Training

Coming from an equestrian family, with a mother that’s also a USDF Silver Medalist Dressage trainer, Katie brings generations worth of horsemanship and horse sense to her training.
For over 2 decades, Katie not only grew up showing and training horses alongside her mother but has also apprenticed and worked for/with renowned FEI trainers since she was a child. Katie always had to develop her own horses, which taught her how to not only ride but train every type of horse. She also had the opportunity to study theory and train in Germany as a teenager as well as in her early 20’s. Through her lifetime of experience, she has developed an intuitive feel and methodical system using Classical Dressage Principles and exercises to create a more harmonious partnership between horse and rider. Katie’s goal is to clearly convey this system and help foster a harmonious relationship between horse and rider.

With a strong emphasis on correct basics, rider position, and instilling a strong foundation for horse and rider, one should feel that there is all the time in the world when learning and training, so as not to take shortcuts and create holes in their riding and training, which will inevitably show up in lameness or behavioral issues down the road. Katie takes pride in being a teacher, striving to break-down and clearly convey fundamental concepts to horse and rider, so that student/rider can begin to learn how to train themselves, not just be a passenger.

Katie’s philosophy is based upon a holistic approach to horse training. This begins at home with the horse having adequate amount of time outside to be horse, a proper diet that supports gut health, correct shoeing/barefoot trimming, therapies such as acupuncture/bodywork/chiropractic, and of course, a well-rounded training program that supports the emotional and physical well-being of the horse. This includes disciplined training in the arena, adequate recovery time, as well as a varied program. Katie’s program incorporates hacking out, field work, lunging, in-hand work, cavalletti work, and traveling off-property to different venues to make your horse confident and well-rounded in all situations.

Whether your goals are to develop and evolve as a rider, gain a deeper understanding of Classical Dressage or have your horse developed to the upper levels, Katie can help you on your journey.

Katie brings knowledge, feel, and training insights to her riding and teaching that one only gathers through a lifetime of training, riding, and studying from renowned Dressage trainers and coaches. Katie’s portfolio is expansive from starting young horses to training horses to FEI and the upper levels; from array of breeds from OTTB’s, Friesians, Warmbloods, Ponies, to Iberians. Her goal is to bring out the natural talent of every horse and help them shine!

Services:

• Starting of Young Horses Using Classical Principles

Katie’s philosophy in starting young horses slowly and systematically lays a solid foundation in Dressage right from the start - utilizing months of ground work and in-hand work to methodically and patiently teach the horse the mechanics of riding and correct balance before ever having a rider on their back. Taking this extra time to lay a solid foundation for the rest of their riding careers will aid in successful and uneventful first rides that will imprint a positive first experience with a rider, not a scary and confusing one. This approach also sets the horse up for success to be developed methodically up the levels.

• Young Horse and Ground Manner Training/ In-Hand Work

Whether it be a yearling, two year old or an older horse, it is important to establish basic ground manners - that the horse be attentive, waiting for commands, and have a respect and awareness of their space and the handler’s space. This work transfers over to teaching patience, mutual respect of space, as well as to work under-saddle. Many times for horses with vices or lack of basics, Katie will do ground work so that the horse understands what is being asked of them on the ground before asking under-saddle. This way we are always setting the horse up for understanding of is being asked of them and therfore, success in their training.

• Development of Young Horses to FEI

  No matter the breed, age, or background Katie’s passion lies curating a training program that focuses on bringing out the talent and maximum potential of each individual horse. This requires intuition, experience, understanding of theory, and finesse for a trainer to know just how far to push the boundaries to be developed up the levels without frying the horse mentally and physically.
  The purpose and art of Dressage is to improve the Quality of Gaits. Katie’s training adheres to this goal by following Classical Dressage Principles that focus, first and foremost, on the correct balance of the horse, along with gymnasticizing exercises that aid in improving relaxation, suppleness, straightness, and ultimately developing the strength for collection.

• With Katie’s lifetime of riding from starting young horses to riding all of the High School movements, and successfully competing through Prix St George, she has also developed the technique that’s required to develop horse and rider up the levels.

• Lessons and Instruction

  Katie is available to teach riders of all ages, disciplines, and levels. She is passionate about teaching correct rider position, effectiveness, and clarity of aids. As well as, teaching the owner/rider that they can be an advocate for their horse by learning to ride them correctly over their back in the correct balance, so that the horse is muscled properly, is happy, feels good in their body, and has a longer riding career.

  • Available to Travel to Your Farm in the Aiken/Augusta Area

  • Trailer-In Lessons at her Farm in Williston, SC - Irrigated, Regulation Size Dressage Arena with Mirrors

  • Covered Arenas available for Rainy Days

• Riding Your Horse/Tune-Up Rides/’Nachreiten’

  In order to best help student and horse, Katie believes it’s important for one’s trainer to sit on the student’s horse. How would a trainer otherwise know what the student is truly feeling and experiencing? Katie is happy to do tune-up rides or training rides. Once, the horse better understands what is being requested of him/her, the student, who is also learning, will have better success to be able to plug-in the aids and feel what the trainer has taught the horse. In German, this is called ‘Nachreiten’ - when the trainer tunes up the horse, and the student gets on “after-riding” and feels what the trainer has ‘installed’. So much of riding is based upon feel, and without this important aspect, how is any student ever suppose to get ahead?

• Training and Boarding

  • Full Training Board Stall available at Katie’s Personal Farm in Williston, SC - individual stall and individual turnout -( please see The Facility page for photos and more information)

    • (Space is limited at her personal farm, so please inquire for availability and pricing)

    • Travel Training and Board Options are:

      • Partial or Full Training = 3 - 5 rides a week or 12-20 training rides a month

  • Boarding Facilities in Aiken County - boarding available based on your budget/preferences - from $400 to $1200 a month - if you need help finding a place to board, feel free to reach out to Katie as she knows this town inside and out.

• Consignment and Sale Horses

  Katie is happy to help market your horse for you, and find the perfect, loving home for them. This includes training, making professional sale videos, professional photos, advertising using her network, and taking to local shows and venues to help make your horse more confident and thus marketable. This also includes handling all of the interactions with potential buyers, appointments, and vet checks.

  • Cost is Training fees plus 10% Commission of Sale Price

  • Commission based sales are an option, though dependent on individual horse and situation