Anita brings a B.S. Degree in Equine Science with honors from Meredith Manor School of Horsemanship and a Salem College. Along with over twenty five years experience in Training, Showing, Conditioning, Consulting, Breeding, and Sales. Anita has also had the pleasure over the years to work with Mr. Holly Thompson a renowned coachman, trainer, and clinician. Holly has shared his skills with Anita for singles, pairs, tandem, and four in hand carriage driving.

Accomplishments
2009, Judge ADT - Lansing, MI
2007 Judge Great Lakes Haflinger Show
2005, 2004 AHHS Open Competition Award Winner - Carriage Driving Single Hackney Horse
2005, 2004 Schoolcraft College Continuing Education Equine Program - Instructor 2005 Judge MI UPHA Academy Horse Show
Multiple American Driving Society Championships in Driven Dressage
Multiple American Driving Society Championships in Carriage Pleasure
Multiple Regional and National Morgan Horse Assc. Championships in harness and under saddle
Trainer of Morgan Horse Assc. National Chamption Youth of the Year Winner,
AMHA Horsemastership Program Examiner

Work Experience
1976 - 1979 Worked summers as Assistant Trainer @ Downer Hill Farm, OH
1979 - 1983 Assistant Trainer for Society Morgan Farm, Whitehouse, OH
1984 - 2007 Opened / Operated Odyssey Training Stable working out of various boarding facilities in Michigan
1984 - 1989 Scepter Morgan Farm, Richmond, MI
1989 - 1992 Su Lu Stables, Romeo, MI
1992 - 1996 Carriage Hill Estates, Metamora, MI
1996 - 2003 ENL Stables, Plymouth, MI
2003 - 2007 Charlemagne Farm, South Lyon, MI
2007 - Present Odyssey Training Center moves to it's own facility Whitmore Lake, MI

Associations
American Driving Society
Carriage Association of America
Great Lakes Carriage Driving Competition - Committee Member
Metamora Carriage Driving Association
Michigan Horse Drawn Vehicle Association
Michigan Justin Morgan Horse Association

Denise Ruffing   Assistant Trainer

Denise Ruffing brings to Odyssey Training Center over twenty years of personal experience in the ownership, care and schooling of a wide variety of equine breeds. She has trained and shown horses in various disciplines required by the show ring, including the growing demands for horses trained to drive. Denise first started with Odyssey in 1998, accepting the position of Apprentice Trainer to Anita Alden. In 2003 she was promoted to the position of Assitant Trainer to Anita and Odyssey Training Center. Denise also brings with her the disiplined talents required in the business world, including management, marketing, public relations, customer service and photography.

The combined talents of Anita and Denise bring to the horses at odyssey all the knowledge, patience, and experience necessary for the utmost in quality care and training demanded for the successful showing of today's equines.

Accomplishments
2009 Reserve Champion Single Horse Metamora Pleasure Show
2008 Blackwood Memorial Trophy - Waverly Farm Carriage Competition
2008 Concours De Elegance - Waverly Farm Carriage Competition
2007 LMHA Champion Hi Point Carriage Driving
2007 AHHS National Reserve Champion Carriage Driving
2006 LMHA Top Five Open Carriage Driving
2005 Blackwood Memorial Trophy - Waverly Farm Carriage Competition
2005 1st Turnout Single Horse - Waverly Farm Carriage Competition
2005 Blackwood Memorial Trophy - Waverly Farm Carriage Competition
2005 AHHS 3rd National Open Competition Award-Carriage Driving Hackney Horse
2004 AHHS 6th National AHHS Open Competition Award-Carriage Driving Hackney Horse

Associations
American Driving Society
American Hackney Horse Society - Life Member
AHHS Open Competition Recognition Program - Region Rep.
Carriage Association of America
Curves on Chrome - Sectretary
Great Lakes Carriage Driving Competition - Committee Member
Metamora Carriage Driving Association
Michigan Horse Drawn Vehicle Association
United States Dressage Federation
United States Equestrian Federation
Women On Wheels USA

Jim Ruffing   Facility Services

Machinist, Mechanic, Welder,and Fabricator Jim Ruffing brings these talents to Odyssey Trainging Center and keeps us running in fine form. Jim has a great sense of humor and a quiet nature, which lends its self nicely to working around horses. Jim is husband to Denise and knew when he proposed many years ago that horses were part of the marriage package. Jim started his journey into driving by purchasing and restoring a pony pipe cart as a Christmas gift to Denise. Little did he know then how much driving would be a focus of the future.

Jim lends his many years of experience to OTC by taking care of the carriages, training carts, trailers, trucks, and anything else the ladies of OTC can come up with. Jim has over fifteen years equine care experience and although not often seen in the driver's seat of a carriage these days has in the past driven a team of Belgians. While not able to attend many shows with OTC, Jim ably handles the duties of caring for the farm and horses while the ladies of OTC attend clinics and shows with clients.