Today we’d like to introduce you to Hilary Wilcox.
Hi Hilary , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am a third generation horse person. My grandmother, Judith Werner, started riding as a child and she turned her passion for horses into a life time passion for multiple generations. I have been riding horses since I could before I could sit up and have been privileged to spend as much time as possible with my Grandmother at the farm as I grew up learning the ins and outs of the horse business.
I began teaching lessons when I was 15 and carried my passion for horses and teaching with me through college. I attended Stephens College in Columbia Missouri where I earned a degree in Equine Business Management with a focus in training and instruction and minored in marketing. Through college I continue to foster my passion for teaching and sharing my knowledge with other people who want to share in the joy of the horse.
Through college I got to work for and complete internships with some truly wonderful professionals including, Bob Brison, Chuck Herbert, and Barbe Smith – they helped me hone my skills and ultimately get a job following college with Mike and Jessie Richardson at Kierson Farm.
At Kierson I learned valuable skills about how to run and build a lesson program and continue to grow and improve my training skills – when Mike and Jessie retired Nikki Harrison and I took over Kierson Farm and continued to grow and succeed. I coached several more riders to world and national titles as well as was selected to coach the USEF World cup Team for 2018.
in 2018 I coached the World Cup team to 2 gold medals and left Kierson Farm. After leaving Kierson I returned home for a little bit and then took a job working for Stachowski Kentucky. At Stachowski I continue to work on my colt skills and helped to start a program that helped to grow the amateur and jr exhibitor side of that business. In 2019 it became clear that it was time for me to return home to Redwing Farm full time.
On November 1st 2019 we started teaching lessons to the public again and since then have continue to grow our program. We currently teach over 100 lessons a week, we teach many academy riders, and have several riders showing at a World and National Level. We also continue to stand a top saddlebred stallion, breed several horses a year, and start and finish several colts a year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been lots of ups and downs on my professional journey – I have had to handle moving across the country, starting multiple programs, and navigate differently family dynamics as I work to grow my current business.
The horse industry can be difficult it is a largely male dominate industry that makes having a work life balance very difficult, because it is truly a 24/7 business. On top of navigating daily difficulties that any business owner faces, I face the added difficulties of our industry and of working with live animals,
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I teach riding lessons to all levels of riders – from people who have never ridden to world and national champions. I also train horses for a wide variety of riders, breed horses, and start. young horses to work.
I am most proud of my teaching ability – I am an industry leader in teaching and think it is my strongest skill. I am great at helping riders to reach their full potential both in and out of the show ring. I have also made a career of working with a variety of horses and improving ones that others may not always think are worth the challenge. I love paring riders and horses together to help both parts of the team meet their full potent.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I am extremely passionate about sharing the joy of the horse with others, and the benefits of horses to all riders both on and off the horse. Horses make good people and raise great kids – they help teach a variety of life skills outside of the ability to ride and care for horses.
I am lucky enough to have had many great mentors in my life that help to inspire me to be the best I can be, and were always there as a support system in and out of the show ring. I strive to provide that to all the riders who I teach.
Pricing:
- Tiny tot lesson (3-6) 45 Lessons (7 and up) single lesson 50
- Tiny tot lesson (3-6) package of 4 170
- lessons (7 and up) package of 4 190
- Lesson (7 and up) package of 6 290
- Lesson tiny tot (3-6) package of 6 250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.redwingfarmllc.com
- Instagram: @redwing_farm_lessons
- Facebook: Redwing Farm LLC Riding Program
