Ashley was raised in western Washington and began formal riding instruction at six years old. From an early age, she was immersed in competitive riding and high-performance horsemanship. As a teenager, she worked for Heidi Snider Kauffman as a working student, competing extensively on the ‘A’ circuit and gaining early exposure to professional-level standards, horse care, and rider development.

In 2006, Ashley moved to Ellensburg, Washington to attend Central Washington University, where she competed on the CWU Equestrian Team and served as coach for both the English and Western teams. This dual role broadened her experience across disciplines and required her to develop riders with varying backgrounds, skill levels, and goals.

In 2011, Ashley started a 14-year-old Connemara and developed her into a competitive Three-Day Event horse. The pair went on to qualify for the USEA Area VII Championships and the USEA National Championships in 2013 — a testament not only to Ashley’s riding ability, but to her skill in developing an individual horse thoughtfully and systematically. During this time, she worked under Mary Burke, a top Three-Star eventing trainer, gaining valuable experience in upper-level conditioning, preparation, and performance horse management.

In 2014, Ashley’s perspective on horsemanship expanded dramatically when she was introduced to more traditional and classical foundations. After riding in a clinic with Peter Campbell, she began pursuing a deeper understanding of horsemanship that transcended discipline and competition. Since then, she has intentionally studied across traditions — from colt-starting foundations and bridle horse development to classical equitation and biomechanics-based training systems.

Ashley has worked with a diverse spectrum of horses throughout her career: young horses just beginning their training, older horses needing systematic retraining, performance horses requiring refinement, and horses in rehabilitation requiring thoughtful physical redevelopment. This breadth of experience allows her to assess each horse as an individual and tailor development to their physical design, temperament, and intended career.

Ashley has studied under respected horsemen and horsewomen, including Peter Campbell, Lester Buckley, Bruce Sandifer, Cal Middleton, Amy Skinner, and currently continues her study of classical horsemanship under the mentorship of Tressa Boulden. Ashley maintains an ongoing commitment to education and mentorship, believing that strong programs are built on continued learning and honest self-assessment.

Ashley earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Washington State University and later completed her Education Specialist degree in School Psychology at Central Washington University in 2019. She currently practices as a School Psychologist, working with children and adolescents. Her academic background deepens her ability to understand learning theory, behavior, communication, and the human side of horsemanship. She integrates this knowledge into her teaching, helping riders build clarity, consistency, and meaningful partnership with their horses.

Ashley has been publicly teaching riders since 2017. Her program reflects an integration of high-quality horsemanship, classical equitation, and a deep understanding of how horses are physically designed to move. She believes that discipline is secondary to foundation — that balance, confidence, willingness, and long-term soundness are the true measures of successful training programs.

Ashley considers herself a lifelong student. She is dedicated to thoughtful reflection, continued growth, and the pursuit of horsemanship that consistently places the horse’s welfare and long-term development first.