Lizzy was born and raised on her family’s hunter, jumper, and breeding farm in Central Pennsylvania. Some say Lizzy sat on a horse before she could walk. Growing up without a left hand resulted in Lizzy taking a non-traditional route in the early years of her riding. For Lizzy, it was not only more fun but also easier to ride her pony without a bridle and with just a rope around the neck. Lizzy thought that horse showing was too stressful and dress-up and bareback bridleless riding was more her style. 

Lizzy’s first pony Toby was purchased by her parents at an auction with his cart tack and all for $800. Toby had a tremendous impact on Lizzy’s early years as an equestrian. Lizzy’s mom had intended that Toby would be a small pony hunter, but both Toby and Lizzy had other ideas. 

At a young age, Lizzy discovered Tommie Turvey. From the age of 7 Lizzy was traveling, performing stunts, and bareback bridleless jumping with Tommie Turvey’s Night of Amazing Horses. They performed all across North America including the 2010 World Equestrian Games, Equine Affair, and Canam. 

Lizzy taught clinics on a wide variety of topics including trick riding, flatwork, jumping, bridleless riding, and starting young horses, while also delivering nighttime performances. In 2009 Lizzy founded Taiji Horsemanship, with the mission to provide a quality start to finish education, allowing every horse and rider to be on their best possible journey. The training series remains available online for free today and was named the #1 virtual training series by Horse Nation, presented by SmartPak in 2016.  The foundation from Taiji Horsemanship is still avidly used by Lizzy today.

The 2010 World Equestrian Games was a pivotal point in Lizzy’s riding career, as she was introduced to Louise Serio, and given the inaugural USHJA Living the Dream grant. This allowed Lizzy the opportunity to go to Wellington, Florida for two weeks with one horse and train with the best in the industry. These two weeks opened doors and started relationships that are still cherished today.

Since then Lizzy’s focus was in the hunter and jumper competition ring under the tutelage of Elizabeth Solter, Lizzy’s Mom’s best friend, and Mr. Joe Fargis. After the passing of Elizabeth Solter in 2014, Lizzy refocused primarily on the jumpers. Lizzy focused on picking up as many rides as she could in the jumper ring and finding good jumpers that had small problems worth trying to fix.

Under the graciousness of Karl Heinz Beyer, Emil Spadone, Peter Wylde, and Andy Kocher to name a few, Lizzy was able to secure some great rides through her junior career securing her the opportunity to jump national grand prix’s and win numerous junior/amateur jumper classics.

Following Lizzy’s junior year’s she attended Penn State University where she majored in Finance and graduated with honors. Lizzy was co-captain of the equestrian team her sophomore year and captain her junior year, leading the team to nationals 3 years in a row, and bringing home top placings in the Cacchione Cup under the guidance of Penn State’s coach Mrs. Kristin Kocher Gretok. 

Lizzy represented the Equestrian Team in Penn State’s THON, a 46 hour no sitting, no sleeping, dance marathon to raise money for pediatric cancer and research during her junior year. THON is the largest student run philanthropy in the world and has raised over 157 million dollars for pediatric cancer since its founding.

Directly after graduation in December of 2019 Lizzy flew to Mühlen, Germany to ride and compete for Paul Schokelmohle under the advice of Ms. Kathy Kusner. Lizzy is still in Germany today continuing to ride, compete, and train young jumpers for Paul Schokelmohle while continuing to build her connections in Europe. Lizzy eagerly looks forward to returning to the States but recognizes this time in Europe is a key step to her development as a rider.

Lizzy has big dreams and is not readily satisfied. Ever since watching the Show Jumping events at WEG in 2010, Lizzy has set her goals on one day representing the USA. Lizzy is determined to work as hard as she can to achieve her goals, but above all else, Lizzy is committed first and foremost to her horses. Whatever the future may hold, Lizzy will continue to put her horses above all else and to appreciate them in everything she does.