Meet Ali

Ali's lifelong passion for horses began at the age of six on her family's horse farm in North Yarmouth, Maine. Growing up, she was an active member of the United States Pony Club, earning her HB certification while competing in three-day eventing through the USEA Training Level with her ponies and Off-the-Track Thoroughbred. During her teenage years, she also founded and operated a summer horse camp on her family's farm, combining her love of horses with a passion for teaching.

Ali earned bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education and Art from the University of Maine at Farmington in 2016. While in college, she founded the university's Intercollegiate Dressage Association (IDA) team, serving as coach, captain, and First Level competitor. In 2012, she purchased Piper, a 15-year-old Dutch Warmblood who sparked her passion for dressage. Together, they successfully competed through Third Level.

Ali's commitment to dressage excellence led her to the prestigious Winter Intensive Training (WIT) Program, founded by Olympian Lendon Gray. Selected for the program in 2013 and again in 2014, Ali and Piper spent three months each winter in Wellington, Florida, immersed in elite training, fitness, stable management, and educational opportunities. During the 2014 program, she also trained daily with renowned horsewoman Tuny Page aboard two of Page's horses.

In 2015, Ali returned to the WIT Program as Lendon Gray's assistant, overseeing daily operations, mentoring students, coordinating fitness programming, and managing the program's schedule. At the same time, she groomed for Argentine international rider and FEI judge Cesare Lepardo-Grana during the Global Dressage Festival and completed the USDF Instructor Certification Program, earning certification through First Level.

Following the 2015 WIT season, Ali was offered the ride on Santé, a Grand Prix horse generously donated to Dressage4Kids by Barbara Westerlund and previously trained by Olympian Michael Poulin. After teaching eighth grade in Maine while developing their partnership, Ali and Santé made a successful FEI debut in 2016, competing at Prix St. Georges, Intermediate I, and the FEI U25 Grand Prix. Their success inspired Ali to pursue dressage as a full-time career.

In 2018, Ali returned to the WIT Program as Stable Manager while receiving grants from The Dressage Foundation and Dressage4Kids to continue training with Mica Marbrugana. She competed in the FEI U25 Grand Prix during the Global Dressage Festival before relocating to New York to continue training and competing under Marbrugana's guidance.

Later that year, Ali relocated to Hillsborough, North Carolina, after joining longtime friend Tonya LaTorre at Rouxtano Farm. There, she established her own training and teaching business while continuing to compete Santé in the Open Grand Prix. During this time, she also completed a graduate certificate in business through Stanford University.

In 2021, Ali purchased Viva Las Vegas ("Vegas"), a 14-year-old Welsh Cob/Trakehner cross who had never left the farm where he was born. Together, they received The Dressage Foundation's George Williams Young Professional Grant, allowing Ali to train with Liz Austin in Wellington, Florida, for a month. Ali and Vegas quickly found success, earning scores of up to 75% at First Level in Florida and North Carolina. Since then, the pair has progressed successfully through the I1, demonstrating the value of thoughtful, systematic training and partnership.

Ali's passion for education extends far beyond the dressage arena. In 2022, she became a certified Horse Powered Reading® facilitator and founded Rearing2Read, an equine-assisted literacy nonprofit that combines horses and evidence-based reading instruction to support children's learning and confidence.

Committed to lifelong learning, Ali earned her Master of Education from Elon University in 2024 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at Vanderbilt University.

Today, Ali lives in Mint Hill, North Carolina, and trains with Vegas at SouthWell Farm. She teaches dressage lessons, develops horse-and-rider partnerships, and leads equine-assisted literacy programs throughout the region. She also serves as the Dressage Education Chair for the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association (NCDCTA), where she is dedicated to advancing education and opportunities for riders of all levels.

Professional Highlights

• USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medalist

• USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Freestyle Bars

• USDF Certified Instructor through First Level

• United States Pony Club HB Certification

• USEA Training Level Competitor

• Master of Education

• Doctor of Education Candidate, Vanderbilt University

• Dressage Education Chair, North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association (NCDCTA)