About Wendy
Wendy came into this world with a deep love and passion for animals, especially horses. By the age of eight, she talked her parents into riding lessons and two long years later she got her first horse, Tequila. Wendy and Tequila spent countless hours on the trail, competed in the WSCA show ring and the MN High School Rodeo circuit. As time progressed, Tequila was retired from competition and Wendy continued to compete in College and Professional Rodeo's with a variety of different horses.
When Wendy started getting requests from friends and family to have her teach them to ride, Tequila became one of Wendy’s greatest equine teachers and co-instructor of Wendy’s first students. While working with these students and Tequila, Wendy experienced how many times it is the horse, not the instructor, who knows when the student is ready for the next challenge. These early lessons taught Wendy to watch, listen, and incorporate the horse’s feedback into each lesson. Today, Wendy teaches every student the importance of listening and understanding the messages the horse is providing regardless if the student is working with the horse on the ground or on their back.
Wendy went to college to continue to learn more about training horses, and earned a BA degree in Animal Science and Business from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. While attending U of W-Riverfalls, Wendy learned how to start two-year old horses under saddle using the gentle methods of Ray Hunt. Taz was the first two-year old Wendy trained and he is still a part of her herd today.
After college, Wendy had a internship in Equine Massage and then took a job in corporate America and continued to ride, train, and teaching riding lessons part-time.
For the last five years, Wendy has been working with the non-profit organization, Minnesota Linking Individuals Nature and Critters or MN LINC (www.mnlinc.org). MN LINC partners with animals to provide therapy and wellness services for individuals and groups. As the Wellness Director for MN LINC, Wendy has created and facilitated Wellness workshops for individuals looking for personal growth opportunities. Freya, Croton and Bobbi
Photo by Sarah Beth Photography
After eleven years, Wendy decided it was time to leave her corporate job to pursue her life work. She expanded the work she is doing with MN LINC to include assisting in individuals and group therapy sessions. Her horses also joined the MN LINC staff and started working in the therapy sessions and wellness workshops, in addition to helping Wendy with riding lessons.
Wendy continues to expand her knowledge through attending workshops/clinics and reading. The additional training Wendy has received has included workshops/clinics by Linda Tellington Jones (T-Touch), Linda Kohanov (author of Tao of Equus), and Tom Nagel (author of Zen & Horseback Riding ).
Wendy currently resides in Rockford, MN with her husband Kirk, daughter Brynn and black lab, Bo. Her four horses; Croton, Bobbie, Taz, and Peanut reside in Medina, MN.
Location:
Western Metro Area of Minneapolis, MN
Cost:
$50 per hour for a private lesson & $40 for an hour semi-private lesson with Wendy's horses. Call for a quote for Wendy to come to you for a lesson with your own horse.
Wendy will travel to your farm to your horse. The training base fee is $30 a session plus mileage. Call Wendy for a quote.
Bobbi, Croton, Wendy and Freya
Photo by Sarah Beth Photography
