Jen’s Story

Born into a family of lifelong horsemen and women, Jen began her love of horses and riding at an early age, and was on the back of a horse before she could even walk. She grew up in the saddle and spent her childhood learning to ride on her family's Arabian horses, showing in 4-H, and learning the ropes of running a farm. Having spent her formative years nourishing her passion for horses, it was only natural for her to pursue her life’s work as an equestrian, and completed a Bachelor's degree in Large Animal Science with a specialization in Equine Studies from Delaware Valley College (now University).

After graduating in 2008, she started her first professional teaching job at the Potomac Horse Center in Gaithersburg, MD where she taught all types and ages of riders. From there, she moved to Centurion Farm in Poolesville, MD where she took over the role of barn manager and built a devoted group of riding students. After moving on from Centurion, Jen managed a small private facility where she also taught lessons and trained horses ranging from unstarted babies to experienced show horses needing a tune-up, and everything in between. In the summer of 2020, Jen got her first off the track thoroughbred to develop as a show horse, and in the fall moved her business to Virginia. After searching for the perfect barn, she started her boarding and training business out of the beautiful Fernside Farm in Waterford, VA.

Jen is a hunter/jumper trainer who believes strongly in teaching balanced equitation so that the partnership between horse and rider is harmonious, with an emphasis on correct dressage basics for the jumping disciplines. She believes that every student and horse and rider partnership is unique, and tailors her lessons to each student's particular needs and learning style. Whether you are just learning to ride, brushing up on your skills, or want to show, Jen can create a personalized training plan that will meet your needs and help you reach your goals.

For those seeking training rides, Jen also specializes in starting young horses and providing them with a solid foundation from which they can succeed in any discipline. Like her students, Jen recognizes that each horse is different and unique, and that philosophy applies to her approach in everything from teaching them the basics of flatwork, to jumping courses. Horses in her program receive a complete, holistic approach to its training - from nutrition, to groundwork, to riding, she crafts a personalized training plan for each horse in her care, and develops them as carefully as she would her own