Hi There!

My name is Jes, I am 27 years old, I have been riding horses for over 20 years and teaching/training as a career for nearly 10 years!

I am an eager and motivated young professional climbing the ladder of success in this tough industry. I have many aspirations for my business long term. Some of those goals are to get my judge’s certification for dressage, host schooling shows and IDCTA events at my facility, and advance my own knowledge in and out of the saddle in order to become a better trainer and rider for my program. Exciting changes are coming as we near 2026!

Let’s start at the beginning. My first horse, Trixie, was a fiery chestnut mare that gave me my passion for riding, competing and training horses. She was my heart horse that we bought when I was in third grade, and she was not an easy mount! My biggest goal was to show her after growing out of my small pony; when I achieved that goal, we named her “Livin’ A Dream.” I saw it fit to name my business after her in honor of her memory.

As a rider I started off with a wonderful Hunter/Jumper trainer, Dan Hansen. Dan taught me how to feel what was going on underneath me and react wisely. The unconventional, but incredibly effective methods he taught me I often use today! He gave me the foundation to be the great rider I am now. He also lit the passion I have for horses and is a big reason I have chosen this life as a career.

When I was 13, I met Jennifer Rousseau, an ICP level 3 Eventing trainer in Northern IL. After my first cross country lesson, I was hooked, and I became a three-day eventer! With her skills, I was able to finesse my riding. I rode in my first mini-event in 2012 and have since ridden to Intermediate and the CCI** levels.

With the help of my dressage trainer, Ken Borden Jr., I have successfully competed Salty (my former CCI** OTTB) in both 3rd level and 4th level dressage. He has been a wonderful coach over the past years as Salty and I have received our Bronze Medal, and now I aim to achieve my Silver Medal. I currently have two qualifying scores at fourth level, and only need two more at Prix St. George to achieve this goal! I have since reinvested in my riding career with the purchase of my stunning Swedish Warmblood mare, Lady. Our goal is to build a solid foundation at the lower levels before advancing to the FEI levels in the next several years. I hope she will be the horse to get me my Silver Medal and perhaps my Gold Medal in the future.

In 2016, I was a working student for Peter Gray, a two-time Olympic Rider and Olympic Coach in Ocala, FL. I spent seven months training with him at his gorgeous facility. As a working student, I enhanced my riding skills as well as my horse management skills.

I have trained with Karen O’Connor, Frank Madden, Leslie Law, William Fox-Pitt, Allison Springer, Ken McGrath, Jon Holling, William Coleman III, and most recently, Lilo Fore, Rebecca Rigdon, Martin Arnold, and Jane Hamlin. In 2017, Salty and I also participated in a demonstration ride for Chris Burton as he taught a USEA ICP Symposium in Ocala, FL.

I fulfilled a HUGE lifetime goal of mine with Salty in 2017- we were fortunate enough to ride in front of THE George H. Morris. We received criticisms and praises from him during the three day clinic. One of my proudest moments as a rider is when we were doing a counter canter exercise and George H. Morris announced to the spectators, “See that girl right there: she is well schooled in dressage.” It was a wonderful opportunity that I am so grateful to have had.

Horses have always been my life and will forever be what my life revolves around. I enjoy working with kids, and I have trained many new-bees in my career. I have also had many opportunities to train thoroughbreds straight off of the track through Galloping Out. I love a good thoroughbred!

I enjoy riding challenging horses and have had much success retraining horses with “problems.” I have aided in correcting bad behavioral issues such as horses that buck kids off, horses who refuse due to a lack of confidence, and horses who need a better foundation in dressage to strengthen them for over fences. “Finished” horses are not for me because it’s all about the journey, not the destination!

My professional goal is to refine and grow my program into a successful show-focused business. I also strongly believe that even the best can get better, so I always strive to continue my own equestrian knowledge through lessons and clinics with my personal horses.

We are not a boarding facility but rather a private facility dedicated to training horses and riders with competition based aspirations. My stalls are reserved for horses who come in for training short term, personal horses, student horses, and project horses. However, I do offer private lessons, group lessons, training rides, and monthly training at my facility as well as travel training rides/lessons for those more local to me with the permission of the facility’s owners. I also have experience as a clinician, so please reach out if you would like to host me at your facility for a clinic!