My Story

Horses have been my passion from day one.  I have been teaching riding for 20 years, I began my riding career with my first lessons at the age of four.  I attended regular weekly lessons at a hunter jumper barn in Colorado Springs. We moved to Washington State in 1989, and I got my first horse Chelsea. I was in regular training at Twin Maples farm at that time, my instructor focused on correct riding, we did many A rated hunter jumper shows, as well as a number of cross country events.  Following that, I had many wonderful instructors over the years, I competed all over the Northwest, and I was also actively involved in Pony Club.  When I graduated high school I took a year off to be a working student for Elenore Elstone.  I spent five days a week driving up to Langley, BC to help her work horses in training. It was through her that I developed a solid foundation and love of Dressage. It was also my most extensive experience working with stallions.  I have been teaching for twenty years, and I enjoy developing the relationship between horse and rider. I am regularly continuing my education with clinics that I attend, as well as taking lessons from top horse trainers when I can.

My goal is to be able to help people develop a solid foundation in riding from the ground up.  My number one priority is the sound care and happiness of our horses. So I keep my lesson program small, so that our horses are always looking forward to work. I usually start new riders out on a longe line, in order to develop a correct leg and seat. My program focuses on teaching riders to have solid balance and an independent seat and hand. Each rider's journey is a new puzzle for me to pull out the best in them.