Shelby Byfield

Shelby is a dedicated student of the horse. She has ridden across multiple disciplines, originally competing in show jumping in and eventually evolving to the art of classical dressage.

Originally from southern Florida, Shelby spent her youth surrounded by a strong equestrian community that fostered her love of equestrian sports and her interest in equine behavior. Throughout her undergraduate and graduate college years, Shelby worked at Southern Oaks for acclaimed rider and trainer Marsha Hartford Sapp where she received invaluable equine education.

After completing her degrees, Shelby began her career as a geologist, but horses were never far from mind. Shelby spent her time away from work teaching lessons and schooling horses before she came to the realization that horses would always be her calling.

Shelby approaches her training with the same intentional, scientific approach that made her successful as a scientist. Each step of the process, no matter how seemingly insignificant, receives the same thoughtful process to achieve consistent and replicable results. Her goal is that every horse learns not just to complete the work, but also enjoy the work so that horse and rider can succeed as a harmonious and happy team.