What got you into horses?

When I was very young I had an older friend who started riding, I used to go to her house and hang out with her all the time and when pictures of beautiful horses started being tacked up all over her room I was very intrigued. A few years later, after much begging, I started taking lessons.

What made you want to become a coach?

I loved watching the thoroughbreds at my lesson barn being ridden and I loved hearing how they used to race on the tracks. My first goal was to become a jockey, that goal was quickly replaced by coaching and training when I became too tall and too heavy. When I was about 13 years old I knew I wanted to be a coach because I loved to teach. I never really considered any other career choice.

How did you learn how to train a horse?

When I was quite young I started reading books on training horses. I also did a lot of research by watching professional trainers during clinics and reading their books. All through my lessons I have been very attentive and I paid close attention to what went on between the horses and coaches. I've seen good and bad ways of dealing with situations and I've seen the outcomes of both as well. I started by basically brainstorming all the ways I would train a horse. When I finally got my chance to try a few of my theories, it was with an older standardbred gelding who knew how to pace and walk and that was about it. He was a challenge and he definitely taught me a lot. When I stopped working with him he was jumping a 2'3 course and doing simple lead changes.

How do you coach different ages, levels and learning styles?

My coaching style really depends on the person. Some students really excel from being challenged, this means I am talking all the time, I don't mind I'm pretty good at that. Others really need time to just ride and get to know how the horse responds to different things without me saying too much, and this is fine too. These students learn a lot from trial and error and I try to prevent the errors and help them go forwards still allowing them to figure out the little stuff on their own. The age differences I always have a lot of fun with. With the younger children we get to do a lot of games and imagining while riding a horse. When I say something like “pretend your legs are looped under the horses belly” you really know they're pretending because all of a sudden the legs become long and fit nicely against the horse. With the older folks I generally don't get that kind of response. I tend to focus more on the “whys” it really helps to know why a horse is responding the way it is. Of course the young at heart often love the games as well. I really try to cater the lessons to each individuals style of learning, as well as grouping students with other students who are similar in learning style, age, and abilities.

What is your riding history and riding accomplishments?

I've been riding since I was about 10 years old and competed in a few shows each year. I've earned a range of ribbons on a wide range of horses. This includes lesson horses from other stables, horses I've co-boarded and horses I've trained myself. One of my biggest recent accomplishments has been competing with Eddy at the Standardbred show, he received a second place in English pleasure walk/trot/canter. This was great as he has been one of the toughest horses I've worked with , it was his first show. He really did his best and he deserved it. In 2009 at the same show he beat his placing by taking home a first in the same class.  Other riding accomplishments are definitely outside of the show ring. Training a horse to their best is what I always find to be much more fulfilling. I'm currently training Zeus and Akasha, they're both showing a lot of promise and I can't wait to see them in the show ring with my students, I know they're both going to be awesome.

What are your goals short term and long?

My short term goal is to get this stable on the map, I know we're good and we just need to get our name out there. My personal long term goals are to compete at higher levels, I'd really like to make it to the Olympics but I realize that's a very hard goal to reach. Realistically if I can make it close I'll be happy. I'd like to compete with Eddy over fences in both hunter and jumper as well as compete with Peanut in dressage. The real goal is to wear the bright red show jacket and represent Canada. For the stable I'd love to have an indoor arena, it would really improve our chances of making it big. 

Whose your biggest inspiration?

That's really hard to say because admire so many people in the horse industry. I definitely do aspire to be just like Ian Millar, he's great he's been to the Olympics many times and he's also a brilliant business man. I also look up to Karen O'Connor for her accomplishments with Theordore O'Connor a very small pony who was competing against horses nearly twice his height, and winning. He sadly passed away but he was a pony for each of my lesson ponies to aspire to be like! I recently just completeled an internship with Tommie Turvey. He has really inspired me to do a lot more with my horses, he is a very good trainer and trick rider as well. Their saying is "Ride Fast, Take Chances" and that I will do!