Kristin A. Fitzgerald has been passionate about horses since the day she took her very first riding lesson at the age of 8. It has been a never ending desire for her since then: to work with horses.

    As Kristin got older, many people around her realized she pocessed a soft "feel" and a non-instrusive way of riding for all horses. Because of this, Kristin was sought out to ride many different types of horses by lots of different people. She realized that she enjoyed helping these horses, but also enjoyed the aspect of assisting the owner or rider with what they could possably do or change to help their riding with that particular horse. This started her new passion; teaching and training people who have horses in their lives and teaching and training horses that have humans in their life.

Kristin has expanded her knowledge year after year in all aspects possible to help her to help people and to help horses. The emphasis has been on the actual "relationship & Undertanding" between a horse and human. She enjoys learning as much as she can so to be able to be of more assistance to the horse and human relationship. She has learned how to cater to the individual personality of each and every horse, and also to cater to the individual personality of each and every rider/owner. Kristin has become seasoned in the thinking and philosphies of Natural Horsemanship (which she believes is the equine version of Horse Psychology) and her college years in human psychology plus the time spent as a physical therapy technician (which is both a physical and mental rehab partnership) has strengthened her ability to help more people and more horses in their relationships.

In September 2007, Kristin followed her dreams and passions and started Old Cedar Equestrian; an Equine Professional Services business. Her new endeavor is to further educate and strengthen herself by becoming a Certified Life Coach. Her goals are to assist and guide any individual who needs encouragment and confidence specifically taylored to the equine enthusiast (whether a horse owner or just a horse lover). Kristin is very well adapted in the realm of horse and human relationships as well as human to human relationships. She currently is a Life Coach in training!

Kristin knows this is her life passion. The warmth and confidence she feels when working with people and horses is intensely satisfying for her. She wants nothing more then to see happy horses with happy humans.

KRISTIN'S ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXPERIENCES

- Started riding at age 8 (1990). Showed in local and state shows while living in New York, and New Jersey (moved to VA in 1994)

- Year end local championships through out High School years in CHSA and VHSA registered Hunter shows (1995-2000)

-Summer Work at a Harness Racing Stable (Summer of 2000)

- 8 years of teaching and Instruction to riders of all ages and abilities (2000 - present time)

- 1 year of Volunteer work with Handicapped Theraputic riding program (organized by Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation)(2001-2002)

- Certified Level 3 English riding with Jumping and certified level 2 Western riding by the national organization CERTIFIED HORSEMANSHIP ASSOCIATION (certified in 2003)

- 2 years of Equine Summer camp Assistant Instructor  (Summer of 2001 and Summer 2002)

- 2 years of Head Instructor for Equine Summer Camp (Summer of 2003 and Summer of 2004)

- Horse Show Manager for a stable for one season of a local VHSA horse show  (2003)

- Assistant Management over lesson program; 11 horses and their care, coordinating ring times for instructors, enforcing rules and regulations regarding lesson program

- 3 + years of employment as a Physical Therapy Technician; emphasis on body work, fitness, and injury rehabiliation. (2004-2007)

- Owner of Old Cedar Equestrian and manager of Old Cedar Farm: Care system of 5 horses and a small goat breeding/milking program.

EDUCATION

- 2000 High School Graduate from Manchester Hight School, Chesterfield VA

- 3 years of total college study at Richard Bland College, Petersburg Va, with a transfer to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), studies pertaining to a major in Pyschology and Pre-occupational Therapy

- One year completion of Anatomy and body work acedemics pertaining to Massage Therapy, at Richmond Acamdemy of Massage. (2004)