Bio

TJ is passionate about horses and has over 30 years of experience training horses. As a multi-discipline trainer with a focus on ridden Dressage, she has successfully shown horses of all breeds to FEI Level and is currently schooling her own horses in Grand Prix Movements according to the Classical Principles (which include movements such as Spanish Walk, Levade and Capriole).

TJ has ridden in clinics with Ralf Smitzcher, Max Gawyler (author of the Competitive Edge I and the Competitive Edge II)), Manolo Mendez (1st Head Rider for the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain) and currently with Stephanie Millham (Student of Nuno Oliveira for over ten years). TJ demonstrates the value of continual study of the “classical masters” for clarification and guidance including Masters such as Xenophon, DeCarpentry, Steinbrecht, Baucher, etc. Also the more “modern masters” such as Alois Podhajsky, Nuno Oliveira, Michel Henriquet and Dr. Reiner Klimke. TJ attends clinics regularly, working with clinicians whose focus is on helping the rider become better in order to help the horse.

Dressage has specific meaning for TJ - whatever the discipline, the ultimate goal is to help students in their journey towards developing a horse/human partnership. TJ’s lessons focus on rider understanding of the horse's balance and way of going. With an emphasis on lightness and horse self-carriage, she uses gymnastic exercises to help horses stretch and use their entire body without tension. She enjoys helping students develop feel…that elusive quality that is so important to the success of the horse and rider relationship.