About KS Equestrian LLC

The Journey: Built from the Ground Up

My story in the horse industry started as a horse loving kid in a first-generation equestrian home. I started taking serious hunter/jumper lessons at age 8, quickly realizing that if I wanted to ride, I had to earn every minute in the saddle. From a young age, I worked as a Junior Working Student to be able to afford my lessons. Once I was a bit older and transitioning to a full Working Student position, I moved to online schooling to allow for more time at the barn.

Growing up, I rode and worked at barns all over Northern California before eventually moving to North Carolina and working at many barns here as well. Because I couldn’t afford "made" horses, I learned how to make them. I never wanted to be picky, so I said yes to every catch-riding opportunity I could find- from seasoned show horses and riding for sale videos to green youngsters taking their very first steps in and out of the arena and over fences. I wanted to be in the saddle as much as possible, knowing that every single horse had something valuable to teach me. 

Over the past 10+ years, I have worked my way through every single level of the industry, serving as a working student for four different trainers across hunters, jumpers, and dressage. I’ve worked every job the barn has to offer- from grooming, stall cleaning, feeding, grooming & braiding at shows, teaching lessons under established trainers, to managing the very facility where I now run my program, Dreams of Freedom Farm in Mebane, North Carolina. That hands-on foundation is where my perspective on hard work was forged: you have to show up every day ready to learn and ready to work hard. That is how true success is earned.

The Turning Point: Roany & Opal

I grew up showing primarily in jumpers and pony jumpers, which taught me to react quickly, ride smart, and embrace the thrill of the sport. My love for the jumper ring sparked when I got my first pony jumper, Roany. He gave me grit, a sticky seat, and the unforgettable feeling of freedom going around a jumper course. He set me on a life-changing path.

Later, I took on my own project pony (who has stayed with me to this day), Opal. She had been hurt and scared and desperately needed a second chance. Rehabilitating and training Opal was far from easy, but it shaped my entire training philosophy: leading with patience and a deep understanding of horse behavior. Through consistency and hard work, Opal went on to incredible achievements:

• Multiple Year-End Awards

• Qualifying and competing in Show Jumping at the USPC Championships at the Kentucky Horse Park (where our team took home 1st and 8th in horse management and riding)

• Consistent blue ribbons in competitive jumper and medal classes

• The ET United States Pony Club Pony of the Year Award

Opal didn’t just change my life- she proved to me what was possible through dedicated training and cemented my passion for bringing out the absolute best in horses.

What Makes Us Different: A Sport-Focused & Comprehensive Approach

At KS Equestrian LLC, we aren’t just a riding barn; we are an education-first facility. My background spending years in the United States Pony Club instilled a core belief: unmounted education is just as important as mounted education. You cannot become a true horsewoman or horseman without mastering the management and care side of the stable.

That same relentless hunger for knowledge applies to my education as a rider and trainer. I grew up riding at countless clinics, taking as many lessons as possible with as many different trainers as I could, and auditing everything I could get my eyes on. For me, learning was—and always will be—everything.

We take a heavily sport-focused approach to our training. We expect our horses to perform like top equine athletes—and we expect ourselves to train with that same athletic mindset, focusing on fitness and discipline both in and out of the saddle.

If you are looking for a program that values grit, horsemanship, high standards, and real education over shortcuts, you’ve found your home here at KS Equestrian.