Meet Sandra
Creativity is my connection to the horse. ❤
For me, the horse has always been the ultimate muse. Every ride, every breath, every moment together - it’s art in motion.
The Creative Equestrian was born from that idea - that horsemanship can be more than training or technique. It can be a creative expression…a way to tell your story with your horse.
The Moment It All Began
My life was pretty normal—until the day I saw my first horse. I was seven years old when my after-school program took us on a field trip to a local barn.
A horse cantered past me, and it was like time stopped. I don’t remember breathing. It was as if something deep inside me woke up that had been waiting all along.
When I got home, my mom couldn’t make sense of what I was saying—I just kept repeating, “I have to go back. I have to go back.”
Thankfully, she tracked down the barn, and soon I was taking my first riding lessons.
From that moment on, I breathed horses from sunup to sundown.
I had a herd of Breyer models and built elaborate barns and arenas for them.
I taught my dog to jump and lunge like a horse, galloped through the woods pretending to be one myself, and probably gave my poor dad a few gray hairs when he caught me hitting myself with a stick while holding a jumprope in my mouth as “reins.” 🤪
That passion spilled into everything—I began drawing horses endlessly, filling sketchbooks with their powerful shapes and flowing manes.
Looking back, my riding and art began together, two threads that would eventually weave into the creative life I live today. ❤
Olympic Dreams
When I turned thirteen, I had the opportunity to join an intense riding program taught by Carolyn Rose at Isaac Royal Farm in Maine.
Each student had project horses to bring along, learning how to train them from foals all the way to the upper levels.
I was all in. I dreamed of someday riding in the Olympics and becoming a top-level dressage judge.
My days started early and ended long after dark. I rode between six and thirteen horses a day, competed all summer, and set my sights on earning my rider medals from the Maine Dressage Society and the United States Dressage Federation.
While most of my friends were thinking about college, I was thinking about dressage. At nineteen, I became a USDF “L” Graduate with Distinction — one of the youngest at the time — and spent my twenties judging schooling shows across New England.
Those years taught me everything about discipline, patience, and partnership. I learned not only how to train horses, but how to listen to them. Looking back, those long days in the barn were the foundation of everything I do today. ❤
Tragedy Becomes Change
In my late twenties, life moved at a relentless pace. I was teaching, judging, and training full-time — chasing goals with laser focus, but losing sight of the joy that had once fueled me.
The pressure I put on myself was immense, and I was running on intensity rather than inspiration.
Then, in 2008, everything came crashing down. That year brought three heartbreaking losses that changed the course of my life forever.
In January, I said goodbye to Dear Max, a Percheron/Thoroughbred gelding and future Grand Prix partner, after he colicked unexpectedly.
Soon after, I lost Vanidor, a Lipizzan/Thoroughbred gelding who I had worked with since he was a foal, due to a tragic veterinary mistake.
Not long after, I was badly bucked off another young horse I had trained — an accident that left me barely able to walk.
In the wake of so much loss and pain, I found myself questioning everything — my career, my purpose, even my connection to horses.
But just when I was ready to give up, life had a different plan. That’s when Douwe appeared — the horse who would change everything.
When I Met Douwe
I’ve always believed in destiny, but I never expected it to show up on a tiny island off the coast of Maine. At the time, I was lost—burned out from competing, uncertain of my direction, and ready to walk away from everything I’d built.
Then one evening, I saw a video of Sabine Schut-Kery performing with a Friesian, and something inside me stirred. I felt that spark again… a vision of art, movement, and partnership that I knew I had to follow.
Just three weeks later, I heard about a Friesian horse living on Vinalhaven Island—an unlikely place for horses, let alone my dream breed.
Vinalhaven held deep roots for me; it was where my grandparents had a summer camp and where I spent childhood days by the ocean, imagining wild adventures. It felt like the universe was speaking directly to me.
When I met Douwe, he was impressive —but troubled. He had become unrideable, reacting with fear and frustration. Yet beneath the tension, I saw a sensitive, intelligent soul who simply needed understanding.
I brought him home on trial, trusting my intuition. From that moment, our paths were forever intertwined.
What began as a leap of faith became a partnership that changed my life. Douwe reignited my creativity, restored my joy, and opened the door to a new way of expressing art and horsemanship—through movement, music, and trust. ❤
The Start of a New Era
When Douwe came into my life, everything shifted. For the first time, I had a horse of my very own — not a horse I was training for someone else, not one I would eventually hand back, but my partner. After riding hundreds of horses, it felt magical to start fresh with one I knew would stay with me.
