Redbird Equestrian was founded by Ingrid Patel. A middle and elementary school teacher for 13 years, Ingrid has had lifelong obsession with horses, but didn't grow up in a "horsey" family. As a kid she was able to do weekly lessons, and summer pony camps, but it wasn't until later in life she was able to pursue her passion to the degree she knew she wanted to. 

At 27, Ingrid sat in her first dressage saddle and at 30 years old bought her first horse, an off the track thoroughbred named, Ruby Redbird. Since that moment, Ingrid has made up for a lifetime of equine learning. Riding multiple disciplines, studying equine health nutrition and biomechanics, and training with professionals in the US and abroad. Ingrid has studied from olympians Jimmy Wofford, George Morris, and Mike Huber, as well as other top professionals in the field Natural Horsemanship including Buck Branaman, Elissa Wallace,  Patrick King, and Tik Maynard. For several years Ingrid worked for top eventer Laine Ashker.

in 2020, Ingrid was accepted and traveled to Lisbon, Portugal to study upper level dressage at a classical dressage school owned and operated by Master Luis Valenca, a direct pupil of Master Nuno Oliveira. There she honed her skills and learned not only how to ride the upper level movements such as piaffe, passage, but also how to train them both in the saddle and in hand. Ingrid is a firm believer that groundwork and building a relationship with your horse is incredibly impactful to all work in the saddle. Ingrid is currently competing her horse through USDF Third level dressage and USEA recognized Training level and continues to train regularly with top professionals.

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Redbird Equestrian currently has three qualified instructors who not only offers lessons/training, but fun clinics and events such as summer and holiday pony camp, dressage in hand, groundwork and horsemanship, and clinics for all levels of dressage and jumping.

So, whether you want to get into the saddle for the first time, or the first time in a while, or want to improve your connection with your horse, it's never too late to start!