LAUREN WALLEY
​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 there 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.
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 rider 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.
In 2022 Lauren relocated to Lexington in order to be surrounded by the equine industry and take advantage of all the resources here. She took a job at Spy Coast Farm starting the young horses there. Here she worked directly under the guidance of the assitant trainer honing her craft to give these top quality sport horses the best foundation possible to set them up to be happy, confident animals in the future and bring out their best qualities. After leaving Spy Coast Farm she transitioned into being the assistant trainer at Liftoff Equestrian where she worked under Ashley Brien Watts. Here she was able to get back to teaching both horses and riders. Helping the riders at Liftoff continue to improve and meet their goals both in and out of the show ring reminded Lauren how much she loves shaping the minds of riders in addition to horses. She loves teaching riders of all types from anxious walk/trot poles riders trying to master diagonals through upper level show riders working on the finer details of the sport and biomechanics. One of her favorite lines is that as instructors we are always teaching more than just riding. Whether it is helping a young rider find the tools to persevere through something hard or helping an anxious rider develop the ability to breathe and fake it till you make it to confidence, her ability to tailor each lesson to the horse and rider that walks into the ring on any given day is one of her greatest strengths. As head trainer and owner of Raising the Bar Equestrian Lauren's program is tailored to each horse and rider while emphasising the importance of putting the horse first and the "why" behind the details of the sport.
Please use the contact us tab above today to schedule a time to see if this program may be a good fit for you!