"Let's Really Get to Know Each Other"

learn more about Laura's background & career as a dressage rider & trainer

As the daughter of a horse lover, Laura’s life has always been surrounded by horses. Her family rented camp horses every winter to love, care for, and learn from. At the age of seven, Laura received her first pony for Christmas, a little Amish driving pony named Cocoa Puff. Even as a child, Laura’s natural ability to train was evident. She transformed Cocoa Puff into a 4-H champion under saddle and over fences entirely through her own training.

When Laura outgrew Cocoa, she began training her family’s Arabian, Kirashana. This challenge taught her not only about riding, but also about true horsemanship. Laura and “Kira” developed a partnership that led them to numerous championships on the A-rated Arabian circuit in hunter pleasure, hunter hack, equitation, native costume, trail, sport horse under saddle, sport horse in-hand, halter, and showmanship.

Later, the pair transitioned to the dressage ring. Laura saw firsthand how dressage transformed Kira mentally and physically from a naturally hot and flighty Arabian into a calm, willing, and athletic partner. That experience solidified Laura’s belief in the benefits of dressage for the horse and sparked her lifelong passion for the sport.

Laura’s next horse, MS Spanish Legacy, was purchased specifically as a dressage prospect. As a young horse, Legacy gained valuable show experience in Arabian halter, showmanship, and sport horse in-hand. Her athleticism and trainability made her a star in the sport horse world, earning multiple Arabian Sport Horse National Championships. The pair relocated to Wellington, Florida, to further their dressage education. Despite Legacy’s non-traditional size, breeding, and color, she is now competitive through the Grand Prix level against top warmbloods thanks to their solid training foundation and unshakable bond.

Shana’s Romance was purchased in utero as Laura’s next dressage star. Laura trained Shana from foal to FEI horse, competing through the Intermediate I level and helping many students earn their USDF medals. Today, Shana continues to share her knowledge as a safe, capable schoolmaster for Laura Ashley Dressage. Her gentle nature and comfortable gaits make her the perfect partner for riders exploring the world of dressage.

No biography would be complete without mentioning Laura’s late horse, Donnerluck. He will always hold a special place in her heart, not only for helping her earn half of her USDF Gold Medal, but also for teaching her that every horse must be trained as an individual. Sometimes you have to think outside the box to bring out a horse’s full potential. Laura competed Donnerluck at the FEI levels until he was 22 and treasured watching “Grandpa Donner” teach students his beloved tempi changes until his passing at 28.

The other half of Laura’s Gold Medal was earned with her trainer’s Grand Prix horse, Cadenza. After two years of learning and working for Ilse Schwarz, Laura was given the opportunity to go for the gold. This milestone marked a turning point in her career and proved that her dedication to education in the saddle had paid off. Still, she views it as one step in her lifelong journey with dressage.

Today, after more than a decade of building her brand, business, and reputation, Laura is proud to work with an incredible team of FEI horses owned by her dedicated and supportive clients. She is honored to help them achieve their goals in the show ring while also campaigning their horses at the top of the sport. To date, she has competed two horses at Grand Prix, four additional horses at the PSG/I1 level, and guided nearly a dozen adult amateurs toward their USDF Silver and Gold Medals.