Legends Equestian Center

Heather Swope (Owner/Instructor)

Heather opened Legends Equestrian Center in Decatur, Arkansas in 2004. Before moving to NW Arkansas, Heather was an owner and head instructor at Windmill Stables, a premier Hunter/Jumper facility serving the Dallas/Fort Worth area. When Windmill Stables was purchased, the lesson program was relatively non-existent and the barn had only 10 boarders. During the first four years, Windmill had filled its 30 stalls, and Heather established a comprehensive lesson program that managed over 60 students, enabling Windmill to quickly become a very competitive barn on the North Texas Hunter Jumper circuit.

While in Dallas/Fort Worth, Heather was also active in establishing High Rise Pony Club, which competed at Nationals a variety of years. High Rise is a unique PC because Windmill Stables allows their lesson horses to be used by lower level PC members. This affords children who otherwise would not be allowed to compete without owning their own horse the opportunity to participate in the mounted and unmounted rallys that Pony Club offers.

Heather has been instructing students since September of 1998, and has taken her riders to a variety of schooling, open and rated Hunter Jumper shows. 2010 brought new changes to the program when LEC added a second competing team of riders heading out to do Horse Trials and Three Day Eventing in USEA recognized events in Area IV and V. Heather’s show background consists of riding in competitions since 1988, in New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

In the fall of 2001, Heather became certified by the American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA). She is a Level II Hunt Seat certified instructor, attending yearly conferences offered by ARIA to remain updated on teaching techniques and the standards of the sport. Heather takes pride in teaching her students valuable skills they can use throughout their lives. To that end, she requires that each student give their best, always emphasizing the importance of a caring, respectful approach to their horses, family, fellow riders, and instructor.

Heather was elected President of Northwest Arkansas Hunter Jumper Association (NWAHJA) in January 2006 serving an unprecedented 4 year term. The huge population growth that NW Arkansas has been experiencing has brought many new riders to the area. NWAHJA’s goals are to be able to put on shows that will rival those of other cities and get more people involved.

Diane Torti (Instructor)

Diane Torti has been a riding instructor with LEC since the fall of 2006. She relocated from the Greater Chicago area with her husband and two daughters. Diane teaches most of the new beginner riders that come to LEC, helping each student build their confidence around horses both in the saddle and on the ground. Diane offers her students what is needed to enable them to become well rounded horse people. Once the students progress to the show arena, Diane coaches her students through their competitions.

Diane has been around horses most of her life, growing up with a severe infatuation of horses! She competed through her teenage years as a Hunter/Jumper on the Arabian Horse Circuit in Ocala, Florida and competed in local schooling shows in and around Central Florida. Diane wears several more hats in addition to being a riding instructor! She recently served as Secretary for our local horse club, NWAHJA, for the past 3 years(2007-2009), is a mother of two girls, who are active competitors in NWAHJA on the LEC Show Team, as well as competing herself on her Sport Horse, Mikey. Together her and Mikey enjoy Fox Hunting, Hunter Paces, competition, and trail riding. Diane also enjoys attending clinics, which offer her continued learning opportunities in which she can pass along to her students.