Denize Borges
Rachel Hutches
Ernesto Hererra
Gregorio Gonzalez, Carlos and Eduardo Pazcruz
Pioneer Equine Hospital
Ben Koertje


Denize Borges, Owner and Trainer
Denize started her riding career at age 10 in a summer camp in Carmel Valley, where she was born and raised. After much success in all athletic endevours throughout grade school, middle school, and high school, Denize thrived on the challenge of learning to ride a horse. 'It is the hardest sport I have ever attempted to master.'

As a junior, Denize competed heavily in the hunters, jumpers,
and equitation. She showed exstensively throughout California, Arizona, and Canada. From 1983 through 1986 she qualified for all the medals and won many championships in the Junior Hunters and Junior Jumpers. She was often given horses to ride as her reputation for catch riding was well known.             

The day after graduating from Carmel High School she went to work for renowned jumper rider and trainer Duncan McFarlane in Navato, CA. Denize continued as assistant trainer at Windfall Farms, Inc. when the McFarlanes married.        

In 1988, at age 19, Denize went out on her own to operate Crystal Image Farms in the Oakland hills. After leasing a number of facilities in the East Bay, Denize moved to her present location in 1999 and "bought the farm" where Crystal Image Farms is now located.

Rachel Hutches
Rachel started her riding career when she turned 9 years old. She started Western, then moved to dressage, and finally found the discipline her heart latched onto: hunters and jumpers. Rachel came to Crystal Image Farms as a client, and rode with Denize for three years before attending college. She then returned to Crystal Image Farms and signed on as assistant trainer. She has worked for Denize for four and a half years now, and looks foreward to continuing her work with the Crystal Image Farms team.

Rachel is a stickler for detail and good basics when teaching. She is sympathetic to any special needs such as overwhelming nerves or a physical condition like diabetes. Rachel is brave and patient while working with the babies (horses, that is!), and dedicated to the hunters and jumpers when competing. She has a passion for all things horse related.


Ernesto Hererra
Ernesto is Crystal Image Farms’ premier horse show groom. He exemplifies hard work, honesty, integrity and dedication to his job. He has been with Crystal Image Farms nearly 11 years and has never missed a horse show.

Ernesto comes from a family of horsemen. He and his three brothers have worked as head grooms for many big name trainers like John French, John Bragg, Dusty Blackwood, and Denize Borges. They are responsible for the horses 24 hours a day at the show and are ever-diligent about the horses’ care.

His careful attention to detail makes him a fabulous addition to the Crystal Image Farms show team. Beyond simply getting the horses ready for their riders, Ernesto’s responsibilities include feeding, cleaning stalls, caring for all the horses’ equipment, lunging horses, wrapping the horses, bathing, hand walking, and much more. He checks the horses constantly and knows each one’s routine and needs. Ernesto can tell immediately when something is off and come to a colicky horse’s rescue. His early and decisive action has stopped many possibly tragic situations.

Many of Crystal Image Farms’ employees at the home barn have also been trained by Ernesto. Ernesto personally makes sure the home grooms know exactly what they need to watch for in the horses and how to correctly go about handling and caring for them. Because of his thorough teachings, our fantastic home grooms groom, lead, turn out, wrap, and lunge horses properly. Ernesto’s hard work has helped make Crystal Image Farms the horsey haven it is.


Gregorio Gonzalez, Carlos Pazcruz and Eduardo Pazcruz
Gregorio and Carlos work with Denize and Rachel to keep the horses in top condition. Together they groom, tack, turn out horses and helps keep the entire business running smoothly. Enduardo is responsible for cleaning the stalls, feeding and watering the horses, and helping to monitor their overall welfare throughout the day. Eduardo knows the horses very well and can tell right away when something is off with one of them. All three of our grooms live on the property and monitor the horses through the night. Their quick action help potential crises to be averted. We are ecstatic to have them as part of Crystal Image Farms.






Pioneer Equine Hospital, Veterinary Services
Crystal Image Farms has a very special relationship with Pioneer Equine Hospital. We are very fortunate to have the talented and highly qualified doctors and staff at our service. Dr. Brad Jackman and his colleagues do all of the veterinary work at Crystal Image Farms. Pioneer Equine Hospital recently opened a new state-of-the-art hospital in Oakdale, CA. They are our hospital of choice for routine and emergency medical care.



Ben Koertje, Dentist
Ben Koertje, MCEqD started practicing equine dentistry in 1982. He apprenticed with his uncle Larry Mitchell, and for the first eight years worked on racetracks in northern California. Ben got involved in cutting horses and started working at major barns in California, Texas, Oregon, Nevada, and Hawaii. He works with a number of renowned horsemen throughout the cutting and racehorse industries. After 13 years of practicing equine dentistry, he met an Academy of Equine Dentistry student and decided to attend the program. He has been a big part of the school ever since and serves on the Board of Directors. He is very considerate and his calm, quiet manner is loved by horses and people alike.

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