Eventing Staff
NAME: Lindsey Taylor
DOB: 3/14/1986
HOMETOWN:. Saint Charles, IL
WITH WINDURRA SINCE: January 2011
JOB DESCRIPTION: Head Groom and Operations Manager
Lindsey got hooked on horses while she was a freshman at Wheaton College at the age of 18. Looking for something to distract her from her schoolwork, she attended a mini event that her younger sister was competing in. She got the idea that riding might be a fun extra-curricular activity and began taking once a week lessons with Pat Bunge at a small eventing barn, Red Roses Farm in Saint Charles, IL.
One thing led to another and she was soon leasing a horse and competing in local events. She rode a borrowed horse in a clinic with Becky Holder during this time and was impressed by the enthusiasm, expertise and attention to detail that Becky brought to her teaching. Lindsey decided to pursue a working student position with Becky in 2008 and 2009, during which time she learned an immeasurable amount about eventing at it's highest levels, and became quite interested in grooming and horse care.
Lindsey returned home to Illinois in 2009 to finish her Business and Economics degree at Wheaton College. During this time, she rode with Cathy Jones-Forsberg at Topline Equestrian Center in Hampshire, IL and became Cathy's head groom. This position added greatly to her experience in grooming, especially in handling and caring for young horses.
After graduating from Wheaton College, Lindsey searched for a way to pursue a career with horses. Although she had competed various horses at the lower levels of eventing and enjoyed riding, she was ready to pursue a position that did not necessarily involve riding. Because of her strong interest in grooming and horsemanship, a career as a full time groom was very appealing. Thanks to Faye Woolf for recognizing Lindsey's interests and connecting her with Boyd!
Lindsey started grooming for Boyd at the beginning of 2011 and has enjoyed all of the experiences and opportunities that this position has brought her, including grooming at some of the biggest events in the world. email Lindsey (630) 338-3331
NAME: Emily van Gemeren
DOB: July 4, 1989
HOMETOWN: Canton, CT
WITH WINDURRA SINCE: September 2011
JOB DESCRIPTION: Working Student
Emily grew up on a horse farm in Connecticut and has been working with and riding horses for sixteen years. She began her eventing career at age 10 on a one-eyed Appaloosa pony when she started training with four-star rider Jennie Goebel Tucker.
While maintaining an active eventing competition schedule, Emily also rode for her high school's Equitation team with coach Rick Caldwell for four years as well as for the Dartmouth College Dressage Team for two years with coach Lindle Sutton.
Photo credit Shannon Brinkman
Emily came to Windurra for 3 months as a working student in 2009 during an off-term from Dartmouth College. Following her graduation in 2011, she has returned to Windurra to train, compete, and work until she starts graduate school (that is the plan for now, anyways!).
Her current competition horse is an Irish Sport Horse called Berkley. She began riding him in 2009 during her time at Windurra, and since then they have developed a special partnership, moving up to the Intermediate level at the end of 2010. In 2011, they successfully completed the Fair Hill International CCI** and plan to move up to Advanced this spring. email Emily
