Kids to Know: Elise McEachern
One of the most time-honored connections between human and animal is that of the rider and the horse. This sacred bond is exactly how a childhood of riding, training and studying horses began for Elise McEachern. At just 18, Elise is ready to make a name for herself in the equestrian world, where her talents, lifelong dedication, and love for horses unite.
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When did your love for horses begin?
Elise McEachern: I started riding horses when I was 7 years old. My mom found a homeschool horsemanship class at Avalon Stables, and from the first lesson I was hooked. I would take one lesson a week and loved to stay after to care for the horse I rode and help out however I could. Years later, I found myself at the barn more and more, tacking up to get riding lessons ready, serving as a counselor at our camps and helping out at horse shows.
How do you share your time between school, the barn and other activities? What does a typical day look like?
Elise McEachern: The main structure to my day is my full-time job at Avalon. Every work day, I perform duties in the main barn. I have an average of seven or more horses on my string that I’m responsible for caring for stem to stern. This includes grooming, daily health reviews and making sure they have their appropriate training and exercise. I love this part of my job. It’s so rewarding to me to see a perfectly groomed horse – a shiny, neatly trimmed coat, well-formed musculature and healthy hooves that are ready for another great day.
I enjoy knowing that I play a huge role in that horse’s health and well-being. I also teach lessons for our riding program four days a week. I’m learning to manage and book my own clients, to pair each student with the horse that best suits the skills we are working on and to help prepare our show riders for the year ahead.
I’m also a full-time student, in my senior year as a homeschooler. On Sundays, I set the pace for my week and determine what school work needs to be accomplished that week. For some subjects, I use a flex online program that I can attend when I’m home. As for other activities, I do get a lot of my social needs met at the barn.
My voice is often weak by the end of the day from the amount of time I spend talking to coworkers, the vet, the farrier, fellow riders, my students, their parents, and of course horses!
How do your studies support your equine interests?
Elise McEachern: My family follows state standards in regard to our schooling, so when I graduate I’ll have similar credits to my traditional school peers. However, there’s a great range of flexibility in homeschooling, and my mom has always done a great job of finding subjects and curriculum that work best for our strengths and weaknesses.
I’ve taken Equine Science in my sophomore year, Intro to Agriculture as an elective and Anatomy and Physiology as a senior to make me better understand teaching people to ride. I also read a lot of additional books on horse care, biomechanics and personal growth.
How did 11 years of wishing and dreaming come true this past holiday season?
Elise McEachern: My number one dream ever since I was 7 was to own a horse. I would always look at the older students and hope one day I would be lucky enough to have a horse of my own like they did. I would work to be able to lease our rescue/lesson horses, and I loved them like they were my own.
Every year I would put a horse on my Christmas wish list, and every time I’d blow out my birthday candles I wished for one. I knew horses were expensive and eventually accepted that I would buy my own when the time was right.
I have been training a horse named Finley since May 2024. When my barn bought him, he had just turned three and needed finishing and training. But I knew he had a heart of gold, so for old time’s sake I put his name down on my Christmas list and thought nothing of it.
But on Christmas Eve, 2024, my 11-year dream came true, because when I walked up to his stall, his name plate had my name under it. My family did a great job of keeping it secret, and we had a fun, sweet photoshoot with him that day.
What are your career aspirations and future plans in the equine world?
Elise McEachern: This year is all about stepping up – in my instructorship, growing show riders, helping train horses, showing training horses and performing catch rides. Last year I was more “behind the scenes,” working horse shows from the sidelines, but this year my goals have put me more in the forefront.
Avalon Stables has always been my second home, and I am grateful for every opportunity they have given me. As for my post-graduation plans, my biggest dreams and goals are to be a professional horse trainer and lesson instructor.
Once I graduate, I’ll stay local to continue working at a job that I love, while I attend classes to gain an associate’s degree in exercise sciences. Once I get that degree, I’ll decide if I want to continue on to a bachelor’s degree, or if I want to focus on diving deeper into my career at that point.
The horse community is really neat and connected. If I decided to intern out and gain experience at another barn for a while, there are many people who have offered to help me get one of those positions.
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Photo credit: Matthew McEachern Photography | Originally published in the March 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.