Michele is a United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Certified Trainer. This professional recognition indicates Michele’s broad range of skills and knowledge, including training techniques, rider and horse safety, horsemanship skills, and business ethics. Michele learned the American Hunter/Jumper Forward Rider System directly from the program’s founder, Bertalan de Némethy, the Show Jumping Coach for the United States Equestrian Team. She promotes and teaches this riding system to her students, as well as all principles promoted by the United States Hunter Jumper Association.
Michele rode with the renowned New Canaan Mounted Troop (NCMT), in New Canaan, CT, for ten years. During her time with NCMT, she also rode with the late Victor Hugo-Vidal and Ronnie Mutch and became the highest-ranking officer. Michele’s training with NCMT was eclectic and well rounded, including upper level equitation instruction, jumpers, and dressage training with an in house dressage trainer from Germany. As a junior rider, Michele competed in USEF Medal, ASPCA McClay Medal, 3 day eventing, and fox hunting. Michele learned not only to ride, but also to teach, organize horse shows, and manage a barn.
In 1984, Michele founded the West Virginia University Equestrian team, which she coached until 2009. She took her team to numerous regional and zone reserve championships. In 2008, Michele’s WVU Equestrian Team qualified to attend nationals in Los Angeles, California where they placed tenth in the nation and had a rider named Reserve Champion.
Michele served as the Regional President for the Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association (IHSA) for eight years and also sat on the National Board of Directors of the IHSA. In addition, her passion for all things equestrian has led to numerous accomplishments including successfully training numerous A-Circuit champion riders and horses, as well as multiple local, zone, national, and Professional Horsemen’s Association of America high-scoring and championship awards.
Michele Koury riding Vanita
Michele Koury running a clinic for WVU Equestrian
Photo Credit: @Don.Ferguson.1800
Valley Ridge Farm offers full professional board and training services for your horse at our safe, clean, and spacious 26-acre facility in Masontown, WV, with a customized plan for you and your horse depending on your needs.
