New in 2022, Jacobsen Dairy Equestrian Center is proud to introduce our Ranch Manager, Katie Cota. With the intent of creating a community at Jacobsen, she is working on many improvement plans for horses and riders – some of which are already underway!

Santa Barbara native, Katie Cota has earned bachelor’s degrees in Equine Science and Natural Resources at Colorado State University.  She brings a wealth of experience to her position as Ranch Manager at Jacobsen Dairy Equestrian Center, from working as a veterinary technician as well as working on horse and cattle ranches both locally and in Colorado. 

Growing up in the U.S. Pony Club system and competing in the A and B hunter/equitation circuits through high school, she is a qualified riding instructor across multiple English and western disciplines. In college, she began in the western riding disciplines competing primarily in reining. As well as leading rides and multiple horse education programs at the Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch in Colorado and Alisal Guest Ranch here in Solvang.

Katie is the mother of three children, a dozen horses and chickens, half a dozen dogs and a couple cats. She has lived at the Cojo-Jalama Ranch and worked the cattle program for the past 15 years as well as day working for multiple day ranches in the area. We are lucky to have her knowledge, patience and goal oriented attitude here at Jacobsen Dairy Equine Center.