21/10/2026
Q&A w. Carla
What is something you believe is important in every performance horse, regardless of discipline?
I’d say good form, meaning a horse that will work with you while staying in a functional shape. Horses that get “out” of the bridle or constantly fight with your hands and legs are hard to shape into the manoeuvre you desire, so form is definitely a key component for me.
What is the most rewarding part of taking a horse through training?
To see a horse that I had the pleasure of training for the owner, have success in the show pen and many more exciting years ahead of them in their showing career.
What matters more to you: speed of progress or quality of progress?
I will say quality of progress. Horses learn much like humans, some will learn quickly and others will need some more time, so in my experience the quality of progression is much more valuable than the time frame.
How do you feel about sharing training updates on social media when the horses belong to clients?
I value the privacy of my clients and their horses, so I only share training progress when I have the owners permission. Not every horse owner wants their horse featured on social media, and I respect that.
Do you train for one specific discipline or work with different types of horses?
My program is heavily developed around western based training, particularly reining because of the versatile skills horses learn. I am not limited to a specific discipline or horse breed because I firmly believe a true performance horse has to start somewhere regardless of what it would accomplish in the future.
What is something you wish more horse owners understood about training?
Really good training can turn a good horse into a great horse. To see improvement in the overall horse quality in the country and for showing to compare internationally, horse owners must increase the quality of training that goes into their horses.
What is something you pay attention to when training a horse that most people might overlook?
The little details between manoeuvres. How the horse carries their head, willingness to start a new move and understanding of the next step. Good training isn’t just about how a horse looks when moving but also how it feels doing it.
