A: I lived in NW Missouri until 7th grade and grew up riding the couple QH's or naughty ponies that my dad had on our Angus Farm (typical back yard, ride in their dry lot type situation), but fell in love with horses going to my friend's house where her dad was a team roper. We got to chase cattle down the chutes or pack lunches and "trail ride" across her family's farm - totally the dream childhood/movie worthy days. Really I only rode a handful of times a year, but I was hooked.

Moved to MI in 8th grade and saw jumps set out in someone's front yard and decided that I wanted to do that. My parents (thankfully) said that I needed to find a trainer if I wanted to jump, so we found a lesson barn where I just really took to it. The jumping came very naturally and I remember getting the assistant trainer in trouble for moving me up too quickly, but then found my way into the main trainer's schedule. This is the trainer I can credit everything to (Jennifer Blades @ Willowbrooke Farm). I was the stereotypical barn rat - worked at Hollister to pay gas to get to the barn to work off board. I groomed and traveled to all the horse shows, and at the time didn't realize how much my trainer was doing for me since I was "working" it off. My parents purchased the horse(s), but beyond that the trainer and barn family paid most of my show tabs so that I could show. I started with a naughty pinto that we bought as a package deal out of someone's yard (Prince and Princess - looking back, names and color were the first signs they would be naughty). Prince took two training rides before he decided he knew the gig and didn't want to work any harder, so he quickly became a low level packer - changing leads only when he was by my trainer at the in-gate and pretty sure he counted the strides himself.

Once Prince maxed out, I got the most beautiful green horse from a sale barn in Canada - young, barely started but stunning, but a complete terror. Ultimately bounced around on borrowed horses or catch rides until I got my heart horse, a hot trakehner mare named Sky. She had a wicked buck that got me out of No-Stirrup November most of the time :) Sky was young but took me from the 2'6" to the Maclay/USEF medal classes but really shined in the jumpers. We did the local stuff up to 3'9" but really spent the last couple years of high school doing the 3'6" jumpers and medal classes for fun since she certainly was not an EQ horse.

When the time for college came, my dad filled out all the paperwork for Mizzou (I thought I was going to Michigan State) but then he said the horse could come if I went to Mizzou, so easy decision. I couldn't find a HJ barn at the time (google has come a long way), so I boarded at an HJ barn in Bucyrus, KS and drove back and forth on the weekends. This was my family's introduction into how expensive boarding/training was and ultimately I had to sell. I tried to take time off, but found I was not enjoyable to be around without horses and found an ad on Craigslist for a horse for lease - Jan Tracy's Aemon @ Stony Hill Farm under Liz Hotchkiss. Liz and Jan appeased me and Liz taught me "jumping" lessons on Aemon, then I leased a jumper from a vet student, Colleen. Finally, I stepped back into horse ownership and had a few flip projects (mostly failed). I bought my own hobby farm in 2010, starting with only personal horses and hauled to Liz weekly for lessons.

After losing Liz, I found myself trainer hunting mid COVID outbreak. I landed at Catlin Farm for several years under Lindsey Cross, and after a year or so lay-up from lameness issues, I started under my current trainer, Brianna Zwilling of Infinity Farm in Wright City, MO. Brianna has completely changed my riding for the better, and I am so excited to see where my riding future takes me.

A: I got a little lengthy on the first question with this, but Liz Hotchkiss is 100% what drew me to dressage. I was no longer confident jumping bigger fences and felt like I could never ride "like I used to", but dressage was exciting in a different way. It hasn't come as naturally or easy as the jumping did when I was younger, but the challenge and desire to learn and get better has been the driving factor behind pursuing dressage.

A:
1) Jumping - One time at Waterloo (a show in MI), my trainer was watching from the sidelines as I did my final course of the day. She overheard another trainer comment as I went around the course about how I would make a great catch rider/pro. I came out of the ring and my trainer was totally beaming ear to ear.

2) Dressage - this is actually quite recent. I have a new lease that has been an adjustment for me - the gaits are bigger, sensitive, etc. I was riding in a clinic under Mette Rosencrantz knowing that we were still pretty green in our partnership to sign up for this big of a clinic, but I've ridden with Mette a few times before on my other horse and figured no time like the present - you only have lease horses for so long, so I wanted to learn as much as I can while I have her.

