About Katie

Katie got her start in Pony Club and grew up riding in Ontario, Canada.  After many years as a working student at an eventing barn down the road from her family home, she took on a job as a show groom at the age of 17 for acclaimed Hunter/Jumper trainer Mark Hayes.  Mark is an incredible horseman and gifted trainer.  Getting to spend time with him in the warm up rings and in the barn, Katie credits Mark with much of her development as a horsewoman.  As a groom, she took her first Grand Prix horse to the ring at age 20.  These years on the Hunter/Jumper circuit engrained in Katie what it meant to take care of and be trusted with a high performance horse.  Katie attended the University of Western Ontario with hopes of veterinary school, but the call to the horses was too great and she found herself back in the barn.  

After a short working student gig with Clark and Jess Montgomery, Katie took a job with Michael and Nathalie Pollard.  With the Pollards, Katie soon found herself grooming at her first Kentucky Three Day. Luhmuhlen and Burghley soon followed, as well as the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara, where the US Team won gold. In 2012, Katie was the recipient of the USEA ‘Groom of the Year’ award.

While Katie grew up eventing, her real passion is for groundwork and dressage.  Katie enjoys helping Will with his horses, managing the yard, and teaching and riding at home. She is looking forward to competing a bit more herself, and hopes to, one day, achieve her USDF Gold Medal.