Meet the Staff

Crystal Little, Owner and Head Trainer of Atkinson Riding Academy, has earned her USDF Bronze and Silver medals. She has attended L'Escola De Equitação De Alcainça in Alcainça, Portugal, and graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, with a focus in equine science.

After running a successful equine establishment in Danville, NH, Crystal opened the doors to Atkinson Riding Academy in 2006. She has ridden under the instruction of Gail Harrington, Jean Luc Cornille, Janet Briggs, Sarah Hamilton, Thomas Friedrich, Grant Wilson, Janet Foye, Helen Cast, Michael Barisone, and Annemieke Vincourt.

Crystal has been riding and training under the tutelage of Pamela Goodrich for over 12 years. She currently competes her Westphalian gelding, Regazzo Ace, at Grand Prix, alongside her five-year-old Danish Warmblood, Claim Your Royalty, and the FEI five-year-old, Test, in the young horse divisions.

Crystal specializes in showing and training horses, always working toward the personal growth and goals of each horse-and-rider team — whether the goal is the show ring or personal development and education. She works closely with adult riders and specializes in working with difficult horses that owners have struggled to manage. She uses exposure training, ground work, and mounted work to build clear communication between horse and rider, and also assists clients with horse purchases.

Dawn's adventures with horses began 40 years ago as a working student at Ironstone Farm in Andover, MA. She mucked stalls, groomed, and fed the horses in exchange for her lessons -- as all good barn rats do -- while competing locally for her 4-H club.

In 2009, Dawn joined Atkinson Riding Academy by leasing a horse and taking up riding once again. Over the next ten years she mainly 'mommed,' serving as a super groom and sideline cheerleader for her kids Taylor and Shea.

Dawn is proud of the accomplishments she made last year, earning her first USDF Rider Performance Award at Training Level while riding alongside her closest friends and family.

Lacie leads our educational services for young riders, giving kids their first hands-on introduction to the equine world in a fun, family-friendly setting. She is the driving force behind both our After School Program and our Home School Program, and she also offers "Lessons for Littles" for riders as young as two years old. Additionally, Lacie hosts Pony Camp in the Summer and year round birthday parties. More info coming soon.

Lacie has trained under Crystal Little, Dawn Bruneau, and Pam Goodrich, and has furthered her education through clinics with Gina Angel and Sharon McCusker. Her genuine love for both children and horses shines through in everything she does, making her an invaluable part of the ARA family.

Courtney Norberg brings a natural, relational approach to everything she does with horses. As Assistant Trainer, she oversees the majority of the academy's daily riding and training program, and works alongside Crystal on horse training beyond our youth programming. Her love for Atkinson Riding Academy shows in everything she does.

Courtney started riding at age six and has loved every horse she has worked with as if it were her own ever since. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2014 with a degree in Equine Studies and Business Management, and while there she competed for the UNH Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) team. In 2012, she was part of the squad that won the Regional Championship for the northern New England region for the second consecutive year, outscoring teams from eleven other schools over an eight-competition season.

Courtney has trained under Pam Goodrich, Crystal Little, and Christina Keim, and shows successfully at both local and national events. Her true gift lies in her ability to communicate with each horse individually. She has a special talent for building trust with horses working through fear or anxiety, helping them feel safe through patience and focus.

Becky Kruschwitz is the anchor of the entire operation at Atkinson Riding Academy. As Barn Manager, she oversees our staff and day-to-day operations, keeping the facility clean, safe, and welcoming for every horse and rider who walks through our doors.

Becky's connection to ARA began over a decade ago, when her daughter started taking riding lessons here at just nine years old. That experience sparked a love for horses Becky never expected, despite having no prior background in the equine world. She began working at the barn feeding and turning out 37 horses, and has since grown into an integral, indispensable part of the business.

In her role, Becky manages the overall care of every horse in our program, including daily turnout, feeding, and nutrition, with an eye toward each horse's individual needs and any supplemental dietary care they require. She also oversees each horse's health and safety, coordinating with our veterinarians on risk management and everyday medical needs, including wound care, and helping new horses socialize safely into the herd.

Beyond horse care, Becky handles much of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the academy running smoothly, including staffing, bookkeeping, and customer relations, along with coordinating farrier and veterinary appointments, ordering feed and supplies, and supporting our educational programs. Her twelve years of hands-on experience, paired with her genuine love for the horses in her care, make her an essential part of the ARA family.

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Meet the Staff

Meet Crystal Little

Dawn Bruneau

Lacie Bowman

Courtney Norberg

Becky Kruschwitz

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