Undeniable Passion 

​

Trish, being a “military brat”, had the opportunity to experience many types of riding as her family moved from place to place. She started taking riding lessons at the age of 6 in England. Having her own horse wasn’t an option with all the frequent moves so she made horse friends through 4-H and school and enjoyed every opportunity to learn and ride.

By the time she was in high school, riding horses was accepted as her passion and her parents finally agreed to purchase a horse for her. For the three years the family was stationed outside Washington D.C., Trish competed in dressage and eventing until their next move.

She took her first summer job at a hunter/jumper barn in Virginia the summer before her senior year of high school. Then when the family moved to Illinois for a year, she worked starting Thoroughbred colts to prepare them for the race track.

College allowed her to experience many more equine disciplines and riding styles. Trish participated in a colt breaking program through the University of Missouri where the students were provided a colt that was not halter broke which was gentled and trained and sold through the school’s production sale.

She was also a member of the university’s horse judging team. It was during her trips to the All American Quarter Horse Congress and American Quarter Horse Association World Show she was first exposed to reining and working cow horse. “It was impressive,” said Trish, “and I knew I wanted to learn more about it in the future.”

Education and Competition

​

Stephen’s College, also located in Columbia, Missouri, offered an Equestrian Science degree so Trish obtained degrees from both colleges. She took management and equine science type courses but also rode and drove Saddlebreds, studied western horsemanship and continued with dressage, jumping and eventing. She competed intercollegiately on the show jumping and eventing teams.
 
After graduation she was an instructor at Wonderland Farms in Pennsylvania which bred world class Trakhaners and taught college courses in equine studies. She ended up in Colorado where she was closer to family and started her own training business. She met Troy Heikes in 1990 and began pursuing her interest in reining, purchasing her first reining mare from him.

Trish's final move came in 1996 when she moved to Fowler, Colorado after she married Rick. She enjoys improving her skills by taking clinics with world class athletes. Shawn Flarida and Todd Bergen are horsemen she really enjoys working with.

Trish has pursued excellence in every aspect of her training, breeding and management. In 2000, she had the high selling gelding at the NRHA Derby Spotlight Sale, The Spin Master.  In 2005, she rode a home bred, raised and trained mare, Uno Cody Jaci and captured the 2005 North American Affiliate Championship in the Non Pro Novice Horse. Together they have won over $20,000, two Lawsons, seven Morrisons and many awards. Trish enjoys raising and training quality reining horses and has begun showing in reined cowhorse events as well.