Gait Ways LLC
Gait Ways LLC
Training - Instruction - Equine Assisted Learning - Energy Work for Animals
About Ann
At the age of four Ann was sitting on a horse for the first time - and never gave up being with horses since.
Horses became the passion of her life.
Ann started riding in Germany on warm-bloods in mostly dressage and some jumping. In 1988 she passed her first riding instructor test with the German Equestrian Federation. The instructor was Egon von Neindorff and the focus was on groundwork such as lunging, dressage, jumping and instruction.
Shortly after that she was introduced to gaited horses - Icelandics and Mangalarga Marchadores, and was fascinated! A fourth and sometimes even a fifth gait - oh my! She kept on working with gaited breeds, mainly Icelandics, Mangalarga Marchadores, Aegidienberger and Peruvian Pasos. Here in the US she has been working also with Tennessee Walking Horses, Mountain Pleasure Horses and Missouri Foxtrotters.
In 2001 Ann got certified by the German Icelandic Horse Association (IPZV) as a Trainer B (FEIF Level 2). Over the years she has been working continuously on improving her knowledge and learning better ways to teach, train and assist people on their journey with horses.
She worked and/or took lessons/clinics with Egon von Neindorff, Bent Branderup, Andrea Jänisch, Walter Feldmann, Nicole Kempff, Eckhard Meyners, Silke Feuchthofen, Elisabeth Berger, Styrmir Arnason, Jens Füchtenschnieder, Heiner Nordberg, Honza Bláha, and Gudmar Petursson.
In 2005 Ann obtained a certificate as "Horse Assisted Educator / HorseDream Concept" with Horse Dream®. The focus was on Equine Assisted Professional Development / Train the Trainer.
Besides her fascination and work with horses she attended "Hochschule für Medien" in Stuttgart, Germany and graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Business. She worked for nearly 15 years in the corporate world in management positions in Sales and Customer Service departments with companies like Addison Wesley Longman and The German Postal Service (Deutsche Post AG).
In 2007 Ann's dream to live and work in the United States came true - she moved and was working with Winterhorse Park Icelandic Horse Farm in Eagle, WI. She fell completely in love with the country and ... her husband. They got married March 2009. Also in 2009 Ann founded her own business as a horse trainer and instructor. Since then she has been traveling all over the US to do clinics, lessons and training.
From 2010 to 2022 Ann was teaching German at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in Delafield, WI.
She has been studying Natural horsemanship since 2004 as well as energy healing techniques and animal communication. In July 2017 she obtained a certification as EAGALA Equine Specialist and started to work with Creating Pathways Farms , facilitating Equine Assisted Personal Development and Therapy sessions.
End of March 2022 Ann obtained her Equine Massage Certification from Therasage EMC in Janesville, WI
Ann's focus is teaching horses and humans on how to build partnerships with each other. She wants to assist her equine and human clients in developing harmonious and balanced relationships. She believes that horses can teach us a lot, if we are open to listen to them.
