About Us

Born in Mt. Home Arkansas in 1960 Sharon Studdard got her first horse at age eight. Shortly thereafter she got her orange notebook out and started planning every detail of her dream of one day owning and operating her very own equestrian center. That was all in the 3rd grade. Thru a lifetime of riding thousands of horses and leaning into her goal, she finally realized her dream in December of 1997 with the purchase of the property that would become Rakkan.

Pronounced “Rock On” Rakkan is the Japanese word for optimism. In April 1998 Rakkan Equestrian Center opened for business. Since then Sharon has taught over 1000 people how to ride and care for these great animals. 90% of these people are children who had no prior experience with horses. She has developed a unique and very successful progressive learning program for optimal skill achievements. She is a certified Horseman Safety Instructor with an impeccable safety record. Because of her outstanding ability to connect horses with kids within a safe environment while applying her measurable curriculum she was approached by Bend Metro Parks and Recreation District in 2004 and was approved to be the first equestrian center ever to join their team of partners. Be sure to check out their web site for available programs at www.bendparksandrec.org.

Sharon’s ability to transform even the most shy and timid student into an assertive leader or the angry protective child into a positive communicator is amazing to watch. All using her wonderful horses she calls her HEROES. She is quoted as saying, “Students learn to communicate to the horse on a level that the horse understands Thus, stepping outside of themselves in an altruistic manner. Through a give and take of responsible communication horse/rider learn to move around the arena as a team. Teaching accountability for your actions through natural consequences within a safe and controlled atmosphere allows for optimal learning.”

Moving through Sharon’s impressive string of schooling horses gives the students an opportunity to improve their skills at an accelerated rate. With the largest and most educated string of schooling horses in Central Oregon, RAKKAN stands above all others. For the horse owners out there Sharon teaches about reality based goals for you and your horse as a team. She says. “The goal in the riders mind, if in line with abilities, time and effort put forth CAN manifest into reality. Goals solicit a certain feeling or emotion inside our chest. These Feelings prompt us to take action towards our goals. The Actions lead us along the road called the process. The Process is part of the adventure that should be enjoyed thoroughly. Because it’s in the process that we are allowed to fail and succeed. Failures are excellent improvement opportunities. If we aren’t failing we’re not trying. If we’re not trying then we’ll not have the opportunity to succeed. As long as we keep leaning in the direction of our goal with our acquired problem solving tools we’ve picked up along the road called process, then and only then will our goals Manifest. So enjoy the process!

You never know what glorious opportunity awaits you if you don’t take action to make “it” happen for yourself.” Sharon’s life is truly about connection and bridge building through her teachings on how to communicate in a mutually beneficial manner. Using her horses in such a unique platform has enabled children and adults alike to become confident and accountable as well as strong and productive individuals.

Zak Preston was born and raised in The Flathead Valley in Northwestern Montana. He moved to Central Oregon in 1988 as a teenager. In 1995 Zak started riding bulls in Lebanon, Oregon at a stock contractor’s ranch. In 1996 he started learning how to shoe horses. After riding along with one of the most successful farriers in the area for 4 years, he went out on his own in 2000.

Shoeing is where he learned how to read a horse’s emotion and body language. He shod horses throughout Eastern, Central and Southern Oregon. While traveling he worked cattle on various ranches as a day rider. His duties included gathering, branding, sorting and doctoring. After he moved out to Silver Lake, Oregon in 2002 he started riding in ranch rodeos on saddle broncos. When given the opportunity he still participates in such events.

Zak made a lot of friends over the years. These so called “friends” gave him the opportunity to climb UNDER some extremely rank, grumpy and hypersensitive horses. Being around these sorts of horses gave him the ability to read and handle a horse and get around the bad ones without injury to himself or to the horse. At the time he would swear his “friends” wanted him dead. Now in retrospect he is very appreciative of the experience that taught him that finesse, savvy and soft hands win over strength and aggression every time. These attributes show in his ability to start young horses as well as tune up older horses with ease. The most impressive thing in riding a young horse after Zak has started it is realizing how soft the horse moves off the leg and handles the bit.

