Samantha Buncher

Samantha V. Buncher is fiercely committed to the growth and development of all of her students and the horses they ride. Inspired by the expert instruction of her teachers, Samantha is a talented rider, trainer and instructor, with a passion for teaching students and training horses. Beloved by her students and their parents, Samantha understands the focused enthusiasm of the advanced rider ready to show on the circuit, as well as the excitement of the beginning rider going to local schooling shows. As an instructor, she knows how to meet the learning styles of her students, and understands the need to pace lessons to both stretch and inspire the student, as well as the broader needs that life at a barn serve for the rider and his/her family. Having grown up around horses and riders, and trained under grand prix riders and trainers, Sam has a teaching style that motivates her students to do and be their best. She knows how to match a student with a horse, how to guide her riders through their growing years in the saddle, and how to nurture the horses under her care as well. With experience, expertise, patience and knowhow, she is prepared and able to help your child reach his or her riding goals. Whatever your childs riding level and aspirations, Samantha is someone you can trust to be there to work with your rider and bring out the best in him or her. In addition, Samantha is a gifted horse broker whose connections with other trainers across the US, and a knack for finding just the right horse for a rider, make her an excellent contact to help you sell the horse you have and find your next horse! Then, Sam will train your new horse to work well with your rider and train your rider to work well with the horse.

Where It All Began

Samanthas love of horses and riding began when she was less than seven years old at a small English barn in Virginia. As she grew in skill and expertise, her ability to understand and communicate with horses became apparent. By 14, she found a trainer who was able to explain the intricacies of what worked and why with horses in a way that motivated Samantha to strive for excellence in riding more than ever before. This experience continues to affect her approach with students, guiding her to tailor her instruction to the needs, abilities, and commitment level of her students. During high school, Samantha spent one year at Willow Hill, an eventing farm in Upstate New York, under the tutelage of Rolex Rider and Trainer Tara Edwards and Grand Prix Rider and Trainer Julie Edwards, and two seasons in Wellington showing and catch riding. These experiences inspired Samantha to become a professional horsewoman in order to gain the ability and expertise to help students and their horses reach their potential in the ring. With this decided, she pursued her formal equestrian education at Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre, where she became a Certified Riding Master VI, A Certified Instructor III and Trainer, and a certified Equine Massage Therapist. Samanthas show career has included shows and wins in show rings all the way from Lake Placid in Upstate New York, through Vermont, down to Wellington, Littlewood, Plantation Acres and Tropical Park in South Florida. She has also shown at Folsom in Louisiana. After two assistant training stints at Condee Farm in South Florida where Samantha rode between 10 and 16 horses daily, and Lebocage Stables in Lake Charles where she had a teaching load of 30 student riders ages 3 to 50, Sam decided it was time for her to start her own lesson and boarding stable and Sky High Equestrian Center has come Alive!

Samantha works as a:

• English Riding Instructor
• Horse Trainer
• Horse Broker
• Equine Massage Therapist