About Camie
Cricket the shetland pony was Camie’s first exposure to horses, very early in her life. Cricket was a safe, kind pony who made Camie think she was a good rider, though of course, as a child, she was a bouncing, screeching, giggly ball of goof. Cricket taught Camie the first rule of horsemanship – enjoy the ride.
Camie grew up in Sheboygan County, WI, which had a terrific 4-H horse project where she was exposed to western horse sports, english horse sports, trail riding, horse camping and driving, and given a great theoretical and practical knowledge of horsekeeping through exacting instructors, generous mentors, talented clinicians and relentless Quiz Bowl. After graduating high school and 4-H, she went to the University of Wisconsin to study meteorology and play basketball.
The next step was moving to Dubuque, Iowa for her first on-air weather broadcasting position. Her horse Johnnie, an appaloosa/thoroughbred cross, came along with her and they shortly went to their first horse trial. Her friend Aggie Ershen kindly loaned her a truck and trailer and Camie drove to the horse trial in Chicago and won it. Everyone, including Camie, was pretty surprised, and truth be told, she got more than a little lucky, but for sure Camie was hooked.
In the following years, Camie rode with every eventing, showjumping or dressage clinician she could and took lessons and read voraciously. Over time she was bringing along her own horses to preliminary level and training others’ horses for eventing and foxhunting out of her Field Day Farm in Cambridge, Iowa. Camie has competed successfully at the preliminary level in the American Eventing Championships five times on two different horses, started more than a few horses for foxhunting and eventing and coached driven dressage. She has also pursued and holds USEA Eventing Coaches Program Certification.
She is extremely proud of her students’ success. Recent accomplishments include former working student Sarah Magee Martin studying to be a veterinarian at Iowa State University Vet School; Jenn DuCray and Diane McDonald doing excellently at the Thoroughbred Makeover; Rylee Cahill buying a farm and Missy Monson leasing a horse. Such a great tribe, all supporting each other.
Her next goals include:
- Helping others gain skills and confidence in their riding and connection to their horses
- Continuing to expand her riding skill and theoretical knowledge
- Enjoying the ride! Huzzah, Cricket!