stallion Armin and also competed Guilio to CDS Intermediate 1 Horse of the Year. She prepared student Alisa Hodge to qualify for the California Young Rider Team. The team won the gold medal and the next year Alisa won the individual silver. The next year Carolyn's student Nick Wagman won another California Young Rider Team Gold. Over the past twenty years, Carolyn has taught students from training level through Grand Prix as well as competing their horses up the levels with Dressage Extentions. Presently, Carolyn is training and teaching at Motlow Creek. She has received her L certification from the USDF Judges Program. Carolyn welcomes students and horses for part training or full training at all levels (trailer-ins are welcome).