Wauwatosa woman teaches people how to ride iron horses

Wauwatosa woman teaches others to ride iron horses

Wauwatosa woman teaches others to ride iron horses

WAUWATOSA (WITI) -- From horses to horsepower, a Wauwatosa woman has spent most of her life teaching people how to ride. These days, she's helping bikers handle their Harley-Davidsons.

Carolyn Held begins with the basics. But her story begins with something far removed from the rumble of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

"At about 16, I had studied under a trainer and started to teach lessons and train horses," said Held.

Held says she taught horse riding lessons through college. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, she landed a job with Harley-Davidson. From there, Held remained a riding instructor. But now, her students were mounted on something entirely different.

"With horses, you have an animal that has its own brain and they're quite powerful in their own way and the two of you have to work together while you're riding - at least you'd like to. When you're riding a powerful Harley, the rider should be in complete control," said Held.

These days, Held teaches both beginning and experienced courses for Harley-Davidson's Rider's Edge program. Leading up to the 110th Anniversary Celebration, Held is helping to stock the shelves at Milwaukee Harley-Davidson, where employees say merchandise sales are three to four times higher than average.

While she rides real horses every couple of weeks, Held says there's nothing like riding an iron horse.

"It's the freedom. The power, the passion, motorcycles are great fun. They kind of get into your blood and after that, you just gotta keep riding them," said Held.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Harley-Davidson's Rider's Edge courses.