TOPSHAM – The Flying Changes Center for Therapeutic Riding has as hired Beth Carlson of West Bath as advanced levels riding instructor.

Carlson will offer a new program for child and adult students who wish to improve dressage, cross country and natural horsemanship skills.

Prior to moving to Maine, Carlson had 30 years of experience training and showing horses at state and regional levels in English pleasure, jumpers, hunters and dressage in New Jersey.

She operated a 17-stall training/sales barn and specialized in training young off-the-track thoroughbreds for careers in the show ring. Living close to the U.S. equestrian team training facility provided her with the opportunity to learn from the best riders in the country, most of them at the Olympic level.

Carlson has also been a student of natural horsemanship for many years and has trained two of her horses in the Parelli program. In addition, Carlson fox hunts with the Wentworth Hunt in New Hampshire where she sits on the executive board and rides as a field master.

Carlson’s program will operate as a fund-raiser for the special needs programs at Flying Changes. For more information, call the center at 729-0168.