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Trainers
Alisa Shackelford - Head Trainer
Riding since the age of 6, Ali showed successfully in the junior hunters and Big Eq, as well as dabbling in the jumpers. From the start, she was never one to turn down any additional time in the irons and always enjoyed the challenge of one that was misunderstood or "difficult".
After her junior years, Ali moved to Virginia to attend Hollins University. During this time period, she began working with unstarted young hunters and found her passion in that process. Over the years, she has been fortunate to work with Hall of Famers, Olympians as well as many others.
However, the inspiration behind this business can be credited to Sarah Irvine. Sarah has touched so many lives, and Ali's story is no different. Ali has strived not only to do right by the hundreds of horses that come through here for training, but to try to mentor girls in a similar fashion by committing to offer a working student program for the past two decades. Ali also credits, John Vogel, River Hollow Farm for starting her on her way.
As a rider and trainer, Ali emphasizes finesse and softness to promote the horse's natural way of going. Her goal is to get the most out of the horse by not getting in the way, not manufacturing and simply allowing the horse to find balance through exercises that encourage stretching, relaxation and trust.
As a coach, Ali is invested in the lives of her riders and strives to bring out the best in them and their horses. Her no-nonsense teaching style encourages balance, body awareness, rider fitness and sports psychology.
Amy Waples - Trainer
Amy is a lifelong horsewoman whose mother's love of horses was passed down to her daughters. As a young child, she learned horsemanship as well as how to ride. Her show career began as a young child in the pony hunters and continued up through the equitation and juniors with Becky Bates, Hasty Hills Farm. Amy was never handed the easy horses and worked to make the ones she had the best they could be.
As an adult, and for the past decade, her work has primarily been with green broke and unstarted youngsters. She trains them to be confident and encourages relaxation while giving special consideration to their current stages of physical development.
She also enjoys teaching students how to clearly communicate with their horses and helps them achieve their desired goals.
During a brief hiatus from horses, she earned a photography degree from SCAD and is a talented free lance photographer as well as adept gardener.
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