Meet The Trainers

Melissa Ledford

Melissa brings lifelong experience in developing young horses across multiple disciplines. Raised on a show and working cow horse ranch in Prosser, Washington, she gained a strong foundation in horsemanship from an early age and grew up competing in Western and English Pleasure, Equitation, and hunter/jumpers. Her technical background includes extensive time in the cutting and reining world, where she trained under a respected professional and refined her feel, timing, and understanding of young performance horses. Melissa started her first horse under saddle at age 10 and quickly became known for her ability to bring along young horses with patience, clarity, and confidence. In addition to her sport horse experience, Melissa spent time at Emerald Downs as a groom and exercise rider, expanding her knowledge of conditioning, soundness, and high-performance horse management. This blend of sport, ranch, and racetrack experience contributes to her versatility as a trainer and her ability to prepare horses for a wide range of careers. Since joining Pegasus in 2010 and becoming Director of Operations and Head Trainer, Melissa has focused on starting young horses, building solid foundations, and developing well-rounded, willing equine partners suited to any discipline.

Heather MacDonald www.infinityhuntersandjumpers.com

Heather's riding career began at the age of 9, fueled by her intense passion for the sport. She started out as a working student at a local barn in Redmond, Washington, where she learned the ins and outs of being a horsewoman. By the time she was 15, Heather had become a competitive rider at Tall Firs Farm and was showing across the West Coast. However, unlike many of her peers, Heather had to work hard to pay her own way through shows. She would spend long hours at the barn, taking care of the horses, braiding, grooming, and riding. After a brief hiatus following the end of her junior career, Heather's love for horses and riding remained undiminished. At the age of 24, she began her professional career as a horseback rider and worked for several barns in the Pacific Northwest, including Parkside, Legacy, and Magnolia Ridge. This experience served as a springboard for Heather's own training program, Infinity, which she founded in 2011 when she was 32. Heather is an accomplished rider and coach, excelling in Equitation but also capable in Hunters and Jumpers. Her long list of achievements includes winning the 2019 Thunderbird Show Park National Derby, training several derby winners, and coaching kids to the top 25 of both Medal and Maclay finals. Many of her students have gone on to ride for D1 college teams, a testament to Heather's ability to cultivate confident and competitive riders. Over the past 13 years, Heather has built a strong community of students who share her passion for riding. She has coached them at all levels, from local schooling shows to numerous National and Regional medal finals. Thanks to Heather's dedication, expertise, and love for the sport, her students have flourished and achieved great success in the equestrian world.

Tiffany Woods www.tiffanyandequestrians.com

With roots beginning in Portland and over two decades of experience in the Hunter/Jumper world, Tiffany Woods brings both passion and expertise to every aspect of equestrian training. Her journey began at age 7, leading to remarkable achievements in junior hunters, equitation, and jumpers across prestigious venues like Thunderbird and Spruce Meadows. Trained by Olympic Silver Medalist Kevin Freeman among other renowned instructors, Tiffany's foundation combines excellence from the Pacific Northwest, California, and Virginia. As owner and head trainer of Tiffany & Equestrians, she creates magic by bringing horses and riders together in perfect harmony. Her approach weaves proper horsemanship with technical excellence, focusing on position, balance, and the artistry of riding. Whether you're drawn to hunters, jumpers, or equitation, Tiffany's comprehensive method builds confident, skilled riders from the ground up. Her keen eye for matching horses with riders has become legendary among her clients, while her warm, welcoming approach creates a vibrant barn community where everyone belongs. Tiffany's commitment to nurturing talent has led to remarkable achievements throughout her career. Her coaching has produced champions at the national level, including leading teams to a high school championship and middle school reserve championship in 2022. Her continuous pursuit of growth through clinics with industry leaders, combined with her understanding of dressage fundamentals, ensures her students receive cutting-edge instruction while building the strong foundations necessary for lasting success.