Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenni Fugate.
Hi Jenni, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I moved to the US from Australia at the end of 2016 to be with my now-husband, Scott. I bought with me a homebred Arabian mare and enjoyed great success from the beginning, winning a National Championship at just her second show here, along with a second National Champion in 2018, amongst many other major awards. To date, I have competed and won at State, Regional, Royal, and National levels, both here and in Australia in 7 different equestrian disciplines.
Upon moving here I met some wonderful people in the local horse community and soon started being asked to teach other riders and help with their horses. In 2018, I made the decision to train horses and riders as a professional due to growing demand and now have a wonderful clientele of owners who have their horses trained and managed by me, along with lesson clients who travel quite some distance to have lessons on one of my lesson horses.
For the last 4 years, I’ve focused on Classical dressage, the principles of which can be applied to any riding discipline. I am really passionate about teaching the biomechanics of riding and horses movement so that my clients understand the why’s as much as the hows of riding and training. I get a thrill when my clients have little breakthroughs with their riding, and discover what we call “ah-ha” moments when everything clicks.
My training program, Jensem Sporthorses LLC is currently based at a barn in Mountain Green, Utah and I have become known as “Aussie Jen”! I’m pretty much a “one-man-band” doing most of the work myself, so I like to keep only a small team of horses, so I can provide personalized attention to each of them. I’ve developed a reputation for attention to detail and outstanding horse management, probably because I treat each horse like my own! I currently have 8 horses in my care and do around 10 private lessons a week.
I compete both locally and out of state and am looking forward to a busy season after the last two years were hit hard by Covid restrictions. Last year, we only attended 1 Regional Championship show but we had a great time, contesting 13 classes with 4 horses and bringing home 7 Championships, 8 Reserve Championships, and 2 Top 5 awards. 4 of these classes we took both the championship plus the reserve and two of the horses were having their very first outings! We had very happy clients!
This year, we have a couple of new horses on the team and I am stepping up to a new level in dressage, so I’m really excited. I truly love what I do, I have a wonderfully supportive husband and many of my clients have become valued friends. I love the journey I’m currently on, with horses you never stop learning and with Dressage there is always more to improve and refine both with your own riding and with the training of the horses.
I continue to develop my own riding, attending clinics as well as online training with several international trainers. I love that this industry brings together so many diverse people from all over the world who share the same passion for the horse.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Ha! It’s been anything but! There are many personal sacrifices you have to be prepared to make when committing yourself to a lifetime of horses. It is an expensive, labor intensive and emotional endeavor, but the rewards are tremendous.
Several years before moving here I went through a very difficult end to a previous relationship, and it was hard to keep just a couple of my horses from my breeding program.
When the decision was made to move, I sold all remaining horses and kept just one, my very precious Jensems Suzie Q, who truly was a once-in-a-lifetime horse. Unfortunately, after her 2018 Unanimous National Championship, I lost her to a twisted bowel. This was devastating for me and I am still not over this loss and doubt I ever will be, she was an amazing horse and captured the hearts of all who knew her.
Horses are also a very expensive endeavor and you certainly don’t become a trainer for the money! The time commitment involved and the hard physical labor is enormous and you certainly can’t charge based on that, only what the market will allow, which is not that much! It can at times be a thankless task, long hours, cleaning stalls, trudging through mud and snow to make sure horses are always fed and comfortable.
Like many owners and trainers, my horse’s comfort and needs come before my own. Horses are a 24/7 commitment, you don’t simply get to close the office door and go home. They can break your heart at times but they also give you incredible rewards, which make it all worthwhile. I really love being able to help owners and riders realize their dreams that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to achieve on their own.
We’ve been impressed with Jensem Sporthorses LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Jensem Sporthorses LLC trains and manages horses with a focus on classical dressage training principles. Many people don’t realize Dressage was developed as a military training tool and these principles are based on promoting long-term soundness and health in the horse. I attended Melbourne University and earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (Equine) and also have formal qualifications in teaching and in public safety.
My philosophy for training is that physical training, nutrition, and daily management all go hand in hand to ensure horses remain physically and mentally sound for the long term. While I enjoy competing, I do not train in order to compete. My motto is “Show ring success is not the reason for my training, it is a happy consequence of it”.
I’ve become known as “Aussie Jen” and pride myself on attention to detail and personalized service for both horse and human. I teach many amateur owners/riders with patience and positivity in order to build confidence. The lessons I teach don’t just focus on riding, but also good horsemanship and safety.
What were you like growing up?
I’m the youngest of 5 girls, and was always involved with sports, and always had an affinity and love for animals and nature. I was always very active, enjoying bike riding, netball, squash, and of course horses! We aren’t really sure how I managed to have developed a life with horses as I come from a completely non-horse family and basically had to teach myself to ride!
Anything I wanted to do with horses, I had to figure out a way to do it myself. The first horse I purchased and trained myself was bought with $100 of saved pocket money! I would care for her myself before and after school without any prompting and little assistance from my parents, who have very limited horse knowledge or experience!
I’ve always been a pretty positive type of person, and as the youngest of 5 with busy parents, developed quite an independent nature. This has held me in good stead over the years and I think helps me in teaching my students.
Pricing:
- Private lessons starting at $50
Contact Info:
- Email: jenni.usa@yahoo.com
- Website: www.utahsporthorse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensem_sporthorses/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jensem-Sport-Horses-374849592881903
Image Credits
Done Stine
