My Journey with Horses

Early Beginnings

My love for horses started at just six years old with a Christmas gift—riding lessons from my parents. When I was ten, they bought me my first horse: a big, beautiful black Saddlebred. I rode trails, competed in Hunter Under Saddle, Western Pleasure, barrels, and poles.
By thirteen, I had purchased a two-year-old Saddlebred filly, trained her myself, and truly began my hands-on journey as a horsewoman. These were the days of freedom and fun—riding through the woods with friends and growing with my horses every day.

Training Starts Young

At sixteen, I was already teaching riding lessons and training horses in the afternoons after school. I worked with many breeds: Saddlebreds, Arabians, Paso Finos, Peruvian Pasos, and Paints.
I even had the honor of training the first Peruvian Pasos imported to Wisconsin from Peru. These early experiences helped me build a solid foundation in horse training and care, shaping my lifelong dedication to horsemanship.

AQHA & Professional Training

In my twenties, I began working exclusively with American Quarter Horses (AQHA). My husband and I operated Austin Quarter Horses, our farm in Dalton, Wisconsin. We stood several stallions and foaled out up to 20 broodmares each spring.
Many of our show horses were born and raised on the farm, and my daughter and I traveled the country competing at AQHA shows. I became an AQHA Professional Horseman, training and coaching riders to achieve top-level success.

🏆 Achievements include:

• State Champions

• Futurity Champions

• World Show Qualifiers

• Top Ten at AQHA World & Congress

• All-Around Champions

We competed in a wide range of classes: Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, Trail, Ranch Pleasure, and Showmanship.

The Bodywork Breakthrough

Over the years, I saw a pattern: when horses weren’t performing well, it was usually because they were uncomfortable. That insight led me to explore equine wellness more deeply.
I became certified in the Masterson Method® and Tallgrass Equine Acupressure. The results were incredible—horses moved better, felt better, and looked happier.
What I once thought was poor conformation often turned out to be restricted movement or poor posture. With bodywork, they blossomed—moving more freely and performing with ease.

My Work Today

Today, I continue to blend decades of horse training, instruction, and competition with holistic equine bodywork and Gestalt coaching.
As a certified Equine Gestalt Coach, I help women move past fear, anxiety, and self-doubt to rediscover confidence, clarity, and joy—with horses by their side.
Whether I’m helping horses feel their best or guiding women toward personal transformation, I’m doing the work I was meant to do—connecting humans and horses in powerful, healing ways.

 

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