Matthew Lawson
Head trainer Matthew Lawson has a very eclectic background in horses. His equestrian education began in high school where he took lessons at the Patterson Equestrian Center in Patterson North Carolina. There he learned to effectively ride a variety of horses and showed on the NCHJA circuit competing in the Children's Hunters and Equitation Classes. He also used the NATRAC competitive trail program as a means to condition his show hunters and the NCDCTA Shows as a way to improve his hunters flat work.
At St. Andrew's Presbyterian College Matthew rode on the IHSA team, the Show team, Eventing Team and also served as a fill-in for the IDA team.He took classes on judging, history and theory of modern riding, showing hunters and effective communication. He taught beginner and intermediate lessons for credit in the college program and also worked at Camp Seafarer in the Equine Program over the summer.
Upon Graduation Matthew rode on the "A" circuit for an Amateur owner rider developing a conditioning plan for several fancy show hunters including the 2005 Legacy Cup Winner "Snow Garden" and then went on to move to East TN to pursue a career training and instructing.
Matthew is a follower in the American System of Forward Riding developed by Captain Vladmir Lattauer. This training system produces effective efficient riders and horses that are stabilized, balanced and responsive to the aids.
Matthew specializes in hunters, jumpers and equitation and has produced consistent winners in the local and regional "A'" Show circuits. He has also prepped horses and shown them on the line in the Sally B. Wheeler Hunter Breeding Championships and the international Hunter Futurity.
In addition to the horse showing Matthew supports the Tennessee Valley Hunt and has produced two top notch "First Flight" horses for masters of the hunt.
Matthew is a dedicated teacher with a true passion for teaching and training and is a believer in developing the full potential of each horse and rider he encounters.
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Ashley Jenkins
Born into a horse-centric family, Ashley Jenkins was groomed from the very beginning for a future in the equine industry. Her earliest and most profound experiences with horses happened with her parents on their Morgan horse breeding farm in the Tennessee River Valley. Childhood consisted of nothing but horses, horse shows, and horse people. Due to her parents' deep involvement in horses, a vast amount of knowledge concerning any aspect of riding and driving was readily available to Ashley and manifested itself in the form of lessons in dressage, jumping, western, and saddleseat riding in addition to driving. An introduction to a local working western trainer in her early teen years sparked an interest in equine psychology and training methods based upon the horse's natural instincts. During this time, a very unique opportunity enabled her to attend clinics throughout the Southeast given by clinicians such as John Lyons, Pat Parelli, Clinton Anderson, and Chris Cox. Ashley has utilised this unique blend of knowledge since becoming a professional trainer in 2002 to realize many horses' and ponies' potential.
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