ABOUT PONY PROS

I am an author, speaker, podcaster, and YouTuber. I am currently living in Bend, Oregon.

 

Midway through college, in 2004, I founded Pony Pros, a riding school that I have since owned and operated. Pony Pros is an internationally recognized horseback riding academy for kids and kids at heart in Bend, Oregon, USA. During that time, you could find me presenting at places like the Northwest Horse Expo and the High Desert Museum, as well as volunteering for various horse rescues and serving on the board of a non-profit horse rescue.

 

In my 20’s, I trained for the largest Welsh Pony Breeder in the United States and was Head Trainer at one of the largest equine rescues on the West Coast. I also mentored students in working with the Mustang Heritage Foundation.

 

In my 30’s, I started and operated a very successful IEA Team, Pony Club Center, and AVA Equestrian Vaulting Team. These are all fairly complex programs that require extensive time and dedication to develop, with several certifcations typically required of the trainer. I also served as a breed inspector for the Kiger Mesteno Association where I passed or failed breeding stock based on conformation and adherence to the breed rubric. I also started an International Liberty Horse Association Club, which is at the forefront of humane horse showing with tack-less competitions.

 

I have been an equine professional since 2003. I grew up riding A-circuit hunter/jumpers. A-circuit hunters is top level riding in the English discipline, with a very competitive show circuit. Some famous riders in the USA include the daughters of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Bruce Springsteen. Today I specialize in liberty horsemanship and colt starting with a classical dressage foundation. I am always looking for classical inspiration from the last 2,000 years of horsemanship to combine with the modern efforts in Positive Reinforcement training.

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Through my riding school and extensive work with horse rescues, I have had the privilege of placing many, many wonderful horses in many, many great homes. I have been fortunate to have several horses pass through my hands a second time as they aged and could see their development and ensure the next great home. Over the last 20 years, I have  worked with all ages and breeds of horses, but specialize in developing sound, safe horses for amateur riders.

 

During the Covid pandemic, I taught extensively online. I taught equestrian workout classes, 'ask me anything' horse classes, colt starting, Mustang gentling, and more. A particular favorite was a class I offered called ‘Horses Around the World Class’ where students learned about a new breed every week. I was able to work with a number of breed associations to gather information about their breeds for my classes. Teaching about a new breed every week further honed by eye for equine movement and character. I gained an even more deeper understanding and appreciation for the various breeds around the world and their roles in civilization, past and present. I gathered over 350 five star reviews, then took a break to focus on raising my family.

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From 2022 - 2024, I lived in Haarlem, Netherlands. My older daughter is now fluent in Dutch. As a family, we traveled to Spain, Portugal, France, and much of The Netherlands. 

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I am a survivor of childhood chronic illness and a widow, which has made me an expert on becoming the kind of person who can survive monstrous tragedy. With the same persistence and gentleness that I use to train a wild horse, I help others learn to live like someone left the gate open. Horses are my art medium - they are how I share my understanding of the world with others.

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