Daniela Romo-Leroux
Owner-General Manager

I began my career in corporate America.  I worked in brand management after graduating in 1996 from Florida International University with a Bachelor in Business Administration with a double major in Marketing and International Business. After two years of work experience, I decided to go back to school.  I graduated in 2000 with a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and Political Science from the University of Miami.  Since then I have worked in Marketing Management in various industries, such as Designer Wear, Internet Marketing and Boutique Gourmet products.  Over the years I had become an avid Thoroughbred Racing fan, and had come to admire and love these incredible animals.  However, I was extremely intimidated by horses.  In 2006 I began taking riding lessons in the hopes of conquering my fears.  During that process I realized that my needs as a student were not being met and that perhaps I could initiate an equestrian program with values and goals more in sync with my own.  As a result I opened CRA in 2007 and it has been an exciting adventure ever since.  Our goal at CRA is to offer our clients an excellent and comprehensive program that is focused on the needs of every client.

Mandi C. Powers

Head Trainer 

Mandi C. Powers grew up riding and showing in Reno, Nevada and Northern California. In 1994, her family relocated to the Gulf Coast where Mandi continued competitively riding and showing to top ribbons in all three rings. 
Mandi has been in the industry for over 20 years and in the irons for 30+ years. She has coached numerous riders to top honors at local, regional and national levels in the hunter, jumper and equitation rings. She has developed multiple lesson/training programs and ran top facilities in the Southeast including Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas. Her most recent accomplishment is leading the Mississippi College Equestrian Program and Providence Hill farm, as the Director, Head Coach and Trainer, in Jackson, MS where she qualified multiple riders and horses for championships over the past several years. 
Not only is she an amazing coach but she is known for developing young horses in our sport. Mandi has successfully trained, shown and sold many horses that are still winning today. 
Mandi brings professionalism, true horsemanship, effective coaching and quality riding but most of all- the education and knowledge to take any program, rider or horse to the next level. She is seasoned in our industry with a professional network and we are lucky to have her.

Francesca Case

Trainer

I grew up in a household with a love for horses. My older sister rode and competed, while my mom was very involved in Pony Club,  Girl Scout Mounted Patrol, the care of our horses and being a horse show mom!  My first pony was Wishnet a GoGo, she was at our house for about 2 hours, and then we put her back on the trailer and exchanged her for one that did not buck me off!  I fell in love with horses with my first lesson horse, Timothy.   My Dad was in the Army and we moved around a bit.  I continued with lessons in PA, and then in Germany.  When we made it to Texas, I had a 3 year old mare, Reno Rita, waiting for me.  She was out of a mare that had been given to us, that we had bred to a thoroughbred.  On Rita, I learned perseverance and a deep seat (she was a very opinionated mare!).  I attained my C3 rating in Pony Club, showed in H/J, Dressage shows and Eventing around TX, OK, and CO.  I took lessons and clinics from all sorts of old school experienced horse people, including Hilda Gurney and Col. John Russell.  In  CO, I was very involved with Morgan horses, along with riding, teaching and showing, I learned about driving, western,  and saddle seat.   We showed all over CO and I qualified for the Morgan Grand Nationals in OK City in dressage.  While in CO we had Rita bred to a Morgan, and we purchased a 2 year old thoroughbred cross gelding to be my new event horse- training from the ground up.  Cajun was sweet and willing, everything Rita was not!  When it was time to go to college I gave Cajun to my sister and she trained him up to Prix St. George level in dressage.   Our Morgan cross mare was about 3 and I was able to take her to college with me to continue working with her.  Shortly after college I left horses behind, except for the occasional lease. About 5 years ago, while living in VA,  I started riding again and purchased an OTTB that was sweet and quirky and helped me get back into the world of horses.  Unfortunately, he had a bout with colic that he could not recover from.  I have a new project horse and I am very excited.  My husband was in the Navy for 20 years and we moved here from VA in Oct 2014.   I am so happy to have Max call CRA his home.  I am very thankful and excited to be given the opportunity to teach again.

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