Tori Burkey
Tori has decided to start a family, I am sure we will see her back in the future as a relief instructor. We wish her all the very best -good luck - Tori.
*****update - congratulations its a Boy welcome baby Renee to the world ********
Tori has always had a passion for horses as long as she can remember. Every chance she had she was looking, touching and riding horses. Tori has ridden many different types of horses and disciplines. She has experience with rescued off the track thoroughbreds, seasoned show horses, young horses, and therapeutic horses. Tori rides hunter equitation, western horsemanship, and eventing and teaches abled-bodied and non-abled-bodied riders. Tori graduated from St. Andrews University in 2014 with a degree in Equine Business Management and Therapeutic Horsemanship. Upon graduation she also obtained her PATH Int. Riding Instructor Certification.
As Tori grew up she worked at many farms doing typical barn work. She did two summer internships at the summer camp she went to every year. Here she took care of the barn and horses, took the public on guided trails, took lessons, and learned to play polo. While here Tori had the opportunity to break and train horses for trail riding, flat work, and introduced them to polo. While working at Lost Creek Farm, Tori also worked at Shenandoah Farm which was an Akhal Teke eventing stud farm. Here Tori learned about dressage and jumping from an eventing perspective. She also was introduced to the breeding field, working with stallions, and babies. She worked with two year olds and taught them ground manners and also assisted in backing four year olds.
For Tori’s Senior Internship she decided to work under Eric Dierks and Trayce Doubek-Dierks. Here Tori completed daily barn work and worked horses. She learned so much about eventing under the guidance of Eric and Trayce. She also learned much about horse management and assisted in veterinary care of injured and sick horses. Tori had the opportunity to work a German Riding Pony under Eric’s supervision. With daily work she was able to take the pony over her first jump course, cross country fences, and to her first schooling show. The pony improved so much she eventually found new owners.
Tori went to St. Andrews University with a scholarship for the Hunter Seat Equitation Team. There she started competing IHSA as an Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter rider. While there she also had a Soccer scholarship. With balancing the two sports and academics, by the end of her four years she was captain of the soccer team her last two years and placed third at IHSA Regionals and advanced to Novice Flat for the Hunter Seat team. Also in her four years at SAU Tori learned how to teach Therapeutic Riding and train therapeutic horses. Since SAU was an equestrian school, Tori jumped on the chance to learn Western Horsemanship and took lessons from Carla Wennberg. The college also offered a natural horsemanship class that she took and learned a whole new perspective of training.
After graduation Tori started working and riding for Susie Beale. Tori learned even more about eventing with lessons and grooming at competitions. While here, Tori was able to school clientele and lesson horses, rehab horses and was also an instructor for summer camp. The amount of knowledge she learned about horse care while at the facility will carry on with her forever.
Tori then worked under Jane Sleeper learning a different outlook on horse care and management. She also received daily lessons and even rode in her first unrated event and placed second in Intro. With Jane, Tori prepared horses and was a groom for clinics, shows, and off the farm lessons.
Tori truly loves teaching and working with clients and has a passion for working with horses. Her ultimate goal is to become an upper level rider and eventually own her own facility. Tori loves to share her knowledge with young riders just like her.
*****update - congratulations its a Boy welcome baby Renee to the world ********
Tori has always had a passion for horses as long as she can remember. Every chance she had she was looking, touching and riding horses. Tori has ridden many different types of horses and disciplines. She has experience with rescued off the track thoroughbreds, seasoned show horses, young horses, and therapeutic horses. Tori rides hunter equitation, western horsemanship, and eventing and teaches abled-bodied and non-abled-bodied riders. Tori graduated from St. Andrews University in 2014 with a degree in Equine Business Management and Therapeutic Horsemanship. Upon graduation she also obtained her PATH Int. Riding Instructor Certification.
As Tori grew up she worked at many farms doing typical barn work. She did two summer internships at the summer camp she went to every year. Here she took care of the barn and horses, took the public on guided trails, took lessons, and learned to play polo. While here Tori had the opportunity to break and train horses for trail riding, flat work, and introduced them to polo. While working at Lost Creek Farm, Tori also worked at Shenandoah Farm which was an Akhal Teke eventing stud farm. Here Tori learned about dressage and jumping from an eventing perspective. She also was introduced to the breeding field, working with stallions, and babies. She worked with two year olds and taught them ground manners and also assisted in backing four year olds.
For Tori’s Senior Internship she decided to work under Eric Dierks and Trayce Doubek-Dierks. Here Tori completed daily barn work and worked horses. She learned so much about eventing under the guidance of Eric and Trayce. She also learned much about horse management and assisted in veterinary care of injured and sick horses. Tori had the opportunity to work a German Riding Pony under Eric’s supervision. With daily work she was able to take the pony over her first jump course, cross country fences, and to her first schooling show. The pony improved so much she eventually found new owners.
Tori went to St. Andrews University with a scholarship for the Hunter Seat Equitation Team. There she started competing IHSA as an Advanced Walk/Trot/Canter rider. While there she also had a Soccer scholarship. With balancing the two sports and academics, by the end of her four years she was captain of the soccer team her last two years and placed third at IHSA Regionals and advanced to Novice Flat for the Hunter Seat team. Also in her four years at SAU Tori learned how to teach Therapeutic Riding and train therapeutic horses. Since SAU was an equestrian school, Tori jumped on the chance to learn Western Horsemanship and took lessons from Carla Wennberg. The college also offered a natural horsemanship class that she took and learned a whole new perspective of training.
After graduation Tori started working and riding for Susie Beale. Tori learned even more about eventing with lessons and grooming at competitions. While here, Tori was able to school clientele and lesson horses, rehab horses and was also an instructor for summer camp. The amount of knowledge she learned about horse care while at the facility will carry on with her forever.
Tori then worked under Jane Sleeper learning a different outlook on horse care and management. She also received daily lessons and even rode in her first unrated event and placed second in Intro. With Jane, Tori prepared horses and was a groom for clinics, shows, and off the farm lessons.
Tori truly loves teaching and working with clients and has a passion for working with horses. Her ultimate goal is to become an upper level rider and eventually own her own facility. Tori loves to share her knowledge with young riders just like her.