Whilst studying a Bachelor of Animal Science and Management Degree at Melbourne University, Ailish worked for Berni Saunders (FEI Dressage Judge) at Cyberhorse in Toolern Vale. She trained dressage horses and off the track thoroughbreds, preparing, breaking in and re-educating them for their dressage career.

Working for Berni sparked her passion for dressage. She especially strived for lightness and finesse with the horses she trained. Ailish then went on to spend 3 months in Denmark training with Per Skjærbæk at his successful international stable where she rode and trained under the instruction of Per.

For the past 8 years, Ailish has worked in a management position at Hill Cottage in Macedon. Training with Charlotte Pedersen (Danish Grand Prix dressage rider and coach), where she acquired the skills and knowledge to train horses from green broken to Grand Prix. While working with Charlotte, she gained competition experience at State and National Level and professionally managed and presented horses at an FEI standard.

Ailish has completed her coaching certificate in level 1 dressage with the National Accredited Coaching Scheme (NCAS).

Ailish is now working with Charlotte part time, further enhancing her coaching and riding skills each day. As well as working with Charlotte, she is coaching and training horses/ponies, specializing in riders with confidence issues and young green horses, achieving a good basic education from the start, on ground and ridden, building you and your horses to a mutual working partnership. Her main base is at Pertaringa Park, Toolern Vale where she grew up. With Ailish’s extensive knowledge of breaking in and training young horses, she is very experienced in re-training problem horses and giving them a clear understanding of the basics of dressage. Her ultimate ambition is to train/coach from the basic levels up to Grand Prix.