An equestrian with years of experience in many areas of the horse industry. I love helping clients reach their equestrian goals both in and out of the saddle. I have worked with people from all walks of life and horses in every discipline, from dressage, hunter/jumper to ranches, and even a few board rooms. I have worked as a farrier, a wrangler with pack horses in the mountains, and learned from many renowned horsemen and women. Trained horses, riders, grooms and owned and operated a full training facility, that included buying and selling horses from Europe, to preparing students to show all over North America. Classically trained in Dressage, I have the eye to understand how to develop a horse’s training. Coupled with a natural desire to help others I see the cause of resistance between horse and rider and can communicate a solution.
A friend of hers jokes that Stephanie will forget more than many people will ever know about horses
My horse journey began when I first started riding at age 9, ever since I've been passionate about what I could learn from horses. I had a very simple start, mostly riding bareback whenever I wasn’t in school or sleeping. I belonged to Pony Club and competed in pony games and 3-day events. I got the chance to ride in Britain for a summer when I was 13, and Germany when I was 16 and got my first job with horses when I was 17 as a wrangler for a ranch/outfitting company where I trained dude horses, broke pack horses and then took people out to the mountain camps. Later I worked at breeding facilities, as a groom and assistant trainer, a wrangler (again) with dude and pack horses in the Green River Basin of Wyoming. A few different times I was a working student and assistant instructor at dressage and hunter/jumper barns, then a wrangler again on a 3000 head cattle ranch. I took equestrian courses while studying Beef Sciences at the University of Idaho, worked as a groom at the Calgary Racetrack, taught dressage clinics and summer camps, took farrier and welding classes. I have been a Horse Feed Salesman and VP of Marketing, where I learned the science behind equine nutrition. And then I bought and ran my own successful full training barn. I understand budgeting, marketing, stable management, client relations, sales, negotiating, veterinarian exams, importing horses from Europe, and transportation of sales and show horses, show entries and more. At one point I was managing a string of show horses full time on the horse show circuit some 40 weeks a year.
My philosophy when it comes to coaching riders and training horses is all about being flexible to situations. By encouraging riders and horses to be curious and control their reactions their minds stay open to learn. I can see past the symptom to the underlying cause of a situation enabling me to help a horse or rider communicate more clearly. With clarity, we become open to new ideas and changes.
I love to learn and understand which has lead me to help others. I believe in working with a horse and rider’s strengths and instincts and strive to create a positive experience where both feel safe. This allows me to shape attitudes before they become frustrated or afraid. My greatest satisfaction is when a horse and rider click, overcome a challenge and build a partnership. My unique perspective with horses based on years of experience in many different disciplines has given me a strong foundation and fresh insight to train horses and coach equestrians of any age or background.
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