Farm RidingLight

Like many equestrians, Alex Frey has had a lifelong interest in horses, and dreamed of turning it into a career. As a child, Alex was fascinated by western disciplines. Against the odds posed by their location and surrounded by a predominantly English equestrian community, Alex found their way to reining. Becoming a better rider and trainer was Alex’s primary goal, and every decision since has reflected that. Now operating their own program, RidingLight Performance Horses, based

Performance Horses

family vacation in New Hampshire. Then came pony camp. I loved it immediately and bugged my parents for lessons, but out on the Cape, where I grew up, it can be tricky finding a barn. Because most of the barns offered English programs that’s where I started, but I had always wanted to try a western discipline. When I was 11, my dad found a western pleasure barn and I was completely hooked. A few years later, I had the opportunity to ride some reining and all-around horses. It was great fun, and I knew reining was what I wanted in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Alex is helping to grow the Northeast riding community by offering a welcoming and inclusive program to anyone interested in learning the art of reining. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Alex’s focus is always on how to make others feel welcome in the horse world. Alex’s bubbly personality and enthusiasm for all things equine is contagious and a reminder to others that riding is supposed to be fun for everyone involved.

CH: How did your love of horses and reining begin?

Alex: I was about five years old when my grandma took me for a pony ride on our to continue learning. Once you get the reining bug you never want to do anything else.

CH: How did college help develop your career?

Alex: My first choice for college was the University of Findlay in Ohio because it’s the number one school in the nation for its western riding program. I was so excited when I got in, I cried. When we first arrived, we each had an individual meeting to talk about our goals for the program. My goal was to ride reining horses as well as I possibly could. All of Findlay’s trainers are incredible ranking professionals. While there, I learned from top name professionals who have dedicated their lives to the sport: Jerry Coleman and Meri Marsh, and even American Quarter Horse Association and National Reining Horse Association Hall of Fame trainer Clark Bradley. I rode with Clark and Jerry every day and became very close with them. I still go out to visit Jerry. Findlay gave me the opportunity to work a Quarter Horse Congress, which was exhausting but fun, and I learned so much from it. I graduated with a dual degree: western riding with a focus on instruction and equine nutrition, and equine business management.

CH: What are some of the lessons from your time with Clark Bradley and Jerry Coleman that have stayed with you?

Alex: Clark always reminded me that “you can’t build a house on a shaky foundation” and the same goes for horses. He would say, “A good horse with a good foundation will beat every expensive horse, even on their bad days.” It’s true for any equestrian discipline and I think about it constantly. We must always remember that we aren’t training these horses just for ourselves. The real goal is to train them so that any child or amateur could get on and feel safe and successful.

Jerry was always preaching to go back to the basics. If you’re having a problem or struggling somewhere, make it as simple as possible. He taught me that oftentimes this means moving from ridden work back to groundwork. You’ll never get it under saddle if the horse is confused by it on the ground. Ever since, I’ve made it a priority once a week to go back to my basics, my foundation, my groundwork with all my training horses. Longeing, ground driving, round penning —something, just to keep it fresh in their minds. It makes a huge difference.

On a lighter note, Clark always used to tell us to “boogie, boogie, boogie,” whether that was while working on our big fast circles, or even on the young horses. It was a funny reminder to keep moving forward with purpose, to keep the horses moving their hooves. I find myself telling my lesson students that all the time now.

CH: What does your program look like currently and where do you hope to see it go?

Alex: I started off traveling to clients and it really set the tone for my program. Most of my clients were requesting colt starting, and that has remained a huge part of my business.

When I got my Massachusetts teaching license in 2019, and officially started RidingLight Performance Horses, I began operating out of the barn in Falmouth where I first attended pony camp. It was funny to see it come full circle. With the facility being private, my program has stayed close-knit over the last few years.

I have several horses in training now and teach five days a week. Most of my lessons are privates on my main horse, Wynona. She’s a big blue roan Mustang that I restarted when she was seven years old and have shown all over the country in Ranch Horse and All-Around classes. Wynona is patient with all my students and great at helping me babysit the young training horses.

Expanding RidingLight Performance Horses has always been my goal, and I recently moved my program to Majority Winters Stables in Plymouth, where I’ll be teaching and training. I’m looking forward to being able to take in more training horses in the future. Eventually, I hope to find my own facility.

More immediately, I’m excited for the show season with the three-year-old reiner I have in training. We’ve got the Eastern Pennsylvania Reining Horse Association, Central New York Reining Horse Association, and Ohio Quarter Horse Association circuit shows coming up.

CH: What are your favorite parts of your career as a trainer?

Alex: I really love colt starting. I’m thankful it’s a huge part of my program because I have so much fun playing with the youngsters; I could do it all day.