When I was 16, I became a working student at Coker Farm, in Bedford, NY, owned by Judy Richter. In 1991, I won the Rolex/ASPCA Maclay National Championship and the Rolex USET Show Jumping Talent Search East Finals.

Me and Judy

Gincy Bucklin, trainer and owner of Lion Hill Farm in Easton, Connecticut, started beginners on horses wearing hackamores and barback pads. I didn’t ride in a saddle for six months.

From Lion Hill, I moved on to the Fairfield County Hunt Club where I met jumping and event trainer Sarah Dalton-Morris.

Gincy and Sarah gave me a solid foundation of general horsemanship, which has stood me well throughout my riding career.

After Graduation from Yale University in 1996, I showed sale horses for Sam Edelman at S&L Farms, eventually partnering with my longtime friend Mary Manfredi to establish our own training and sales stable.