Welcome

Grace Walker Equestrian was founded in 2015 in New York. Originating from Southern California, USA, Grace did not come from a family with much of an equine background, but began her riding journey in the local Pony Club as well as on the sandy trails along the Santa Margarita River. She later graduated Pony Club as an A graduate on the East Coast.

Grace has had the privilege of owning and riding many different breeds in a variety of disciplines. She started riding consistently since the age of seven by participating in weekly private lessons. Most of her riding journey has focused on the disciplines of Eventing and Show Jumping, however, when attending Houghton University, located in West New York, she deepened her understanding and love for Dressage. Although she continues to jump and further her knowledge in Eventing and Show Jumping, she is now a full time trainer at a Dressage barn.

In college, Grace worked and trained under Susan Barisone Gilson at SBG Dressage in the Rochester Area while finishing two Bachelors degrees, one in Business Marketing and the other in Equestrian Performance through Houghton University. She returned to Southern California in 2017, and in 2018 she purchased a young imported Oldenburg from Exclusive Dressage Imports and began working for Marie Medosi Dressage at Arroyo Del Mar. Less than a year later, she was asked by the Peters to be the Manager of Arroyo Del Mar. Grace learned a lot about both training and running a business in her three and half years at Arroyo Del Mar in training her own clients, learning from the Peters, and managing the facility. She then trained out of Kingsway Farms for two years full time as the assistant rider to International Event Rider Tamra Smith, as well as trained and coached her own dressage clients. Currently, Grace rides as the head trainer and owner at Gwalker Equestrian operating out of Arroyo Del Mar as she also holds the title of Assistant Trainer to SPeters Dressage. She is now accepting clients in the Rancho Santa Fe and San Diego region.

History

• Fallbrook Pony Club

• Sandia Creek Ranch Pony Club Riding Center

• Linfield Christian High School Equestrian Team

  • Hunter Jumper and Show Jumpers

• Houghton College

  • Bachelor of Science (2018) Business Administration

  • Bachelor of Science (2018) Major Recreation: Equestrian Performance Track

• Bristol Hills Pony Club

• SBG Dressage in Rochester, NY

• Marie Medosi Dressage and Exclusive Dressage Imports located in Del Mar, CA

• Dawn White O’Connor Dressage

• Dressage Trainer at Far View Farms Equestrian Center

• Trainer and Barn Manager at Arroyo Del Mar, home of Steffen and Shannon Peters

• Rider at Next Level Eventing out of Kingsway Farms

• Assistant Trainer at SPeters Dressage at Arroyo Del Mar - present

• Trainer and Owner of Gwalker Equestrian at Arroyo Del Mar - present

Relevant Equestrian Experience and Certifications

• Houghton College Equestrian Society President

• Student Event Organizer of the Houghton College Equestrian Center

• Pony Club Member (2004-Present)

• Del Mar, CA World Of Horses Lead Exhibit Worker and Staff Member (2014-2016)

• Houghton College Equestrian Camp Staff Member and Instructor

• Community Lesson Instructor

• Houghton College Equestrian Program Teacher Assistant

  • Classes: Dressage, Jumping Two, Mini-Prix Show Jumping, Horsemanship One, Eventing

• Certified New York EMT

• Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Equine Facility Manager

  • Level 3 EFM

• Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) Instructor

  • Level 4 English with Jumping

• United States Pony Club 'A' (Dressage Specialty) Graduate

• USDF Silver Medal

• Exclusive Dressage Imports located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA

• Assistant Trainer to Marie Medosi Dressage at Arroyo Del Mar, CA

• Assistant to Dawn White O’Connor Dressage

• Social Media Specialist at EQSOL, an equine marketing company

• Dressage Trainer at Far View Farms Equestrian Center, San Marcos CA

• Barn Manager at Arroyo Del Mar, CA

• Dressage Trainer at Arroyo Del Mar, CA

• Rider for Tamie Smith at Next Level Eventing in Temecula, CA

• Assistant Trainer at SPeters Dressage at Arroyo Del Mar, CA - present