Up and coming APHA all-around trainers Erica Lang of Pilot Point, Texas and Carly Veldman of Colbert, Georgia have quickly made a name for themselves in the industry as professional horsewomen. These young ladies in their twenties have already developed outstanding training programs with powerhouse clientele.
Lang and Veldman have earned people’s attention. Many are impressed by their climb up the ladder as most trainers at this age are still assistants working for trainers, still in college, or showing as amateurs. But, these two confident professionals each decided to forgo that route and open up their own facilities.
So how and why did they do it? We asked them what had been their greatest challenges; what advice they may have for other young trainers trying to make it in this tough business; and why they think they have been able to develop such an outstanding program at lightening speed?
Twenty six year-old multiple World Champion Erica Lang teamed up with friend and competitor Alisa Bernhard in May 2009 and formed Born 2 B Show Horses. Their client list includes 2010 Number One APHA 14-18 exhibitor Paige Stawicki, Lauren Jordan, Lexi Jordan, Johanna Proefrock, and Jenni Hansen.
“We always knew we wanted to start a business together and we compliment each other very well in that she and I both do western and english, but she is stronger in the english, and I am stronger in the western,” Lang says.
Lang met Alisa Bernhard (pictured here with Lang) her last year of youth at the Paint World where they were first and second in numerous classes. Bernhard went on to win the all-around, and Lang captured the Reserve 14-18 title at the show. Lang has since won 15 World and Reserve World titles and Alisa has won over 35 world championships in AQHA, APHA, PtHA, ApHC, and NSBA.
“Alisa is amazing, and I am so lucky to work with her. She has bred, raised, and trained so many champions and moved from Germantown, Wisconsin to team up with me,” Lang says.
Lang told GoHorseShow that Alisa’s old youth horse, Fleetstreet Max, is the winningest Paint horse of all time and he was even made into a Breyer Horse this past year. Alisa won over 25 World and Reserve World Championships with Max including the Open and Amateur All-Around titles at the World Show.
Lang says that this is a very tough business, and it is especially challenging when you’re a new young trainer.
“I showed as a youth and amateur for so long and even though I was closely involved in the training of all my own personal horses, I think it was hard for people to imagine me training other people and their horses,” the striking brunette remembers. “Our business obviously started out slowly, and we only had a few horses, but we made sure to be as diligent with the few horses that we had. We also encourage our youth/amateurs to come and ride as much as possible, so, they learn how to effectively ride their own horses.”
Lang adds, “It became clear to our first clients that we were very committed and wanted to make horse showing both fun and rewarding for them. After that, I think that the business just started coming in through word of mouth, and today, we have 20 plus training horses. We are so lucky to get paid to do something we love to do and are so grateful for our loyal clients and fabulous horses.”
Lang’s advice to someone trying to get in the business is to make goals and plans and persevere.
“People are going to tell you that you can’t do it, and it is easy to get discouraged and disheartened. Try to focus on the positive and build your business one horse at a time. Once people see how your program works and you have happy customers, it is only a matter of time before more people will take notice of your program and send horses to you,” she said.
“Patience is key. I have been told by many people that they were watching Alisa and me, and they wanted to make sure that we could be more than just successful amateurs. Once we started doing well at the shows and people could watch the how we interacted with our clients, they felt more comfortable with us being professionals and considered sending horses to us. “
Like Lang and Bernhard, Carly Veldman who runs On Q Performance Horses in Colbert, Georgia also started out as a successful Paint youth and amateur before going out on her own. This 12-time APHA World Champion was well known in the industry showing her long time favorite horse, Picasso By Q (Boomer) who she named her business after. Her business partner and boyfriend, Chad Stientra, specializes in the pleasure and Veldman credits him for helping her become successful in a very short time. Her client list includes Laura Upton, Tracy Hehr, Melissa Haberkorn, Angie Hayes, Emily and Rachael Castellini, Alyssa Holloway, Wendy Noder, Paige Hoffman, and Allye Brown. (pictured left Carly Veldman, Picasso By Q, and Chad Stientra, photo © Shane Rux)
Born and raised in South Bend, Indiana her mother bought her first Paint horse out of a newspaper. “Her name was Peaches and she was wild and would run through fences,” Veldman remembers. “But I showed her in 4-H and kept trading up and getting better horses.”
Over the years, Veldman received help from many trainers in the industry including, Becky George, Leanne Miller, Garth Gooding, Vicky Holt, Cindy Meyer, Jenell Pogue, David Miller, Scott Jones, Suzetta Busby, and Hope Simms. “I credit my success to getting to learn from so many great trainers and taking the knowledge of their programs to build a program that works for me,” Carly says.
This talented 28 year-old ended up riding for the University of Georgia Equestrian Team and then became their western coach for a few years before deciding that she missed riding her horses at home. She turned professional five and a half years ago.
“I think being a coach and working with the kids at Georgia and also coming from winning in the youth and amateur division helps me when it comes to providing instruction and support to my youth and amateur clients. I know what it’s like to be in the pen doing those events, and also how I wanted to be prepared both technically and mentally,” Veldman says. “It gave me more credibility in the eyes of the public despite the fact I am very young.”
Veldman says that the biggest advice she can give a young trainer is not try to overcompensate for their age by thinking they know everything. “No one knows everything. It is so important to be able to admit your weaknesses and also to look up to others for help and advice,” Veldman wisely says.
Also an APHA judge, Veldman says the biggest struggle she has as a trainer is realizing that she might not be able to fix every problem in one day. “I have had a couple infamous six hour lessons, which is not healthy for the horse or the rider. Just in the last year, I have become better at learning that some days with certain horses or riders, they might just not be able to get it perfect that day. It’s still a struggle, though. If I do give up before I am completely content, I will definitely not sleep well that night.”
Veldman concludes her thoughts by saying, “I feel so lucky to have my job as a horse trainer. I truly am living the dream. I told my dad the other day, I would pay to do my job. He laughed and reminded me that sometimes I do!”
