Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Relatedinformation
Additional Information
Timeline
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Sandra McCarthy

Opelika,AL

Summary

Organized and eager to lead with proven track record of success in all areas of equine industry. Skilled in leading and growing organizations, particularly in team building and collaboration. Strong background in strategic planning, financial management and project development. Skilled in identifying opportunities and implementing practical business strategies with a commitment to excellence.

Work History

Self Employed

  • Clinician at various facilities throughout Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida
  • Consultant and agent for hunters, jumpers, ponies and equitation horses for sale or lease
  • Horse show management, ingate, course design and judging
  • Freelance rider and trainer.

Program Director - Head Trainer

Chastain Horse Park
  • As lead professional I maintained the existing clientele as well as developed new business
  • Created the billing and rate sheets for the show and boarder programs
  • Imported horses for clients, purchased, leased and sold horses for clients
  • Organized all horse show travel and entries
  • Daily supervised an instructional staff of 5
  • Hired and trained instructional staff as well as evaluated performance of existing staff and, when necessary, dismissed staff members
  • Managed and created a public lesson program that focused on rider safety, utilizing a levels of horsemanship rider placement and achievement system
  • Created and marketed a successful summer camp program
  • Hosted in-house schooling shows for academy riders and created an inclusive horse show for therapeutic and academy 2 riders
  • Purchased and evaluated horses for both the therapeutic and academy programs
  • Developed a safety assessment sheet for horses used in the therapeutic program
  • Hired barn managers, barn staff, worked with management on barn employee training
  • Worked directly with management to improve the footing, hay and grain quality, and veterinary care at the facility
  • Sourced farriers as well as veterinarians
  • Qualified riders for pony finals 2014 -2018, Qualified USEF medal finals, Qualified Jr/AO jumper team Zone 4, Qualified USET finals, Qualified USEF 3'3 medal finals, Zone 4 Reserve Champion Junior Hunter 3'3.

Head Trainer/ International Riding Academy

  • Developed an intensive riding program targeting high school aged students wishing to attend school in the United States
  • Tailored after the golf and tennis academies located on Hilton Head Island, the International Riding Academy was an intensive riding program every day after school, specializing in jumpers and equitation
  • Recruited riders from South America, Europe and within the United States
  • Implemented a video review and written evaluation for each rider, summarizing skills and areas that needed development
  • Selected horses for use in the program, as well as horses for the intensive summer camps, and trail ride businesses
  • Hired instructional staff as well as staff for the trail rides
  • Oversaw the care of approximately 15 show horses and 50 trail horses, as well as petting zoo animals
  • Qualified pony finals 2011-2012, Qualified USEF medal finals, Southeast Medal finals top 4, PSJ Pony medal finals winner, SCHJA Governors cup.

Director of English Riding/The University of Findlay

  • Supervised and directed a four-year degree program offered in English riding
  • Job duties included recruitment of students, retention of students, and job placements after graduation
  • Wrote syllabi as well as created testing procedures
  • Implemented a work study and job placement program
  • Created an alumni mini prix event for program graduates
  • Daily oversight and management of the care and maintenance of the horses as well as input into the facility upgrades
  • Managed instructional staff of approximately eight full and part-time employees
  • Hired adjunct professors as well as clinicians
  • Oversight of approximately 125 students and 140 horses
  • Developed relationships with various hunter jumper barns to obtain donation horses, as well as purchased and developed green horses that were used for the equine program or sold
  • Taught approximately fifty students daily and held IHSA three evenings per week practices
  • Traveled to competitions for IHSA as well as local and 'AA' shows
  • Selected riders for varsity and Jv
  • Programs
  • Head coach for the IHSA team
  • Zone 6 Champions 2007 - 2009 - Reserve Champions 2006, Zone 6 Region 3 champions 2006 - 2009, Undefeated in 2006 - 2008, Individual championships IHSA Nationals; Open Flat, Intermediate Flat, Intermediate Fences, ADV WTC, Novice Fences, Novice Flat, 3rd Place Overall Cacchione Cup 2008, Numerous hunter and jumper Championships were won at AA shows by UF riders and UF horses, LEC
  • Prix De Ville teams in 2006, 2007, and 2008 consistently placed in both high and low teams.

Owner Trainer Rider/Marley Sales

  • Sourced and imported sales horses for hunter and jumper clients
  • Coordinated international vetting, shipping and purchase of horses
  • Coached riders at A and local shows
  • Qualified riders for pony finals, Onondarka Medal Finals, USEF and USET medal finals
  • Competed sales horses in local and A shows
  • Judged locally
  • While in Ireland started one of the earliest online horse marketing websites, Irish Horses Direct, managed a small sales facility, competed green horses.

Assistant Trainer/ Lochmoor Stables

  • Daily barn chores taught both boarder and academy riding programs
  • Took clients to local shows
  • Managed in house show series
  • Monthly billing and payroll duties
  • Worked with veterinarian and farrier scheduling and treatment plans
  • Drive truck and trailer, operate tractor, and skid steer.

Education

Associate of Arts - Equestrian Studies

The University of Findlay
Findlay, OH
05.2009

Skills

  • Organizational skills
  • Excellent communicator
  • Friendly, Positive Attitude
  • Revenue Generation
  • Industry Networking
  • Staff Management
  • Team Collaboration
  • Mentoring and training
  • Client Relationships
  • Partnership Development
  • Concept Development

Accomplishments

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

HORSE SHOW MANAGEMENT

1992-1998

Hosted between 6 – 8 OHJA/KHJA shows per year at Lochmoor stables, Lebanon Ohio

2005-2011

Hosted IHSA horse at University of Findlay

Provided Co – hosting opportunities for other colleges at UF facility

Held Region and Zone finals for both IHSA and IEA

Created and developed the University of Findlay Alumni Prix into a two-day event featuring UF alums, as well as current students and invited other colleges to participate. This event began as a small in-house event and developed into an event used to tie in Parents Weekend and had approximately 500- 750 attendees. We were heavily involved in community outreach and had the local domestic violence shelter residents as our VIP guests. All of the catering was provided by local restaurants, and a variety of interactive activities for the community.

2011-2013

Hosted clinics and horse shows at Lawton Stables, Sea Pines SC (local/IEA)

2013-2018

Hosted IEA shows as well as clinics at Chastain Horse Park

2020-2021

AHJA/GHJA horse show manager Auburn Al

Relatedinformation

  • 2006 - 2008 Regional president of IHSA Zone 6 region 3
  • 1995 - present Judging experience - local, IEA, IHSA, hunter trials
  • 2005 - present stewarding experience, local shows and IEA/IHSA
  • 2006 - 2010 Created and hosted various events including Alumni Prix



Additional Information

I've worked on various horse show management teams, and I have experience managing customer expectations, logistics, scheduling, course design, and judging. I'm also skilled at marketing, social media management, and developing key sponsorships for events. I'm passionate about horse show and enjoy working in a collaborative environment.


Timeline

Self Employed

Program Director - Head Trainer

Chastain Horse Park

Head Trainer/ International Riding Academy

Director of English Riding/The University of Findlay

Owner Trainer Rider/Marley Sales

Assistant Trainer/ Lochmoor Stables

Associate of Arts - Equestrian Studies

The University of Findlay

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Sandra McCarthy