Mary Burke’s Bio. – Coaching, training and mentoring dressage and event “riders and horse” to the upper levels, has come from a 45-year history of understanding how a horse and rider thinks and moves. Her knowledge base was built on studying and training with equestrian masters from age 10 to 50 as well as her obtaining her masters degree in Physical Therapy from University Of Washington in 1998.

The Beginning – As a young child Mary competed in the “A” rated hunter jumper circuit winning multiple championships and qualified for Madison Square Gardens three years in a row. Following Mary’s hunter-jumper career, she traveled to the East Coast and competed in FEI Dressage, exclusively, to deepen her knowledge in classical dressage training. She trained with Linda Zang (USDF “O” rated dressage judge) and Elizabeth Madliner. During that time, she qualified multiple horses for the USDF Championships in first through Prix-St. George and obtained her USDF Bronze & Silver medals.

Transitioning into her thirties, Mary Burke blended her hunter-jumper talent, dressage east coast experience, and collage education in human Physical Therapy into a highly successful eventing, training and coaching career. At the start of her eventing career, she was mentored by two-time Olympian Amy Tryon from 2006 to 2012, “Amy was a true master and an elegant rider who taught the fundamental principals of riding and showmanship. The essence of her riding was an art form that had a profound impact on my riding career.” Mary’s eventing record speaks for it self, from winning at the prestigious “American Event Championship, training her personal horse from young event horse to the FEI three star Advanced level and qualifying for the Rolex Three Day Event three years in a row. In addition, Winning the CIC 3-Star at Woodside International Horse Trial in California, to winning the Advanced at Aspen Farms Horse Trial in Washington plus Area – 7 “Horse Of The Year Champion” for both the Advanced and Intermediate levels.

Having competed in FEI competitions in both Dressage and Eventing, Burke now owns and runs an inspirational and motivational training and coaching facility, Burkeridge Farm in Ellensburg, Washington with her husband Richard Burke.

Coaching And Teaching – With a passion for coaching and teaching, Mary has formulated rider’s paths to success for competitive and non-competitive riders for the past 15 years. Due to her expanded knowledge based in physical therapy, human anatomy, body mechanics, weight distribution and her extraordinary ability to explain the “Art of Riding,” she can assist riders of all levels. “ I have spent 25 years educating myself on how to use different teaching methods to help physically challenged patients regain the ability to walk, relearn functional physical tasks or re-strengthen damaged muscles. I use these skills to help riders obtain a clear understanding of how to improve and learn new riding ability”. Mary’s philosophy of teaching people in the hospital or in the riding arena is; People have to SEE, FEEL, SAY, and then DO, what you want them to learn. By using these 4 different models of learning, student’s gain a deeper understanding of the task and accelerates the learning process. Caring deeply about the process and coveting the ability to uniquely teach all ambitious riders, Mary not only wants to be known as a trainer, coach and mentor but genuinely wants to share her knowledge with others interested in learning.

Mentoring Riders – Our sport is difficult because the rider is only as good as the horse. It’s all about opportunity, but sadly opportunity is money in the equestrian sport. However, “I do believe that with hard work and the right mentoring there are realistic possibilities that can be achieved for every rider.” A mentor helps you ride with a plan in mind, to stay focused on quality basics with attention to detail in the transitions and with the correct balanced position. Mary has both the skilled eyes for details and the caring approach to train both rider and horse systematically and correctly with the ambition to help people navigate the challenges of the horse world. . For addition articles and publications you may search “Mary Burke Equestrian” on Google to learn more about this equestrian athlete, trainer and facility owner.

What does “connection with the horse” mean to me –

“The horses ability to connect with people has always amazed me. We, as riders, have to be open to understand their body language and emotions in order to experience a true and lasting connection. When a horse tunes into me and disregards everything else, that is when communication begins. While incrementally improving that connection with each ride, the partnership is strengthened. I am inspired each day to ride with clear and fair communication resulting in a lasting, trusting relationship. Having a connection with my horse is truly a special sensation. Developing that connection between horse and rider is what drives my passion to ride.” – Mary Burke and Prince William