Lauren Walley is from the Central Oregon area where she originally developed her passion for horses and riding. She was fortunate to gain a really solid foundation in the biomechanics of why we do what we do as well as the importance of flatwork and how that translates to the show ring and over fences. She spent her junior career showing mostly in the jumpers on the west coast before heading to Colorado State University to pursue a bachelor's degree in Equine Sciences and a minor in business administration. While their she was able to further her formal education in both the riding and managing aspects of horsemanship. This is also where she first began starting young horses and participated in the young horse starting program for 3 years both as a student and a teaching assistant helping other students further their young horses as well.
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Lauren also rode in IHSA while in college helping her team qualify for nationals and competing there as well as working her way up from novice through the open division. She has always felt that riding as many horses as possible is the quickest way to become a better riding and this experience is definitely part of what allows her to ride a variety of horses well today. Post graduation Lauren headed out east to work as a working student in the Carolinas before heading to Ocala for a winter season where she was able to continue her jumper career and earn mid circuit champion while continuing her education as a working student. Finally the west coast called her back home and she took a job at Evolution Equestrian in Poulsbo Washington as the assistant trainer. There she was able to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of horsemen and women by both teaching and riding. It was there she was really able to hone her teaching style and discover what works for each horse and rider pair.
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Lauren has a passion for riders who want to work hard and get better for the sake of their horses and loves helping riders discover the why behind what we ask our horses to do. In 2022 Lauren moved from Washington to Lexington to be surrounded by the horses and resources here and took a job starting the young warmbloods at Spy Coast Farm. Here she worked for a year under the guidance of the assistant trainer honing her craft of producing top quality young horses to be the future of the sport. She loved getting to shape the young minds of these horses much in the way she gets to help shape the kids she teaches now. While riding the horses at Spy Coast Farm she was able to work with some of the top horses and riders in the sport and continued to learn and grow, but missed getting to help the next generation of riders at the same time. Lauren found her way to Liftoff and is now getting to bring both horses and riders forward all while living in the heart of horse country!