Zak has had a successful shoeing career for nine years while riding horses for others along the way. This only stoked his passion for training which convinced him to turn it into his career in 2007 at Rakkan Equestrian Center. Zak will start your young horse or give your out of shape steed a tune up. He has developed a program for the guys where he teaches them in his straightforward, no nonsense, cowboy logic approach. The guys really get a lot out of his shared wisdom. Whether you are a beginner, a casual weekend rider, or needing to tune-up yours and your horse’s skills for hunting season, Zak will help you become all you can be. Western art is now his hobby. He is very artistic. His arts include rope baskets, jewelry, chinks, belts, scabbards and many other custom leather pieces. The liquor bottles he wraps in rope and leather are a beautiful addition to any Western bar.

• Breed: Nick is a registered Quarter Horse. His registered name in Nickels Hoola Hoop.
• AGE: 24 years old.
• Height: 16.1h.
• Weight: 1400 pounds.
• Color: Palomino.
• Favorite place to be scratched: his chest.
• Favorite treats: sliced apples and foams at the mouth when he eats them.
• How long have you owned this horse: 10 years.
• Tell us about him:

  His best friend is Pistol. Nick is very sweet and gentle. His movement is really big so I let people ride him who have had a least 10 lessons with me. People can't wait to ride him so they work really hard to gain the experience on the smaller horses. He loves to trail ride and camp. We have shown him in English classes as well as Halter and Pairs classes for OHSET. OHSET stands for Oregon High School Equestrian Team. When he sheds out for his Summer coat he is a chocolate Palomino and the little girls say he reminds them of Summer Ken Doll with his tan and bleach blonde mane and tail. He LOVES to be told he's a good boy. I have always said to all my students,"If you can learn to canter on Nick you can ride any horse I have". His size is equal only to his huge heart! I love him and his pet name is Nick-e-poo. Come ride this gentle giant and he will teach you balance, accountability and communication.

• Breed: Pistol is an Appaloosa
• Age: 27 years old.
• Height: 14h
• Weight: 1000 pounds
• Color: Spotted Blanket
• Favorite place to be scratched: Withers
• Favorite treats: carrots
• How long have I owned him: 5 years
• Tell us about him:

  I bought Pistol along with Strawberry from The Ponderosa Ranch out in John Day where he had been a dude string horse for 13 years. He came to me a gentle but energetic sort of fellow that had no idea what a carrot or apple was. Horses from working ranches aren't pampered. They are there for a job and not much love. So we happily taught him how to LOVE carrots and to have his eyes stroked with gentle hands. He teaches most beginners how to canter as he is super smooth at this gate. His best friend is Nick.

• Breed: Registered Half-Arabian (the other half is Welch Cob)
• Age: 31
• Height: 13.2h
• Weight: 1000 pounds
• Color: Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: LOVES to have his eyes stroked with gentle hands
• Favorite treats: Apples
• How long have you owned him? 10 years
• Tell us about him:

  I bought Mystic from a nice family in Bend, OR where they had given him a loving home for about 4 years. He didn't come with any registration papers. When I got him home I looked under his mane to find a freeze brand which included his registration number. I quickly discovered he was a Half-Arabian and called the Arabian Horse Registry to find out more on this cute little horse. They gave me the name of the last registered owner who happened to be the actual breeder and gave him a call at his home is Washington. He was SO delighted to hear that Desert Mystic was still alive as no one had ever transferred ownership so he was thought to have died. I assured him that he was in great health and living the life of luxury.

  He told me the story of Mystic and what an important part of his family's life this little wonder horse had been. You see this man on the phone was an older gentleman that had retired from his large Arabian breeding operation some years earlier. Mystic was a driving horse for him and pulled a cart in shows as well as for pleasure. One sad day this gentleman's son and daughter-in-law were killed in a plane crash leaving 3 very young children behind. The gentleman and his wife took the kids into their home and everyday would hitch up Mystic and load the family up in the cart to go to the top of a hill where they would talk about where in Heaven their mommy and daddy lived. Mystic was a huge part of the healing process for this broken family. Now you can understand why the gentleman was so very happy Mystic was safe and sound. Mystic is my favorite horse out of all my schooling horses. He is safe and dependable. Loving and connecting. Come give him some love and he will return it 10 fold.

