About Mariam
With my Dear Dante, my Thoroughbred for 8 years.
I have had a passion for horses since childhood. Like many little girls, I had an unexplained love for horses, and never outgrew the passion. Horses have been a part of my life since age 5, and I have been blessed to have turned that passion into a career.
Currently, I am a riding instructor specializing in Dressage and Jumpers. My equine companion is Sherlock ~ a Quarter Horse gelding that has been with us since July 2008 (thank you to Stoney & Marli Spears for breeding him and allowing him to be a part of our family).
The following is a history my experiences with horses:
I grew up in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Southern Spain, (U.S. Naval Station, Rota, Spain) riding primarily Andalusians, Andalusian crosses and Thoroughbreds. While in Spain I began taking English riding lessons at age 5. By the time I was in high school I was taking dressage and jumping lessons with trainers at Villa Julia Stables in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. My last 2 years in Spain I broke and trained horses for Villa Julia Stables, including working with all ages from foals to adults, breaking young horses and working with "problem horses."
While living in Spain, we would come to Florida to visit family in the summers. During these summers I took hunter/jumper lessons with a George Morris trained instructor in Tampa Florida, and competed in hunter shows, both under saddle and over fences.
After graduating from high school in Spain, I moved to Florida where I rode as an exercise rider for hunter/jumper stables in Tampa Florida while attending the University of South Florida.
I then moved to Oklahoma and finished my Bachelor’s of Science degree in zoology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma.
Once I moved to the DFW Metroplex I began taking dressage lessons in Richardson Texas.
A few years later I became a freelance riding instructor and horse trainer for private individuals, as well as the riding instructor for Circle B Stables, Mansfield TX.
In 2005 I became certified with ARIA (American Riding Instructors Association) in Hunt Seat.
I then moved to Fieldstone Park in Mansfield TX where I was barn manager, head riding instructor, and head trainer.
Eventually I cut back on my duties at Fieldstone, and focused my direction primarily on dressage and jumpers.
I now happily teach jumper and dressage lessons in addition to training horses at barns in Mansfield, Midlothian and Burleson.
I continue my education with reading literature and attend clinics.
I have ridden in clinics with:
Currently, I am a riding instructor specializing in Dressage and Jumpers. My equine companion is Sherlock ~ a Quarter Horse gelding that has been with us since July 2008 (thank you to Stoney & Marli Spears for breeding him and allowing him to be a part of our family).
The following is a history my experiences with horses:
I grew up in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Southern Spain, (U.S. Naval Station, Rota, Spain) riding primarily Andalusians, Andalusian crosses and Thoroughbreds. While in Spain I began taking English riding lessons at age 5. By the time I was in high school I was taking dressage and jumping lessons with trainers at Villa Julia Stables in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain. My last 2 years in Spain I broke and trained horses for Villa Julia Stables, including working with all ages from foals to adults, breaking young horses and working with "problem horses."
While living in Spain, we would come to Florida to visit family in the summers. During these summers I took hunter/jumper lessons with a George Morris trained instructor in Tampa Florida, and competed in hunter shows, both under saddle and over fences.
After graduating from high school in Spain, I moved to Florida where I rode as an exercise rider for hunter/jumper stables in Tampa Florida while attending the University of South Florida.
I then moved to Oklahoma and finished my Bachelor’s of Science degree in zoology with a minor in chemistry from the University of Oklahoma.
Once I moved to the DFW Metroplex I began taking dressage lessons in Richardson Texas.
A few years later I became a freelance riding instructor and horse trainer for private individuals, as well as the riding instructor for Circle B Stables, Mansfield TX.
In 2005 I became certified with ARIA (American Riding Instructors Association) in Hunt Seat.
I then moved to Fieldstone Park in Mansfield TX where I was barn manager, head riding instructor, and head trainer.
Eventually I cut back on my duties at Fieldstone, and focused my direction primarily on dressage and jumpers.
I now happily teach jumper and dressage lessons in addition to training horses at barns in Mansfield, Midlothian and Burleson.
I continue my education with reading literature and attend clinics.
I have ridden in clinics with:
- Sally O'Connor
- Bill Woods
- George Morris
- Greg Best
- Joe Fargis
- Jim Wofford
- Karen O'Connor
