ABOUT

Ian has gained a wealth of experience throughout the equine industry, having started by riding track work on racehorses as a teenager before progressing through the international dressage scene in Europe.

​

As a young rider, Ian was fortunate to receive intensive training from some of Australia’s leading Grand Prix dressage riders. During this time, he won multiple state young rider championships. However, when his young rider horse sustained an injury, Ian decided to venture to Europe in search of a new challenge. He worked in Denmark riding young sales horses, training them to a high level with the aim of making them suitable for riders of all abilities.

The following year, Ian trained with 18-time National British Champion and team GB Olympic Silver medalist, Vicki Thompson-Winfield. During his time in England, he assisted Vicki in training her horses from Prix St. George to Grand Prix level and also rode some extremely talented horses himself.

​

After spending an educational year and a half in England, Ian moved to Germany where he worked with various Grand Prix trainers and successfully trained and competed multiple young horses. An opportunity then arose for him to work alongside Dutch breeder and long-time friend, Emmy De Jeu, in the Netherlands. Together, they established a successful dressage breeding and sales enterprise, with Emmy breeding some of the finest horses in Holland which were then trained by Ian for competition or sale. During this time, Ian trained with some of the best trainers in Holland including: 

​

Nicole Werner | Glock Horse Performance Centre. Trainer of International dressage champions Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud.

Monique Peutz | 4* International dressage judge. Trainer of gold medal winning Dutch YR team.

Johan Hamminga | Judge of World Young Horse Championships. Trainer of multiple international dressage riders.



Leunus Van Lieren | Top Dutch breeder. Trainer of multiple international dressage riders.



​

After almost a decade of training and building lifelong relationships in Europe, Ian has now relocated back to Western Australia to be closer to his family. He and Emmy continue to work together in partnership from opposite sides of the world, using their extensive network to match horses with riders.

​

With his vast connections in the industry, Ian can assist his clients in finding horses suitable for their level and ambitions. He is dedicated to helping riders of all abilities and will train horses from beginner through to Grand Prix level.