• Breed: Shygia Arabian
• Age: 33
• Height: 14.2h
• Color: Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: Fanny
• Favorite treats: Apples
• How long have you owned him? 9 years
• Tell us about him:

  We found poor Echo at a horse show at the old Rim Rock Riders arena in 100 degree weather tied up in the sun with a "For Sale" sign DUCKED TAPED to his side. No phone number and NO WATER for the poor guy. Through some extensive research his owners were found and I bought him. In his younger days he used to be an endurance horse. He is half Lipizzaner which is why his head carriage is so beautiful. 3 Summers ago he was attacked twice by a cougar in our lower pasture. He almost died from infection caused by the big cats dew claws. He also developed ulcers in his stomach from the stress of it all. He lost about 80# which is a lot for such a small framed horse to lose. His love for life is so huge he rebounded in no time. Echo wants me to warn you to never feed deer at your house. By feeding the deer you are inviting cougar into your yard to eat the deer. We don't feed the deer but are right in the pathway of their grazing territory. Echo is our oldest horse and one of the most asked for by all the timid riders.

• Breed: Quarter Horse
• Age: 27
• Height: 15h
• Weight: 1200 pounds
• Color: Strawberry Roan
• Favorite place to be scratched: Fanny
• Favorite treat: Apples
• How long have you owned him? 5 years
• Tell us about him:

  I bought Strawberry from the Ponderosa Ranch near John Day along with Pistol. He was a dude ranch horse there with Pistol for 13 years. He has an injured front right knee as a result of years of work near John Day. We take extra care of his knee and Wayne Schmotzer of Bend Equine says he has 80% flexion in it. Wayne says the light usage we provide Strawberry here at Rakkan is a great way for Strawberry to stay fit and keep his knee from losing any more flexion. Strawberry is a quiet slow guy that loves to have his fanny scratched and to be groomed. He has been caught falling asleep more than any other horse while being brushed and pampered. He's trustworthy and stout.

• Breed: Half-Arabian
• Age: 13
• Height: 15.1h
• Color: Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: ANY WHERE
• Favorite treats: Apples, Carrots, Peppermints, Corn Cobs, Water Melon Rhine
• How long have you owned him: 6 years
• Tell us about him:

  I bought Tu-Shay as an 18 month old colt. He was the sweetest boy EVER. They say that you only have ONE "once in a live time horse" and for me Tu-Shay has been IT. I broke him myself and trained him to move off the leg and give to the bridle. He was sold to my friend as a 6 year old who moved him to Pebble Beach California where the top Dressage Trainers in the world have worked with Tu-Shay. He has two national championship titles in Dressage. He is an AMAZING show horse. He was given back to me just a few months ago. I have to admit I did a whole lot of grateful crying when I got the news he was coming home for good. I love this horse! Come and feel the magic and deep loving connection this horse gives you when he looks into your heart.

• Breed: Arabian
• Age: 7
• Height: 14.2h
• Weight: 950 pounds
• Color: Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: Doesn't like to be scratched
• How long have you owned him? 7 years
• Tell us about him:

  I bought Steele the Power II Win as a 6 month old colt from Cool,California. He is an amazing athlete. He was breed to do 100 mile a day races for endurance. He is also very suitable for Dressage and Hunt Seat. I truly believe this lil horse could do anything you asked of him. He is only ridden in my program by experienced riders as he still loves to buck every once in a while. He is a joy to watch loose in the fields as these next pictures will demonstrate.

• Breed: Arabian
• Age: 7
• Height: 14.2h
• Weight: 940 pounds
• Color: Dapple Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: Neck
• Favorite treat: Peppermints
• How long have you owned him? 7 years
• Tell us about him:

  I bought Heart Raider along with Winner aka Steele the Power II Win, from Cool, California when he was 8 months old. He had one of the longest attention spans of any horse I had ever trained. He would try and try and work and work. He would want to please me by giving 110% effort of anything I taught him. He has been leased by one of my top students now for 7 months and she is getting him ready for 4-H fair at the Deschutes County Fair grounds in July 2009.

