TRAINER HISTORY

Katie A. Shea grew up on a beautiful 40-acre farm in Newberry, Florida, “Piccolo Farm” where her family forested pine trees and raised Arabian horses.  Katie’s parents, Michael and Mary Shea, bred and raised a foal every year or two to break, train and sell.  Katie spent many years learning horsemanship from her mother while bringing along young horses riding both English and Western, trail riding and driving. Katie always had ponies and horses in her life to break, train and sell and has since developed a training program from first ride to the A-rated show circuit.

Katie rode many ponies for Dragon’s Lair Farm in Newberry, Florida.  The farm had as many as 40-60 Welsh ponies ranging all ages and training levels.  The breeding program focused on developing quality, athletic, Welsh ponies that were suitable for all disciplines.  Katie participated in training young ponies for dressage, driving and hunters, taking ponies to shows, and showing sale ponies to prospective buyers.  Katie bought and showed a young small pony, Dragon’s Lair Dixie-Pixie, to five section-B Welsh mare wins, several Grand and Reserve Championships and a Supreme Championship.  Katie even trained several Dragon’s Lair ponies that went on to Walt Disney World to pull Cinderella’s carriage! 

Katie spent her final junior year as a working student for Hunter’s Run Farm in Ocala, Florida where she honed her equitation skills, taking several lessons each day and riding a variety of hunters and jumpers.  Katie attended Saint Leo University full time and graduated with a B.A. Degree in Business Administration and Management.  Katie was a member of several local hunter/jumper and Welsh associations and served as recording secretary.  She was also featured in Practical Horseman's "jumping clinic" by George Morris.

Katie has since bred a few “Piccolo” ponies of her own as well as pursued judging in the equitation and hunter rings.  She has helped clients bring along ponies, hunters and jumpers for show and sale, as well as taught hunt seat equitation to students of all ages.  She most recently trained for Emerald Amethyst Farm in Alachua, Florida including ground training, breaking and conditioning warmbloods.  She will soon be certified by the United States Hunter Jumper Association as a hunter/jumper trainer and work toward her "R" judge’s card.