Sibling duo share love of horses with area youth
MARC BUCKHOUT ~ MANAGING EDITOR ~ 7/8/2010

For Emily Maita the desire to ride horses has been with her for as long as
she can remember.
“I had My Little Pony dolls when I was 5 years old so it was as long as I can remember that I loved horses,” the 21-year-old Arizona State University student said. “Once I got to ride one for the first time I was hooked. I didn’t want to leave.”
After starting to ride regularly at the age of 8 Maita’s mother Kris got a recommendation from a friend of where her daughter could go to get more advanced instruction.
Some 13 years later Maita still train with Peter and Susan Witte, having competed nationally at both the junior and adult level.
The siblings, who currently work in Cave Creek where they specialize in training Arabians, have been showing horses and teaching riders for most of their lives. On the Witte website, wittestables.com Peter’s credentials include earning National Championship honors as a rider in a variety of divisions, but also coaching countless numbers of youth and amateur riders to National honors in the Pleasure and Equitation divisions.
“We have lesson programs for whatever type of rider we have the opportunity to work with from beginners through advanced riders,”
Susan Witte said.
Along with individual day lessons the sibling duo are offering three-day camps during which children ages four and up learn the
basics of horsemanship.
“It’s a hands on experience where they learn equine safety, grooming, nutrition, stabling, just get a sense of what the daily workload is like to take care of a horse,” Susan said. “They also get the opportunity to ride, we play games and have a number of fun activities.”
Nica Thomas, a Scottsdale resident and mother of two, likes the balance offered
by the camp
“My kids will definitely be back,” she said. “It’s a great thing for any kid to have. It’s a learning experience, but at the same time it’s an opportunity for them to have a lot of fun.”
While Thomas’ 10-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son were on opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to their enthusiasm about horses they both came away enthused
by their experience.
“My daughter really wanted to do this camp,” Thomas said. “She was bugging me for a long time about it. My son agreed to go along, but he wasn’t so sure he wanted to go. My daughter rode every day and had a great time while my son learned to overcome his apprehension. Peter does the lessons and is very patient and calm. He makes it to where it’s a no-pressure situation. The kids will become comfortable on their own time table.”
Susan said that many of the campers have never
seen a horse.
“It’s fun to see their reactions,” she said. “Some are horse crazy and fall in love with them, some don’t. It’s like any sports. Some kids get a taste for it and that’s exciting.”
Overall she said the horses have an effect on the children.
“The thing that they have more than any other animal is that they demand respect because of their size,” she said. “They outweigh you and outpower you. But they are also very sensitive and extremely intelligent so they pick up on your emotions. If you treat them with respect they are more receptive.”
Emily, who now also works the camps along with training with the Wittes, said she enjoys working with the kids.
“They get excited, but they’re a little bit awed by the size of the horses,” she said. “It’s really a calming things for kids. Even in cases of ADD kids they get around horses and they somehow focus up. They know they have to pay attention to work with such a large animal.”
The next three-day camp is July 19-21. For information on the camp or riding lessons go to wittestables.com., call Witte at 602-750-0417 or e-mail wittestables@aol.com.