a bit about me...
My love for horses began in my teens at Le Bourveau Riding School in Columbus, Ohio, where I spent every spare moment in the barn: grooming, learning, riding, and absorbing everything I could. That passion eventually carried me to Gladstone, New Jersey, home of the United States Equestrian Team, where I worked for a competitive show jumper and trainer. I spent my days schooling horses and my weekends teaching lessons or driving a team of draft horses.
When I moved West, I found my true calling in the rhythm of trail riding, competitive endurance, and long horse-camping trips with friends. Throughout the years, I’ve been fortunate to have a variety of horses: narrow, wide, angular, short-backed Arabians, a long-backed Morgan, and a gaited Rocky Mountain. Each one taught me more about movement, balance, and the importance of proper saddle fit.
Why I Started Custom Equine
Custom Equine grew from a simple desire: to do more of what I love while helping horses move freely and comfortably.
As both a lifelong horsewoman and woven textile designer, I’ve spent decades studying the way horses move and how equipment influences their comfort. I’ve ridden in a lot of saddles: English, Western, treeless, flex-panel, and adjustable systems. After years of trial and error, the shorter Western tree stood out for its versatility. The wider bars and open spinal channel distribute pressure evenly, offering true clearance and comfort for a wide range of horses and riders.
That realization shifted everything. The right equipment isn’t about trends, it’s about understanding anatomy, movement, and what a horse needs to feel supported.
How Specialized & TW Saddlery Changed the Game
Specialized Saddles and TW Saddlery’s 3D fit system transformed the way I ride and care for my horses. The adjustability has been invaluable—especially for my younger Arabian as his topline and shoulders developed, and again later when a serious pasture injury dramatically changed his body.
With veterinary specialists, consistent bodywork, and the ability to adjust his saddle at every stage, he returned to work stronger and more balanced than ever. The saddle played a pivotal role in his rehab, giving him the freedom to move comfortably during every phase of recovery.
I purchased my first Specialized saddle in 2012 and have never looked back. Being able to refit the same saddle to multiple horses, without compromising comfort, has saved time, money, and frustration. The lightweight design, shorter bars, and English rigging option make it the perfect combination for the type of riding I love.
The Weaving Behind Custom Equine
My background in textile design and color naturally intertwined with my work, leading to the creation of Custom Equine’s woven saddle blankets.
Each blanket is handwoven by women artisans from Indigenous communities in Mexico, continuing weaving traditions that trace back more than 2,000 years. The process begins with hand-washing and spinning wool, then dyeing it with natural pigments from plants, minerals, and cochineal insects to achieve vibrant, lasting colors. Tightly woven on traditional pedal looms, each design carries ancestral significance, woven from memory that honor heritage, land, and lineage.
Once the weaving is complete, I finish and sew each blanket by hand in California with 100% wool felt and fleece lining, a shaped wither contour, an open spinal channel, and premium leather accents. My designs are inspired by natural elements and intentionally crafted for lasting fit, comfort, and style.
Custom Equine is the culmination of decades of riding, training, textile work, saddle fitting, and listening closely to what horses communicate. Today, the work extends beyond equipment. It is about honoring tradition, supporting artisans, and creating pieces rooted in comfort, connection, and longevity.
Where We Are Today
Everything we make is guided by one intention: to support the well-being of both horse and rider through thoughtful design, heritage craftsmanship, and true functional comfort.
