Background
I have been training horses and teaching lessons for almost two decades. At age nine, I began showing in hunter and equitation classes both locally and on the ‘A’ circuit. In my teenage years, I joined the United States Pony Club and developed a passion for eventing. I spent several years competing in combined training events throughout the Midwest and Southern United States. Following a traumatic riding accident in 1996, I chose put my equestrian career on hold in order to attend college. While a student at the Ohio State University, I kept riding a central part of my life. In addition to attending clinics and studying with top trainers and riders, I worked as an exercise rider and trainer at Beulah Park race track in Grove City, Ohio. And as a humane officer at the Capital Area Humane Society in Hilliard, Ohio, I rescued, rehabilitated, and re-homed abused and neglected horses. In addition, I spent three years as the equestrian director at YMCA Willson Outdoor Center, where I was responsible for the care and training of fifty horses and for teaching beginner through advanced English and Western riding lessons to all ages.

In 2005, I graduated with a master’s degree from Ohio State and decided to dedicate myself full-time to teaching riding and training horses. Since then, I have worked with hundreds of horses, and my training experiences range from starting horses under saddle, to behavior modification training, to advanced discipline-specific training. I have also developed a diverse client base which includes young competitive riders, riders who have fear issues or who have had traumatic accidents, and riders who are dedicated to deepening their relationship with their equine partner. My unique yoga on horseback program has been featured in the Columbus Dispatch and has proven to be physically and emotionally invaluable to the hundreds of riders who have participated in one of my yoga on horseback clinics. Most recently, I spent several months training and teaching at Ledesma Equestrian Center in Orlando, Florida, where I learned to ride and teach upper-level hunters and jumpers. This experience has made me confident that I can successfully take riders to any level of competition.

My clients can expect that their needs and those of their horses’ will be my first priority. As your trainer or instructor, my goals are to always exceed your expectations and to provide the highest quality of service possible. You will receive patient, competent instruction from a trainer who cares about the well-being and future success of you and your horse.

Training Philosophy
I use assertive, non-violent communication to work with horses at all stages of training and I specialize in working with rescue horses, horses with trauma backgrounds, and young, fearful horses. From PMU horses to off-the-track thoroughbreds, I employ a systematic, repetition-based approach to re-educate horses who have learned to be fearful of humans and other stimuli. My goal is to help every horse that comes into my care to become emotionally balanced, trusting, happy, and safe to continue a lifetime relationship with his human companions.

For Adult Riders
I believe that most of us began riding because we love horses and want to create effective partnerships and harmonious relationships with our equine friends. I want every one of my human and equine students to experience the joy of the union that can happen with effective, non-violent communication between our two species. Whether you are emotionally scarred from a bad riding accident, out of shape, or feel silly getting back on a horse after so many years, I will work my hardest to bring you back to the reason you began riding in the first place – your love of horses. I believe that the desire to deepen our relationships with these amazing animals is what unites us all.