Tyler Oostra
From the age of three years old, riding a horse has always been my favorite place!
My parents encouraged my love for horses and bought my first horse at the age of 4 years old. Poco was the sweetest quarter horse mare, she was hand-picked for me as her previous owners who believed I would shower her with endless affection. Poco and I became best friends. I rode her without a saddle or bridle, she was the horse you could do absolutely anything with! I showed her in rodeos, western gatherings, and English schooling events. Poco built my confidence, soon I was ready for my next horse.
I joined a hunter/jumper training barn and purchased my own pony, Ariel. I began showing her competitively at the age of 8 years old. Together Ariel and I showed up and down the west coast in the A circuit hunter-jumper divisions, we had a blast together! As I grew as a rider, our family purchased more ponies to train and develop. I began training multiple ponies, making them suitable for other kids who wanted to learn how to jump. It was my dream come true to help ponies reach their full potential!
At 12 years old, my trainer decided I was ready for a horse. After six months of looking, we magically connected with a 16.2 warmblood mare named "Lyric". Only three years old at the time, Lyric became the horse that established my riding career. Her sensitivity to every thought and desire I had, made for a deep connection and partnership. I started riding with leading Hunter/Jumper trainer Nancy Free. Nancy taught me how to ride a horse that is built slightly downhill, how to build a round canter, and how to jump from well-planned distances. I worked hard with Nancy, the countless training hours paid off and Lyric and I went on to win multiple championships in the A circuit hunter/jumper divisions.
Lyric taught me the importance of heart connection with your horse. A horse needs to feel peace and security from the relationship with the rider. Lyric and I went on to win numerous classes together. Lyric passed away when I was 20 years old but who she is lives on. Her show name was Looking Glass and because she gave me the foundation I have in horses; I've named my farm after her. She will always be the first horse in my heart!
As I have developed as a professional, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business/communications and an MBA in business, I launched my own equestrian center where my love for training horses and developing riders continues. My background remains in competitive show jumping, my focus now is on building connected riders and horses. All relationships are best established on communication from the depths of your heart, it's the same for animals. Animals need to experience peace, love and trust, and when they do, they open their hearts up to us, becoming willing to jump the biggest obstacles or perform the most relaxing canters we can dream of asking them. My goal and dream are for each rider and horse is to be truly transformed by one another in a relationship built on love.
The lesson program at Looking Glass Stables is for individuals who have never touched a horse to experienced riders looking to get back into the sport. The barn is home to my personal horses, I use all of my own horses for lessons, so I know how to build relationship best quickly with each one! At our farm, I also have babies that I'm raising for future riders and horses I'm continuing to train. Our program also offers leases on lesson horses for the riders who want to experience having "their own horse".
When I'm not at the barn, I spend ALL my time with my husband, Benjamin Oostra, and our son, Barin Oostra.
We look forward to helping your dreams of true partnership blossom!
Tyler Oostra
Looking Glass Stables
