About 

Ali's Story

Ali began riding at the age of six. She grew up on a small horse farm in North Yarmouth, Maine. Ali was a member of the United States Pony Club and achieved up to her HB rating. Outside of USPC, She competed in three phase events on her ponies and Off-The-Track Thoroughbred through the Training level. Ali also started a small summer horse camp at her parent's farm. 

Beginning in 2012, Ali attended college at the University of Maine at Farmington and obtained degrees in Elementary Education and Art. During college, Ali started an intercollegiate dressage club for UMF. The team competed in IDA competitions all around New England with Ali as their coach, captain, and First Level competitor. Ali purchased Piper, a fifteen-year-old Dutch Warmblood, in 2012. Piper kick-started Ali's passion for dressage. She competed him through third level during college. 

In 2013, Ali applied for former olympian, Lendon Gray's Winter Intensive Training Program. The WIT program gives talented youth dressage riders an opportunity to spend three months training in Wellington, Florida. The program consists of daily fitness, lectures, stable management, volunteering, and  training with Lendon Gray. Ali attended the WIT program in 2013 and 2014 with Piper. During the 2014 program, Ali also had the opportunity to ride two of Tuny Page's horses and train with Tuny daily. The following year, Ali returned to the WIT program as Lendon's assistant. She organized the program's schedule, tutored students, and led the fitness program. Ali balanced working for WIT with grooming for Argentine international competitor and judge, Cesare Lepardo-Grana, in the Global CDIs. Participating in the USDF Instructor's Certification program was another opportunity generously given to Ali in 2015. She received her USDF certification through first level. 

At the end of the 2015 WIT program, Ali was offered Santé, a grand prix horse donated to Dressage4Kids. Santé was donated by Barbara Westerlund and had been trained by former olympian, Michael Poulin. Ali spent the next year teaching eighth grade in Maine and forming a partnership with Santé. In the summer of 2016, Ali competed Santé in the Prix St. George, Intermidiare, and U25 Grand Prix levels. With this success, Ali decided to out her teaching career on hold and continue with dressage. 

In the winter of 2018, Ali returned to Lendon's WIT program as the Stable Manager. Ali also received grants from the Dressage Foundation and Dressage4kids to train with Mica Marbrugana during the season. Ali competed in the U25 Grand Prix at Gloabal. After the program, Ali went with Mica to her stable in New York to continue training and competing. 

During the 2018 WIT Program, Ali formed a friendship with the program's fitness trainer, Tonya LaTorre. In September of 2018, Tonya purchased Rouxtano Farm in Hillsborough, NC. Ali relocated to Hillsborough with the LaTorre's and began her business. She competed Santé in the Open Grand Prix and also completed a graduate certificate in business from Stanford University. 

In 2021, Ali purchased Viva Las Vegas, a green fourteen-year-old, Welsh Cob/Trakehner cross gelding.  Vegas had never left the farm that he was born at. Ali and Vegas received The Dressage Foundation's George Williams Young Professional's Grant. She was able to train with Liz Austin in Wellington, Florida for an entire month. Ali competed Vegas at in shows in Florida and North Carolina at first level with scores up to 75%. Since 2021, Ali has completed Vegas through the Prix St George level with great success. 

In 2022, Ali studied Horse Powered Reading and became a certified facilitator. She created an equine-assisted non-profit, Rearing2Read. She continues to teach and expand this program. In 2024, Ali completed a Master's in Education at Elon University. Ali lives in Mint Hill, NC and currently keeps Vegas at SouthWell Farm. She teaches dressage lessons and equine assisted literacy in Hillsborough. She is also pursuing a Doctorate in Education from Vanderbilt University. Ali is currently the Dressage Education Chairman for North Carolina Dressage and Comined Training Association. 

Highlights:

USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist

USDF Silver and Bronze Freestyle Bars 

USDF Certified First Level  Instructor

USPC HB Rating

USEA Training Level Competitor

Masters of Education Degree

NCDCTA Dressage Education Chairman