Connection Horse Training, LLC
Heartfelt Training, Creating Lasting Partnerships
About Us
Katie Weagley
Connection Horse Training is about training horses with pure horsemanship, no gimmicks. A hard working mom and true horse lover, trainer/owner operator, Katie Weagley has been working with horses for years. She has received numerous awards at local, 4H, and USEF A rated competitions. She has trained and shown in western pleasure, hunter/jumper, dressage, low level eventing, pleasure driving, and trail. She has instructed in riding lesson programs and volunteered with the Pennsylvania horse 4H program as well. She was the President of the Washington College Equestrian Team in Fall 2007.
Katie strongly believes in constantly continuing her education as an equestrian professional. She has professional certificates from Texas A &M University in Equine Facilitated Activities and Therapy, Introduction to Therapeutic Riding and Horse Production/Management. She has also earned certificates from Tall Grass Animal Acupressure Institute in Eq Overview to TCM and Equine Meridian Theory. Katie is working on becoming a Equine Acupressure Practitioner. She is also CPR and First Aid certified.
Katie's training philosophy is that with an understanding of equine natural instincts and psychology, a person can simulate the same behaviors, using body language understood by the horse, to motivate and "speak" to the horse in a clear manner. Thus, the relationship is closer than that of most human/horse relationships, because nothing is lost in translation.
Her favorite part of her job is gaining trust from each new horse, it's always a thrill to know that you've crossed the line between two separate species with very different instincts, and found some common ground.
Katie believes that everyone with an interest can learn how to speak to his/her own horse, and that's just what her business is about; helping to create a conversation between horse and human, no matter the level or ability.
Born April 11,1995. She is now 15 years old. Growing up with horses in her back yard. She has always loved horses. She started taking riding lessons with a friend at the age of 5. The more she rode the more she loved it. After a few years of riding, mostly for fun with Nicole, she was positive she needed her own horse. By this time Nicole was heading off to college and we needed to find another place for lessons.
Casey started taking lessons with Sarah, the lady who's horses came up to her back yard. At the age of 8, she started working for Sarah to help pay for riding lessons. It started as doing stalls on lesson days and turned into a daily job. Sarah became a barn manager at a larger facility and took some of her horses with her. As her time became less she needed Casey more and more. Soon she was taking care of the farm on a daily basis. Casey got a camp horse and was allowed to keep it at the barn in exchange for taking care of the farm.
Casey and her mom ended up bringing two horses home to foster for the winter. By December they both were totally in love with Max. Casey's parents bought him for her for Christmas 2006.
So by the age of 10 she had her own horse. By the age of 12 Sarah had totally given up the farm to run the larger facility.
Casey and her mom took over the leasee of the farm. There was still one horse boarded at the farm and Max. Shortly thereafter two more horses came. Casey has been taking care of 4 horses daily ever since.
During all these transitions, Casey mostly worked on riding with her mom without any formal lessons. On occasion she would ride with Nicole. Then she found Katie and started taking lessons with her. Now she is obsessed with learning from Katie. After a little over a year in the training program, Casey and Max are perfecting their skills at bridleless, and Casey is successfully showing Max at pleasure shows as well as in dressage, and entry level eventing!
Currently a freshman at Northern High School, she is excited to be apprenticing under Katie at Connection Horse Training.
