Join Team True North!

Accomplished professional rider and trainer Caitlyn Shiels launched True North Stables in January 2018, and now, following a successful winter circuit in Wellington and Ocala, FL, True North Stables will head north to a new location at Buena Vista Farm in Zion, IL, and will begin accepting new clients.

“I am looking forward to returning to Illinois and getting settled, and I am really excited to be accepting clients of all levels and with a wide range of goals within the hunters, jumpers and equitation,” said Shiels. “Having competed both as a junior and a professional in each, I can’t wait to begin helping people set and reach their riding and competitive goals” 

Having claimed top-ten finishes in all of the major American equitation finals as a junior under the tutelage of Andre Dignelli and Heritage Farm and having competed to great success in both the jumper and hunter rings as a professional, Shiels offers a wealth of knowledge and industry experience across all disciplines. 

“I’m excited to work with riders who share the same hunger to not only compete, but also to learn more about horses and proper horsemanship and to really have fun with and get to enjoy this sport that I love,” said Shiels. “I would love to work with goal-oriented riders—whether that goal is the high junior/amateurs or the three-foot. I want to build a business surrounded by people who want to learn, want to compete, want to have fun, and really want to make those goals and dreams come true.”

Caitlyn Shiels competing aboard her own Cavalier II. Photo by Jump Media

“We really had a great winter,” added Shiels, who rode her own Cavalier II to top results in the 1.35m and 1.40m jumpers, including a win in the $2,500 1.35m Jumpers at the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL. Shiels also turned in numerous blue ribbon rides aboard O Hickstead’s Sun (Hickstead x Lord Z) in the Five-Year-Old Young Jumpers at HITS Ocala in Ocala, FL, for owner Ashland Stables. “We came down to Florida after the indoor show season with the goal of staying consistent and continuing to build confidence in both horses and riders, and we’re leaving having definitely done that!”

To join the team at True North Stables or to learn more about lesson and training opportunities, please contact Shiels at inquire@truenorthstables.com.