 Dennis and Chantelle met in 1988 at the Crockett Training Center in Van Alstyne, TX. Dennis was training there, and Chantelle came to work through an internship at her college as his groom. Crockett's provided a tremendous education and they will always appreciate the support and teaching that they received. Dennis had worked for several trainers through his younger years, and eventually transplanted to Texas from his hometown of Topeka, KS. His knowledge and touch with a horse was obvious, and his horses blossomed with his training. Chantelle, fresh out of college from the University of Minnesota, Waseca, loved Arabians, and wanted to learn about the training industry from the ground up. Grooming for Dennis taught her about proper horse handling, barn and show grooming techniques, as well as fitting and conditioning a horse. A quick learner, she learned to take great pride in the turnout of her horses, always looking to improve the look, and never let herself do less than her best on any horse.
Above: Dennis and Queens Liege
After leaving Crockett's, Dennis went on to work for the well-known trainer Bobby Hart, who added new angles and experiences to his training repertoire. He also worked for a farm in Houston where he had the fortunate experience to work with Martha Murdock and Sarah Laidlaw. Martha's talent and horsemanship are renowned throughout the Arabian horse industry. He returned to the North Texas area where he worked for Ted Land, a trainer in Celina, Texas that focused on the amateur rider and encouraging positive attitudes and happy horse and rider combinations, up until his death in 1993.
While Dennis was roaming Texas, Chantelle remained at Crockett's and worked her way up to conditioning halter horses, breaking young horses, then training halter horses and working show horses and showing. Her first personal National Experience came when her student, a young girl was 1994 Youth National Reserve Champion Gelding Halter (with a Crockett bred gelding), and Top Ten Showmanship. Dennis and Chantelle were married in 1996, when Dennis came back to work for Crockett's again and Lewis LTD was born.
In 1996, Dennis and Chantelle left Crockett's to go out on their own, giving lessons, training horses, and participating in local, regional and national competitions. During this period, Chantelle also has worked for Cold Springs Animal Hospital, where she gained tremendous knowledge regarding the medical care of horses. Dennis is the backbone of Lewis LTD,providing the daily operation of the business, doing the brunt of the work every day, all day. His diligence and attentiveness to detail is obvious in the way the barn is kept, and every horse in every stall. But more importantly, Dennis and Chantelle share a common approach to horses, their care training. The needs of each horse are assessed individually and are presented and cultivated in a way that allows them to understand what is expected of them, without placing undue stress on them physically or emotionally. Although discipline does factor into each horse's training program, but the positive reinforcement of a job or task done properly and well, is always the ultimate goal and reward for both horse and rider. |
 Left: Chantelle and Joanne Crockett with "Spider" (Wormwood Sahib)
In 1996, Lance Lewis was born and the "family" oriented training facility really came to the forefront, as Lance was literally "raised" at the barn. At age 3, he thought "all little kids went to the barn," when their moms picked them up from day care.
Lance started showing when he was 2 yrs old in the leadline classes and started showing himself in halter and showmanship classes at the age of six in the Arabian world. He was walk-trotting earlier than that at the local shows.
In his second year of showing, at the age of 7, Lance was Reserve Region IX Champion Showmanship 13years and under, National Top 10 Gelding In Hand JTH 17years and under and Reserve National Champion Showmanship 10 years and under with his faithful sidekick, Serr Signature.
Since then he has acquired four more Regional Championships and five Regional Reserve Championships, and five Top 5 awards at Region 9 in Showmanship, Gelding in Hand AOTH and JOTH, Hunter Pleasure Walk-Trot, Hunter Seat Equitation Walk-Trot, Western Pleasure JOTR and JTR 13yr and under, Hunter Pleasure JOTR and JTR 13y and under as well as Half-Arabian Hunter Pleasure JTR 13y and under! In 2007, his last National show he attended, he was awarded the Reserve National Champion award in Showmanship 13y and under.
Lance works hard with his horses and knows how it works from the ground up. He has cleaned his share of stalls, scrubbed his share of water buckets, walked out his share of hot horses, cleaned tack, polished silver and anything else that is needed at the time. He is without a doubt the best advertisement for Lewis LTD, and the Lewis approach to training.
Below: Lance Lewis with Serr Signature at the 2003 Youth National Show |