• Breed: Quarter Horse
• Age: 13
• Height: 15.3
• Color: Bay
• Favorite place to be scratched: Chest
• Favorite treats: Peppermints
• How long have you owned her? 3 years
• Tell us about her:

  I bought her from our good friend Bobbie Elliott who runs Fast Time Arena here in Bend, Oregon. My daughter was looking for a horse for OHSET ( Oregon High School Equestrian Team). We know Bobbie has great athletic horses for sale so she was our first place to look for a new horse. Echo had been Bobbies personal horse for cow work for quite some time. We loved her and brought her home. Haily went to state on Echo Bey in Drill Team the very first season. Since then Haily has taught Echo to rear on command. Echo is for our advanced riders to enjoy. She is responsive and powerful. And gives kisses after you ride her. She loves people so much she prefers their company over other horses. Come see Echo Bey proudly carry the flag with Haily in our next play day here at Rakkan.

• Breed. Thoroughbred
• Age: 30
• Height: 15.1h
• Weight: 1100 pounds
• Color: Bay
• Favorite place to be scratched: She doesn't like to be scratched but loves for her face gently stroked
• Favorite treats: Apples
• How long have you owned her? 6 months
• Tell us about her:

  I rescued Paige from certain death along with her pasture mates Oggie and Playboy from Camp Tamarack in Sisters, Oregon. The camp has new owners and had instructed the ranch manager to "get rid of" all the old horses to make room for new younger ones. I was told that these three along with several others would be killed October 1st if I didn't take them. I took these home on Labor Day 2008. Paige is very kind and is in love with Oggie. She can't be more than 10 feet from him at any time. She is learning to be loved and pampered. She continues to gain weight and muscle tone with the high quality feed provided at Rakkan and the caring students who are lucky enough to ride her.

• Breed: Appendix Quarter Horse
• Age: 30 something
• Height: 15.3h
• Weight: 1400 pounds
• Favorite place to be scratched: Withers
• Favorite treats: Apples
• How long have you owned him? 6 months
• Tell us about him:

  I rescued Oggie from certain death along with his pasture mates Paige and Playboy from Camp Tamarack in Sisters, Oregon. The camp has new owners and had instructed the ranch manager to "get rid of" all the old horses to make room for new younger ones. I was told that these three along with several others would be killed October 1st if I didn't take them. I took these three home Labor Day 2008. Oggie LOVES Paige and can't be more than 10 feet from her. He is a confident and loves to teach kids how to canter. He has a tail full of cancer but the vet says it shouldn't be painful. We continue to put weight on Oggie with LOTS of high quality feed provided at Rakkan. He is still learning how to be pampered and doesn't think much of all this new "LOVE stuff" that we all give him. We feel so fortunate to have rescued this big guy. Seeing him happy in the pasture is very rewarding.

• Breed: Arabian
• Age: 5
• Height: 15.1h
• Weight: 1100 pounds
• Color: Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: Neck
• Favorite treats: Peppermints
• How long have you owned him? He was born here so 5 years.
• Tell us about him:

  Steele the Reign was born here at Rakkan and several of my students were present at his birth. His mother was a beautiful Arabian named Ralafa. She died of cancer December 13, 2007. We miss her lovely presence. Steele was broke by Zak Preston last fall and is going nicely. He is not in the program for students to ride as he is too young and doesn't know enough yet. His sire, Remington Steele lives in New Hampshire and is a huge 16.1h polish Arabian. Steele along with Raider and Winner are all related to Remington Steele. These horses are breed for 100 mile/day endurance racing. They are super athletic but very gentle and loving. Come watch Steele learn all the skills he will need to one day fit into the program here at Rakkan.

• Breed: Arabian
• Age: 6
• Height: 14.3h
• Weight: 1000 pounds
• Color: Bay
• Favorite place to be scratched: ALL OVER!
• Favorite treats: Any thing she can fit into her mouth!
• How long have you owned her? 6 years
• Tell us about her:

  Khazan's Ananda was brought here when she was 2 months old. SHE LOVES PEOPLE! She is so beautiful that everybody wants to buy her from me. Until that is, they see how playful she really is. This girl has a mind of her own. She is one of the most intelligent horses I have ever had the pleasure to know. However, working is a bad word to her. She would rather you just take her into your house and plop down on the sofa and watch TV with you than do any thing that resembles working. She truly believes she is a person. She follows me everywhere I go. If there are a bunch of people around she is relentless in getting their attention so that all people within eyesight of her are loving on her. She buts her head over the kids shoulders and ever so gently pulls them to her chest. One by one she pulls all the kids to her. If one try's to walk away she gently steps towards them being careful not to step on ones she has snuggled to her and reaches her head over their shoulder and pulls them into her. It is the most amazing thing to watch. This mare was broke by my daughter Haily last Summer and continues to have periodic rides put on her. I would be happy to lead her around like a pet than to ride her anyway so we are the perfect match for each other. Come get some loving from Ananda.

