About Me
I am a fully insured, professional horse trainer and instructor based out of Skillman, NJ. I specialize in starting young horses, re-training thoroughbred and standardbred racehorses, teaching riders with confidence issues, and trail/ endurance riding.
After driving horses at the harness track and working in the breeding industry for several years, I took a full time head trainer position at a non-profit that re-homed standardbreds after their racing careers were over. There I started, trained, and showed horses of all ages and abilities. Some of the horses I trained have gone on to compete successfully in dressage, jumpers, eventing, barrel racing, Working Equitation, and endurance. Others have gone on to work in law enforcement and therapeutic programs.
Over the course of my career, I have done a little bit of everything from exercise riding thoroughbred racehorses to rehabilitating elderly rescue horses that had fallen through the cracks. My varied background has taught me the importance of cross training and a well-rounded horse.
My training program focuses on building a quiet, reliable, and obedient horse. Desensitization and suppleness are key and no short cuts are taken. I use a pressure/release-based training method that combines natural horsemanship and classical dressage principles.I believe that dressage should be the base of all good training and that all horses should be trained to move off subtle cues from their riders. Suppleness, lateral work, and the dressage training pyramid are incorporated in my training program across the board.
The goal is to build lasting results while teaching the rider to be confident and independent. Riders are taught skill sets that can be used on all levels of horses outside of the program. I want riders to be able to handle their horses safely and productively even when I'm not there to give instruction. The rider's concerns are first and foremost, and each student's program is personalized based on individual needs.
While I dabble in a little bit of everything, endurance riding is my passion. I competed my own horse in endurance, completing 50 mile rides up and down the East Coast. I also catch ride extensively. My endurance riding resume includes completions in distances up to and including 100 miles as well as Top Ten finishes across four AERC regions and counting.
Lessons are on a first-come, first-served basis so please call or email to secure your appointment.
After driving horses at the harness track and working in the breeding industry for several years, I took a full time head trainer position at a non-profit that re-homed standardbreds after their racing careers were over. There I started, trained, and showed horses of all ages and abilities. Some of the horses I trained have gone on to compete successfully in dressage, jumpers, eventing, barrel racing, Working Equitation, and endurance. Others have gone on to work in law enforcement and therapeutic programs.
Over the course of my career, I have done a little bit of everything from exercise riding thoroughbred racehorses to rehabilitating elderly rescue horses that had fallen through the cracks. My varied background has taught me the importance of cross training and a well-rounded horse.
My training program focuses on building a quiet, reliable, and obedient horse. Desensitization and suppleness are key and no short cuts are taken. I use a pressure/release-based training method that combines natural horsemanship and classical dressage principles.I believe that dressage should be the base of all good training and that all horses should be trained to move off subtle cues from their riders. Suppleness, lateral work, and the dressage training pyramid are incorporated in my training program across the board.
The goal is to build lasting results while teaching the rider to be confident and independent. Riders are taught skill sets that can be used on all levels of horses outside of the program. I want riders to be able to handle their horses safely and productively even when I'm not there to give instruction. The rider's concerns are first and foremost, and each student's program is personalized based on individual needs.
While I dabble in a little bit of everything, endurance riding is my passion. I competed my own horse in endurance, completing 50 mile rides up and down the East Coast. I also catch ride extensively. My endurance riding resume includes completions in distances up to and including 100 miles as well as Top Ten finishes across four AERC regions and counting.
Lessons are on a first-come, first-served basis so please call or email to secure your appointment.
