Story

 

As a horse crazy girl at a very young age Ericka found whatever means necessary to be in the barn. Growing up in Ada, Michigan she was fortunate to be in 'horse country,' where finding barns to work in an were plentiful. Securing her interest with her cousins Arab by eating most family dinners atop hay bales, her family made the necessary calls to the local farms to start riding lessons.

Her first lesson experience was at a local western Arabian farm where the trainer quickly and promptly explained that she will not be riding that day but doing the daily basic chores first. Not at all balked by the work she was back the next available day and the next until she was able to finally sit in the saddle. Slowly and methodically he explained to her how to sit in the saddle, hold the reins and post in a western saddle. Having learned the basic knowledge of horse care and beginner riding, she was able to lease a horse one day a week, Peanut. Her mother dropped her off in the morning and picked her up before dinner.

Graduating from a lease horse once per week, her parents found her a Haflinger pony, Wally to half lease at Thomet Stables. Learning the ins and outs of the stubbornness of a pony she was well on her way to gaining an independent seat from the stopping, bucking, bolting and spinning that he tended to test her with. Showing him in the local hunter schooling shows at Thomet Stables and the surrounding barns sparked the competitive drive that equipped her with the discipline and responsibility at an early age. While most of her friends were playing at each others houses, going to movies, the park and the beach, Ericka was always at the barn.

Seeing that horses were not just a phase, Ericka's parents were able to find a quarter horse mare, Stormen, for her to full lease from the barn owner. This mare was everything that Ericka had hoped for and was a very talented and athletic mare. She was able to ride her in everything from western pleasure, hunters, eventing, to dressage. Awarding her commitment to this mare and the dedication she showed with her barn jobs for lessons, she became Ericka's first horse on Christmas day 1995. She became part of the family and brought Ericka through the ranks in various disciplines until finally settling in Dressage.

Realizing that this was the passion she had for horses, her trainer Jessie Collins and her were on the search to find a more suitable dressage horse that would be able to continue up the levels.Finding the perfect match in Georgia, they decided on a Hanoverian gelding named Falstaff, or 'Moose' as he was so affectionately named. Having both horses at the same time allowed for Ericka to dabble a little in teaching at a young age by teaching others on Stormen as well as on their own. Eventually they found a perfect new home for Stormen and continued to focus on the training of Moose and setting competition goals.

After moving to Timberlane Farms to train with Laurie Moore and work in her stable, Ericka and Laurie went to multiple rated shows together and consistently scored in the upper 60's, often winning their classes. Deciding to qualify for regionals they made their way down to the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY and made their first championship debut in 2003.

With a looming heavy workload in her junior year in High School, it was decided to sell Moose to a perfect forever home. After being hugely restless within 6 months without a horse, the search was started for another partner. Finding a RPSI soon-to-be-weanling within an hours drive, Ericka and her mom drove out to meet him. Baron von Bremen was brought home after his weaning and grew up over the next several years in a couple fields with a herd. During that time, Ericka was able to ride and show many different horses for friends.

Starting the backing process with Baron herself, Ericka decided to continue her Dressage education with an FEI Grand Prix trainer, Kathy von Ertfelda in South Dartmouth, MA. Bringing her horse and all of her belongings with her to the East Coast, Ericka settled right in to the daily horse care and management that was needed from a working student. Taking care of a full barn with another working student for the next year before working her way up to sole management of 7 horses and riding 4-5 daily. During this time she was able to meet and ride with many other top trainers including, Charlie Porter, Lars Petersen, Gerd Zuther, George Gabriel and Oded Shimoni.

Deciding to sell Baron to a perfect forever home, Ericka found her next young horse, Endretti GF, a 2 year old colt at the time. With sights on the Young Horse classes, Ericka again started the backing process herself. Over the course of the next year, an incredible opportunity presented itself to work along side Canadian Olympian David Marcus and his partner Nicholas Fyffe in Ontario, Canada and Wellington, FL. Taking daily lessons from either David or Nicholas, 'Eli' and Ericka blossomed as a pair and much progress was made together.

With another opportunity presenting itself with a Grand Prix Canadian Show Jumper, Susan Horn, Ericka started working and riding many talented Show Jumpers. Working alongside Susan and with her trainer Mac Cone, helped to broaden her knowledge into the show jumping world. Being able to travel all around North America and ride alongside the top jumpers in the world was an unforgettable experience. Watching and learning the training ways of the world's best is something that is put into place to this day into Ericka's program.

Finding her way back to Connecticut after her wedding in 2015 and a baby on the way, Ericka was back at Sunny Hill with Endretti GF with goals of continuing his development. With a solid group of clients and another sales horse, she went back down to Florida to campaign 'Eli' in the small tour. In the winter of 2018, Ericka and Eli obtained their necessary scores for their silver medal at the Adequan Global Dressage Fest.With sights on the continued development as a Grand Prix horse, Ericka and Eli will be competing and training in New England and in Florida while continuing to teach and train clients horses.