Michael is originally from Gothenburg, Sweden and worked several years at a riding school, serving as an instructor and member of the show jumping team. He continued his education in England where he trained and showed young horses for Gustavii Stud. In 1995, Michael joined the Hilltop Team and he now holds the position of Head Trainer. 

Over the years he has presented numerous stallions and countless mares and foals at breed registry inspections as well as at breed shows around the country.

Michael believes in keeping the work interesting for the young horse to ensure they stay fresh and happy throughout their career. Seven of the youngsters that Michael has started at Hilltop have gone on to top finishes in the USEF/Markel Young/Developing Horse National Championships.

In 2008, Michael captured his first National Championship aboard Selten-HW in the FEI Four-Year Old division and captured this championship again in 2012 with Hemmingway.  In 2018 & 2019, Michael and SenSation HW won the USEF Young Horse National Championships.  Michael has won seven US Dressage Finals National Championships as well and is a USDF Bronze, Silver, & Gold Medalist.  

Michael is a USDF Certified Instructor who we are pleased to host for training clinics in 2023. 

Are you looking for a deeper connection and understanding of your horse? Want to better recognize why they react or spook? Sign up with Michael Alway to gain insight and tips on how to handle and appreciate your horse on the ground or when riding.

Michael specializes in understanding the horse's individual nature, learning style, confidence level and ability to set him or her up for success using communication, understanding and psychology. Horsemanship is way more than riding, it is understanding the horse at a deeper level. There is a psychology to horses and horse training. He works with a wide variety of horses including starting horses, giving troubled horses a new start, trailer loading, behavior issues, developing solid foundations, and teaching horsemanship to anyone who wants to learn. Michael regularly works with international riders, Grand Prix dressage horses and riders, 4* Eventers, Jumpers, and amateur horse owners, as well as being a competitive rider himself.

Why book a clinic with Michael?

Groundwork Clinics provide the rider with a fresh perspective on how their horse moves and a deeper awareness of tensions within the horse. This adds an important dimension to the rider’s understanding of their horse’s body, and the suppling, strengthening, and conditioning the horse needs to perform well.

Groundwork allows the handler to refine his or her skills and aids. Riders leave the clinic with new tools that they can use at home to school a green horse, relax a mount prior to riding, reduce lameness while improving performance, and most importantly–improve their equine partnership.

Finding the perfect balance of relationship and respect, teaching the horse the appropriate response to pressure without fear, whether that be the rider, whip, leg, rein, or even an obstacle, object, or the perceived environmental pressure of a place or situation.

For a horse to respect the handler, there must be mutual trust and respect. Michael will spend time getting to know each rider/handler and develop the relationship with the horse.

Michael will also work on mounted activities with anyone interested including standing at the mounting block, spooking in new arenas, water crossings, or herd bound issues to name a few. Michael comes to Wyndham Oaks 4-6 times a year for these unique and inspiring clinics.

Janet Foy is in an elite group of Fédération Equestre Internationale five-star judges in the United States. Five-star judges, the highest level, officiate at major championships such as the Olympic Games, as well as at lower-level competitions. Foy was one of seven who judged the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. This is an extremely special opportunity to gain feedback from one of the best judges in the country.

Foy has judged all the major U.S. dressage competitions, including the U.S. Dressage Festival Of Champions, the FEI North American Youth Championships, and selection trials for major international championships, as well as judging extensively abroad.

A U.S. Dressage Federation gold medalist, Foy also sits on the U.S. Equestrian Federation International Disciplines Council and the Dressage Sport Committee.