Hi Everyone!
My name is Niki. I am the trainer/instructor here at Hunter Ridge. I would like to take this space to tell you about myself and my riding experience. I have been around horses my whole life. I was raised on a farm in central New Jersey and my family was involved in the Standardbred racing industry. Eventually I started taking riding lessons at the age of 5 (though I had been on a horse since 6 weeks of age)and there was no stopping me after that. I started showing that same year and qualified for the National Horse Show (I was only showing in leadline but I insist it counts! Hehe!). Anyway, I continued to show on the local and rated circuit in New Jersey continually placing at the top of every class!
In 1997 my Quarter Horse 'Bandit' and I won the year-end award for Top Quarter Horse and Rider Pair at a well known and competitive farm known as 'The Meadow' in Southern New Jersey. We had been competing against 13 other top riders in the area.
I have trained with many of the top riders on the East Coast including Kimberly Carnevale, a preliminary level jumper rider, who managed Ri-Arm Farm owned by Mark Leone (trained under George Morris). She also trained with Mark and his brother Peter Leone (Olympic Team member) and Anne Kursinski extensively and she passed on her knowledge to me. I also occasionally keep in contact with Mark whom I have acquired a great knowledge of riding from.
I incorporate many techniques from all different disciplines into my riding, teaching and training.
To find out more about my lessons and training methods please visit the Lessons and Training page.
Feel free to email me with any questions you may have!
~Niki