• Breed: Half-Arabian (other half is Quarter Horse)
• Age: 24
• Height: 15h
• Weight: 1050 pounds
• Color: Flea Bitten Gray
• Favorite place to be scratched: Doesn't like to be scratched. Like his jaw petted.
• Favorite treats: Carrots
• How long have you owned him? 5 months
• Tell us about him:

  He was given to me from a family that couldn't care for him any longer. He came to us really dirty with over grown feet. They had used him as a hunting horse. He is very jumpy and can only be ridden by my most experienced riders. One of my students has really fallen in love with him and spends all her free time hanging out with Strider. She has bathed him and is teaching him it is okay to be pampered. He was a stallion until he was 14 years old but shows no signs of aggression whatsoever. In fact Cooper beats up on him and steals his food so we have put him in a stall by himself and he seems a lot happier now. He continues to gain weight on the high quality feeds at Rakkan. Zak has his feet looking great now.

• Breed: Quarter Horse
• Age: 28
• Height: 15.2h
• Weight 1330 pounds
• Color: Sorel
• Favorite place to be scratched: Withers
• Favorite treats: Carrots
• How long have you had him? 1 and 1/2 years
• Tell us about him:

  Cooper was given to me from one of my students that didn't want to have horses at home anymore. Horse ownership is not for everyone. They provided excellent care for Cooper whose name was Taylor at the time. One of my long time student's name was Taylor so we changed his name to Cooper. He is a great trail horse. He is ridden by my intermediate students.

• Breed: Quarter Horse
• Age: 23
• Height: 15h
• Weight: 1250 pounds
• Color: Bay
• Favorite place to be scratched: Withers
• Favorite treats: Carrots
• How long have you owned him? 6 months
• Tell us about him:

  I rescued Playboy from certain death along with his pasture mates Paige and Oggie from Camp Tamarack in Sisters, Oregon. The camp has new owners and had instructed the ranch manager to "get rid of" all the old horses to make room for new younger ones. I was told that these three along with several others would be killed October 1st if I didn't take them. I took these three home on Labor Day 2008. Playboy's left front knee was very swollen and could barely walk so I took him into Bend Equine to see Wayne Schmotzer.

  We discovered that he only has 20% flexion in that knee however the injury had healed and didn't cause further pain. The lameness was actually coming from his right front hoof. After x-rays we discovered that with corrective shoeing provided by Zak Preston, he would be relatively pain free. The unusual shoe that was on Playboy provided by Camp Tamarack was very hard to remove for the x-rays. The shoe was so unusual that it provided the tie to a crime that would be committed in October of 2008 when hunters found a horse wondering in the woods with gunshot wounds to the eye and side. This horse was then identified to have the same type of shoes that Playboy was wearing in the September vet exam thus providing crucial evidence as to where this poor Arabian gelding was from.

  The ranch hand from Camp Tamarack had shot this horse and left him to die in the woods. No doubt the same fate Playboy, Paige and Oggie would have received had I not taken them home. Today Playboy is in great shape. He loves his new home and all the kids that ride him. Although his injuries are permanent he loves life and can be seen running in the pastures with all his friends. We feel so fortunate to have this lovely boy with us and can't imagine our program with out this old horse.

Blue is a Boxer/Australian Sheppard he is 11 years old and is the brains of the group. Lumpy is an English Mastiff and is 6 years old. His tail will bruise your legs. He weighs 120# Lump-A-Lena is an English Mastiff and she is 2 years old. She is super sweet and weighs 105# Badger is a Aussie/Healer. He is 3 years old and he is BALL CRAZY!