About Chelsea
With over 40 years in the saddle and 25 of those professionally, Chelsea has a lifetime of experience in all aspects of the equine industry. While she is a H/J trainer in specialty, she has coached numerous riders and worked with their horses in multiple disciplines from the ground all the way to national championships. Whether you have the desire to compete intensively, or are a weekend warrior at the barn, she can tailor a program specifically to you, your horse, and your goals.
Riding Reimagined for Anyone, Anywhere
I began riding as a three year old toddler on a very hairy, incredibly rank pony in upstate New York, who promptly stood up in the middle of my first lesson, and the rest was history. My parents bought me my first horse when I was nine, a Saddlebred named George, who (despite his breed), under the watchful eye of my trainer, I ended up turning into a year end championship winning jumper.
I attended Hollins University in Virginia on a riding scholarship, and turned professional at 19. Since then I have both run and owned my own large scale operations all over the east coast, shown throughout the country, and have been blessed to have had incredible clients from all corners of the US, many of whom became like family.
The advantage to working in so many environments and facilities is that I can formulate a training program for anyone, whether you have an Olympic caliber arena, or you ride in a field, whether you have a six-figure import, or a rescued horse you got off the block for $500.
I started The Ride Lab in 2026 to be able to offer my services to riders who can't necessarily get to me in person, or have a trainer that can come to their farm. From groundwork skills to harmonious riding to the overall wellbeing of your horse, my goal isn't necessarily ribbons or points, it's the health and happiness of you and your equine partner, because nothing on the planet can top that relationship.
Get In TouchCoaching that Caters to You
Training horses and riding effectively requires the mastery of a language that is not innate to us as humans, but is one of the most beautiful languages in existence. I believe it draws you to your core as a person; having to rely on your body language, your instincts, and more specifically, your energy. I have spent my entire life and career learning this language and have seen how “speaking” it has not only helped so many others understand and communicate with their horses better, but the profound impact it has on our ability to connect with other animals, and each other.
The biggest issue I see amongst riders today is that they know all the hows, but they don’t know the whys, and there in lies the problem. When you comprehend how horses think and learn, when you grasp the why, that is when it evolves from being a set of tools and rules, to being an actual connection; a guide wire to your horse’s brain and emotions. It’s a slow and sometimes painstaking process especially because we are such verbal creatures (me especially), and horses don’t really require words, so we have to master and control our emotions, and therefor actions, on a level that is difficult for most. I often compare some of the best riders to Oscar worthy actors because we have to project other things than just what our base human feelings (fear, frustration, anxiety, impatience) may be in the moment, and sometimes on demand.
The why extends beyond the arena, to both the management of your horse, and the management of yourself! This is where another set of eyes on the ground can be helpful for even the most skilled of riders. What you see as a persistent problem in your position, could actually be a fitness limitation that can be resolved in the gym. What you see as a horse behaving badly could be one that is direly trying to tell you something doesn’t feel good.
My job is to explain the why, and introduce/educate you on a process, not just a “use your inside leg to your outside rein” approach that solves the problem, but doesn’t teach the mentality or the biomechanics of how horses work. I hope to make the learning process fun for you, and something that comes naturally the more you tap into it.
“Centered riders understand the harmonious relationship between knowledge and achievement. They’re active participants in their own education, reading the writings of masters, observing other riders, and seizing opportunities to train with someone good.”
Douglas Puterbaugh