“Amanda possesses exceptional qualities that would make her a valued member of any riding team. She actively seeks out feedback by asking questions to enhance her riding. Her dedication to the sport is evident not only in the time she spends in the saddle, but also in her commitment to researching the sport and engaging with the grooms in Spanish to connect with every member of the barn community.
What sets Amanda apart is her optimism and her drive to learn and grow. These qualities make her a coachable individual who is not only a pleasure to work with but also brings a sense of enjoyment to the team. Despite being relatively new to the hunter/jumper discipline, Amanda already possesses a strong foundation in her riding technique, with a strong seat and natural feel.
In addition to her riding skills, Amanda has a strong sense of responsibility and work ethic. As a leader within the Fuerza team, she actively seeks out opportunities to assist and support her teammates. Her contributions to the barn community are highly valued, and there is no doubt that she would be a wonderful member of any other team as well.”
~ Conner Patrick; Head Trainer, Fuerza Equestrian, Fall City, Washington
“Amanda is a talented rider, a thoughtful student, and an all-around great kid. She is a quick learner and a hard worker. She is very observant, and she effortlessly replicates my riding technique after watching me work and show horses. She easily learns from her mistakes, which has helped her improve rapidly. Her natural feel combined with her good seat and gentle hands has given me the confidence to let her ride every horse in my barn. She is grateful for each opportunity to warm up or work a horse on the flag, as well as thankful for all pieces of advice and instruction. She has been a huge help around the house and barn by assisting with horse and cattle care, as well as willingly doing any chore asked of her. She is always smiling with a good attitude, and she has easily become friends with all my clients. Amanda is a rare find, and I eagerly await all of her visits.”
~ Keith Kitchen, Head Trainer, Keith Kitchen Cutting Horses, Poolville, Texas
“Amanda is a true student of the sport. Despite being new to the hunter/jumper world she has thrived quickly. She has a great foundation of natural feel, rhythm and horsemanship, but more importantly she is hungry to learn and improve. She is very rewarding to work with because she is so coachable and thoughtful. She is always asking questions, watching other riders and taking every opportunity to learn and is always appreciative and grateful for every chance to learn. She is also interested in all aspects of the sport and horse care. She takes it upon herself to go home, do research and study the sport so she is prepared for anything that is asked of her. She is an equally wonderful teammate and leader within the barn. She would be a value to any team and they would be lucky to have her.”
~Madison Bradshaw; Associate Trainer, Fuerza Equestrian, Fall City, Washington
“Amanda would be an incredible asset to any team that she joins. I’ve known Amanda since she was a Middle School student, and even back in those days she was an exceptional student—engaged, organized and hard-working. She often found creative ways to incorporate horses into her assignments, such as choosing to base her 7th grade cell analogy project on a “Cell as a Boarding Facility/Barn for Horses.” She has a sunny disposition and was always a pleasure to work with.
More recently, I’ve been able to see Amanda in a leadership role, where she has stepped up as one of the facilitators of the Young Women’s Affinity Group for our middle schoolers. Amanda comes to each session with a thoughtful and polished presentation, and she leads the younger students through conversations about a variety of topics connected to the experience of being a young woman in today’s world. The students respond well to her guidance and are always engaged with the prompts.”
~Katie Dodd; 7th Grade Science Teacher and Young Women’s Affinity Group Sponsor, Eastside Preparatory School, Kirkland, Washington