About Mary

Grew up in Greenwood, South Carolina with family horses. She was in the saddle before she could walk. In 2014, life threw Mary a big curveball and her mother moved them to Mesa, Arizona. Unfortunately, the access to horses did not follow. Regardless, Mary knew that they were her livelihood. She dug into the many different career tracks in the horse industry and eventually found one that called to her, Equine Therapeutic Riding. College was the next logical step. Mary applied and was accepted into Rocky Mountain College located in Billings, Montana.

Mary moved to Billings, Montana in August of 2017 to pursue her Bachelor's of Science in Equine Studies. Her concentration was Equine Therapeutic Riding Instructor with a minor in Psychology. During the next four years, she studied and worked in an intense program. She graduated with honors and her B.S. in Equine Studies in 2021. While in school, Mary volunteered and then eventually taught therapeutic riding lessons to clients of all ages and disabilities. She has two years of instructing under her belt and 5 years of riding. During that time she has ridden horses of all ages as well as stages of training.  

In May of 2019, Mary undertook a special training project. She rescued a blind horse named Sport. At the time, she was still in school and it seemed a daunting task to approach the training of a horse with such a steep disability. Working with Sport taught Mary to focus on even the smallest of things and reinforced that one method does not fit all. Three years later and Sport is a stunning athlete capable of anything Mary asks of him. He moves with collection, has both leads, neck reins, knows his turns, and is proficient in high level maneuvers such as the half pass. He loads right up in the trailer and stands for the vet and farrier with no issues. Out on the trails he expertly navigates over branches and bridges and goes through running water.

After graduation, Mary moved back to South Carolina. Her horse Sport made the 2000 mile trip with her. While there, Mary worked at a barn as an assistant trainer. Unfortunately, upon deciding to set out on her own, she discovered that South Carolina is not much of a western riding hub. Deciding that she needed a change of location she looked towards Arizona, which hosts a much larger horse industry.

In June of 2022, Mary made the move back to Arizona. She boarded Sport at Wildheart Horsemanship which became Red Mountain Stables at the end of 2023. Mary and Sport compete in local gymkhanas at John Volken Academy Ranch and in open shows with the East Valley Arabian Association at P&M Arena. She started MGM Horse Riding in 2022 and is currently accepting clients for all services. Mary and Sport just moved to a private barn in Gilbert/Queen Creek, where she is continuing to offer her services.