KATIE WOOD

Katie  started riding at the age of 8 in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. She took her first working student position at 16 at a large hunter/jumper farm, and opportunities quickly came her way. As a senior, she worked for a world renowned reining trainer as both a groom and exercise rider while also showing her own horse in the hunters and equitation. After graduating, she worked as a working student at a private show farm outside of Chicago, eventually working her way up to management. There she gained extensive experience in barn management, as well as lay-ups and rehabilitation, while continuing to show successfully as an amateur. After working at that farm for a few years, Katie moved to Lexington, Kentucky where she found her passion for teaching and training, while earning her B.S. in Sport Horse Management with a minor in Business Administration from Midway University. While at Midway, she received a scholarship to ride on the school's IHSA team, where she gained valuable experience in a catch riding environment. After graduation, she took a position as a full-time trainer and instructor in Williamson county where she maintained a large client roster for over a year. She then branched out independently to focus on her passion of developing horse and rider combinations in and out of the show ring, where she has helped riders find success on both a local and national level.