Eat, Sleep, and Breathe Horses– Meet CAEP Equine Trainee, Shelley Bunning!

CAEP Equine trainee Shelley Bunning has always had a passion for horses. No matter if she is competing, studying or working in the field, she finds great joy in anything involving horses. Although, for her to progress and pursue the career of her dreams, she knew she needed not only more experience, but experience with the best in the industry.

“There are opportunities here in the United States that women do not get at home. I said since I was 16 that I was going to work with horses. I was previously working in sales and did some work with foaling. Although, I was enjoying my job I wanted to travel a bit and learn more. So the next step to progress my career was to come to the big farms in the United States to get more sales experience.”

Shelly is currently training at Timber Town Stables in Lexington, Kentucky under the guidance of her hosts, Wayne and Cathy. “My hosts are always pushing me to learn better horsemanship and an overall a better way to do things.”

“Wayne and Cathy have taught me a lot about running a farm. Even with seven years of experience behind me, the opportunities here are opportunities I could never have gotten back home. I came here knowing I would learn a lot more about horses, but on top of that I have learned management skills, veterinary medicine, blacksmith work, fencing, tractors, and caring for equipment. Also, the training from the vets has been brilliant,” Shelley explained. “America is far more forward in terms of veterinary care. Certainly I would never have gotten this kind of education back home.”

“With everything I have learned out here, I am twice the horseman I was when I arrived– without a doubt.”