The clinic ride had the full rollercoaster from beautiful steps to nearly mowing over the crowd (outside aids are a thing, my friends). But when the ride finished on day 2, all my barn mates stood up and clapped with encouragement. Mette told my trainer that she found me to be an inspiration to teach. That is ALL I want to be, a good student and a good horsewoman. That absolutely made my day coming from such an accomplished professional who certainly does not need to spend their time on a low level rider like me.

A: Gosh I have so many. I had gotten in a rut thinking I would be training level forever, whether it would be constantly green horses, lameness issues, lack of rider talent - whichever mood of the day I was feeling. But recently, I've really started turning a corner on wanting to set (realistic) goals and try harder to hit those goals. Currently, I have three to ride. One that I own, Vander (aka Shark, V) - Vander is the first horse I bought a yearling. I certainly did not do the backing/breaking by myself, but after the initial 30 days it has been mostly me in the tack. We are still at training/tapping on 1st level after figuring out some minor physical set backs. Long-term goal would be to get Vander to 3rd level, though I know that he will appreciate the slow and steady route. I also have two mares that I am leasing that are new to me. I am hoping to primarily focus on clinics/training this year, possibly showing later in the year.

Long term goals are to 1) get my bronze medal, 2) do a freestyle (no particular level), and 3) get another baby to fix anything I learned the first go-around, preferably with Fidertanz in the bloodlines (my friends know my obsession).

A: Oh! dangerous question. Honestly, there are so many small business/boutique tack shops that are owned by really kind women. While I do still bargain hunt, I've developed really close relationships with a lot of tack stores.

My favorite go-tos are:

1) The Traditional Equestrian - tell Paloma I sent you, ask me for my coupon code. Truly, we text every day and she is just as invested in my riding as any of my local friends. She is an assistant trainer herself but also runs a tack store from her home.

2) CUatX - Katie and Sarah are wonderful to work with, they are my boot gurus - I always know I'll have the best design & the boots will fit.

3) The Lucky Horseshoe Tack - Christy is a military wife with a mobile tack shop, actually currently stationed at Ft Leonardwood and not far from us!

4) Deinhardt Designs - if you haven't looked at these tops, or tried the new material.. you need to. Ally is truly one of the nicest people I have met and hand sketches all the designs that are turned into prints on her shirts.

5) Shady 5 Tack - Ally has a 9-5 herself, a hobby farm, and runs this tack sale business. My goal! But she was a genius and came up with the idea to rent various equestrian items. You can rent stirrups, girths, full clinic outfits, etc and a very reasonable price point. She also sells a lot online, but primarily her goal was to offer people outfits or tack options they maybe couldn't afford to buy.

6) Halter Ego - my go-to for breeches and custom bridles. The custom process takes a while, but they will make sure you love what you get. The Evolution breeches are by far one of my favorite styles and get better the more you wear them.

On another note, my trainer has recently become a bit and bridle fitter for Artemis and Fager - Artemis is by far my favorite bridle as far as the ergonomic features - V has a sensitive poll area and this is the set up he is most comfortable in. And I own countless Fager bits that have made a true difference for my horses. And local-ish, so easy to try a bunch of things to troubleshoot!

As far as specific tack recommendations:

1) Halter Ego Evolution breeches

2) Deinhardt Designs tops

3) Equisite Elements of Style perforated tops (you will thank me in the summer)

4) Eskadron - Paloma is your girl. Kentucky is not always easy or affordable to obtain (my favorite pad brand), but Eskadron lays so well on every horse and has made thoughtful designs (removable keepers, small silicone features on top of pad under saddle, spine clearance) and I think really under-rated (and affordable compared to similar-quality pads).

A: HA! Well I'm up to 11 or 12 [horses] - who's counting at my farm. So have 2+ hours of chores before and after the 9-5 underwriting job. And spend 1 day every weekend driving the "bus" to lessons - I generally lesson on two of mine and grab a friend and her horse on the way. But when I do truly have a day off or some downtime, I REALLY love to go to Vintage Hill's greenhouse. I love to fill/design planters each season. I have dreams of maintaining my flower garden at home, but it's more of a weed garden and my long-term project.

Ideal day off is brunch at Meriweathers, flower shopping at Vintage Hill, dinner at Rocheport General Store - just putting it out there willing it to happen again soon with friends!