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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026
S I D E L I N E S • 2 0 2 6 H O R S E P E O P L E O F T H E Y E A R
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SIDELINESMAGAZINE | November/December 2026
PAULA HITZLER
I strongly believe that each incredible horseperson had a strong educator to guide them into the
path of the equestrian world. Paula Hitlzer is one of those individuals. For over 36 years, Paula
shaped, mentored, coached, educated and shared her passion for horses at Michigan State
University (MSU) in the Horse Teaching and Research Center and animal science department.
This past May, she retired from her position—but not without changing the lives of over 1,500
students, hundreds of equines, faculty, parents and equine professionals.
In 1989, Paula was hired as the farm manager for MSU, the third oldest Arabian breeding
program in the country, to not only manage the ever-growing program but to create a hands-on
course for the animal science department including the creation of horse training fundamentals,
young horse training, sales and conditioning, labs in reproduction, equine management and more.
Her diverse equine background started as
a young child playing with her Breyer horses,
then grew to taking lessons then begging her
parents for a pony. They finally gave in and
bought her a $25 pony named Lightning.
As every good pony does, he bucked her off
more times than she could count. She finally
had enough and trained him herself over the
summer at the age of 9 and ended up winning
first place at their first show together. Sheer
passion and determination set Paula up for
success in her career path. After her college
education, she went on to work for some of
the top farms in the country until settling
back into Michigan and beginning her
teaching career.
Being a true educator is far more than
teaching from a textbook; it is teaching with
care, hands-on experiences, compassion,
joyfulness and sometimes sadness, especially
when it comes to the equine world. If you ask
any of Paula’s students, one thing that they
learned from her that set them up for success
is to follow your heart. It is clear to see her
students have followed her lead. Many are
top trainers in the Arabian, Quarter Horse,
Saddlebred and Morgan breeds. In the world
of hunter-jumpers, dressage and reining,
she has produced international trainers and
industry leaders in veterinary medicine,
breeding, pharmaceutical animal health and
feed companies. They will say they were
taught by one of the best: Paula Hitzler.
Life lessons are often taught outside the
walls of a classroom; Paula gave her students
the proper tools and lessons to become the
horsepeople they are today. Encouragement,
empowerment, understanding and tough
love was given when it was needed the most.
Cheering them on long after their graduation,
writing letters of recommendation and always
a phone call away to listen and give sound
advice is what exceptional educators do.
Hundreds of the finest Arabian horses were
bred and born at MSU. Many of these horses
have been multinational champions in a host of
divisions including halter, hunter and Western
performance, reining, dressage and sport
horse. Others have become leading producers
as well as wonderful 4-H horses, first-time-
owners’ horses and top therapy horses. Some