REBECCA MEINEN
Trainer and Instructor

Bitten by the horse bug at a young age, Rebecca's parents allowed her to take someriding lessons when she was 11, hoping that she would eventually grow out of horses. By the age of 14, Rebecca had ridden and shown in english pleasure, western pleasure and games with her instructor and trainer Katie Tweet. She was also learning how to ride gaited horses, including Tennesee Walking Horses and Rocky Mountain Horses. In the summer of 2004, she started out as an assistant trainer, helping to break out young horses. In 2005, Rebecca bought her first horse, a troubled 4 year old breeding stock paint mare named Snow White Knight.

In the spring of 2006, Rebecca moved Snow White Knight closer to home and began to work with her at Friendship Farm with the help of trainer Pat Carroll. From 2006-2008, she attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls summer institute to learn more about riding both jumpers and reiners from instructor Dr. Kris Hiney. Now a finished reiner, Snow White Knight and Rebecca compete in reining. During her education at the University, she also took the opportunity to work with unhandled yearlings, teaching them basic ground manners, leading and tying.

An alumni of the Wisconsin State 4-H program, Rebecca showed her horse at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair, where she qualified for district and state level. At district she placed in both Western and English events and also was reserve champion in Western Riding.

In the fall of 2007, Rebecca started taking hunter seat equitation and jumping lessons with ARIA Level III Hunt Seat instructor Kathy Jerome at Amber Farm and dressage lessons with Rachel Walker of Walker Farms. She is continuing to persue both jumping and dressage at a professional level.

Rebecca is currently attending the University of Wisconsin - River Falls and is pursuing a degree in Equine Management. She is also a competing member of the NCAA Intercollegiate Horse Show Association Team for the University.