At the time I was also riding Rovandio, and the two quickly became inseparable pasture buddies. Before long, I was performing with them together, discovering new layers of creativity and connection.
Those years were full of exploration. I taught myself trick training and even believed for a while that I might pursue a career in film horses. We acted in a couple of indie films, and I even worked as a stunt rider on a major motion picture.
It was exciting and surreal — but deep down, I found myself drawn to something more personal. I loved the direct partnership with my horses, the thrill of performing for an audience, and the joy of creating something meaningful together.
I began experimenting with bridleless riding and taught Douwe to perform with wings, which became one of our favorite routines. ❤
We traveled to events like Equine Affaire, where he delighted audiences with his silly tricks and larger-than-life personality. Before long, Douwe had a growing fan club — and those performances remain some of my happiest memories.
Becoming an Author
Living in Maine meant getting creative during the long winters when it was simply too cold to ride. Those quiet months became an unexpected gift: the space to start writing.
That work eventually led to my book with Trafalgar Square Books, FREESTYLE: The Ultimate Guide to Riding, Training, and Competing to Music.
Writing my book was a true labor of love — almost two years of photo shoots, interviews, diagrams, and pouring my heart into every page. Hearing from riders who used it to create their first freestyle makes it all worth it.
Since then, I’ve continued expanding my resources with choreography e-books, blog articles, and now an online course — all created with the same goal: to help riders express themselves, connect with their horses, and experience the magic of freestyle.
Surrounded by Friesians
I eventually made the leap to Florida full-time when I accepted the position of head trainer at Little River Friesians. For years, I had been spending my winters in Tallahassee with my best friend, Marsha Sapp, owner of Southern Oaks Equestrian Center.
Marsha is an extraordinary horsewoman—renowned for her work with mustangs, especially the legendary Cobra, now immortalized as a Breyer model. We’ve trained together, performed together, and traveled the country side by side.
At Little River, I immersed myself completely. I adored the horses and built deep, meaningful relationships with so many of them, but two quickly became my standouts: Cor and Maureo. Cor—officially Co Fan S—had already earned impressive titles in his show career long before I arrived.
He had nothing left to prove in the competition arena, which meant we were free to simply enjoy performing together. He was incredibly smart, always eager to shine, and thrived in front of an audience.
Maureo was the fairytale — a gorgeous Andalusian but he carried the shadows of a difficult past. Earning his trust took time, patience, and quiet consistency. Every night I would stop by his stall to talk to him, offering small, playful moments by teaching him simple tricks like “smile.” Those tiny interactions became our bridge.
Over the four years I worked there, I watched the layers slowly melt away, revealing a horse who loved expression and partnership. Maureo lit up during photo shoots, thrived riding out in the fields, and found real joy in working equitation.
Rovandio Steps into Spotlight
After losing Douwe it was Rovy’s time to be in the spotlight. We really dove into our Art on Horseback skills and Rovy learned how to paint. His style is very different than Douwe so that was fun to adjust and learn with him.
We also competed in Working Equitation which was so much fun! Rovy was well suited for this sport after a decade of dressage training and riding one-handed for Art on Horseback. He did very well at the Intermediate Level A for Working Equitation and we loved it!
Rovandio has performed at numerous events like BreyerFest for his work as an artist and we are still experimenting with new ideas. He is semi-retired now at the age of 24 but continues to teach some special students. He is an amazing schoolmaster and loves to show off his lateral work, Spanish walk, and give riders the feel of a collected canter.
A New Partnership
After losing Douwe, it took several years before I could even imagine welcoming another horse into my life. Through the kindness and support of my dear friend Susan McClafferty (Mareish Media), I was eventually introduced to a very special Friesian named Nico.
Building a new partnership takes time, and I have spent countless quiet hours with Nico developing trust and connection. He is a sensitive and intelligent soul, which has invited me to grow as a horsewoman. I’ve been exploring new groundwork techniques through Tristan Tucker’s (TRT Method) online course to help him relax, feel secure, and stay grounded.
I am also studying with French classical instructor Rianne Ruizendaal, focusing on balance, lightness, and clarity in our work together. Slowly and thoughtfully, we are introducing Nico to performance environments, including his first classical dressage demonstration at the World Equestrian Center. He is truly special, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to grow alongside him and support the remarkable horse I know he will become. ❤
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