About Sacred Connections Horsemanship

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Catherine is a lifelong student of the US Cavalry Forward Riding System as adapted for civilians. She is a nationally rated rider/instructor, a licensed trainer and a former Mounted Police Trainer. 

Catherine's accomplishments and experience include foxhunting and serving as a professional Whipper In for a recognized hunt, showing, training and judging hunter/jumpers, galloping racehorses, riding as a steeplechase jockey, eventing, trail riding, and coaching Pony Club and 4-H teams at regional and national competitions.  

Catherine's training: While studying and learning to instruct and train in the Forward Riding System, Catherine trained with US Cavalry Instructor and Olympic Coach, Gordon Wright; Olympic riders and coaches such as Lendon Gray; ANRC National Judges including Jimmy Cantwell, Pam Cantwell Baker, Kay Russell; and nationally acclaimed author, Jane Marshall Dillion.  

As a Jockey: At an early age, Catherine became disillusioned with the abuse in the show world, and sought a lifelong dream of working with racehorses. “I think I read too many Black Stallion books,” she said. She taught herself to gallop both Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses and earned an assistant trainer's and trainer's licenses in Alabama and Kentucky. She also successfully jockeyed her show and hunt horse, Swaps' Fair Countes, in Point-to-Point races and amateur steeplechases in Alabama, Tennessee and Ohio. 

Cavalry Reenacting: For 20 years, Catherine rode her Thoroughbred, Count of War, in Civil War and Middle Ages reenactments. “The most fun I've had on a horse!” she said. Together Catherine and Count served as command staff courier for the largest reenactments in history—the 135th Battles of Antietam Creek and Gettysburg—and as Mounted Security for the reenactments of 140th Antietam Creek and Battles of Atlanta. Catherine and Count also participated in Middle Ages equestrian reenactments, and served as Huntsman for the Royal Meridian St. Leonard's Day Hunt.  

Peace Rider: In 2004 Catherine and Count completed a 1000 mile ride for world peace from South Carolina to Ground Zero, in New York City. Along the way, Catherine spoke to church, civic and youth groups, schools, veterans and Women in Black groups. She and Count also toured the war memorials in Washington, D.C. to honor our veterans and offer a prayer circle for world peace.  

Equestrian Journalist and Speaker: As an Equestrian Journalist, Catherine is published in regional and national newspapers and magazines on the subjects of horses and the cavalry. She is the author of Sacred Connections Horsemanship, and soon to be released, Restoring Authentic Horsemanship. She also served as keynote speaker on the subjects of horses and the cavalry for national and regional events.

Clinician and Instructor:  Catherine has conducted clinics for fellow horse lovers throughout the Eastern and Southeastern US. For the last 20 years she has specialized in using Non-Interfering Techniques for the rehabilitation and retraining of horses and riders damaged by today's rushed, competition-focused training practices.

Catherine's Training Approach: Catherine's approach to training is patience, patience, and more patience! ‒ for both horse and rider. She believes in helping riders discover the “how and why it works” and the “how it affects the horse,” rather than using severe bits, tie-downs, draw reins, or other gadgets to force submission. Catherine always places the safety of riders and horses, and the horses' health soundness, and well-being before human egos or ribbons. Through teaching the Non-Interference Techniques discovered by the First Horsemen on the Asian Steppes, Catherine excels in correctly and humanely training quiet, steady, bold, forward horses and secure, confident, capable riders—without hurting the horses.