Cornerside Stables
To Ride is a gift, to Jump is a Dream
About the Trainers
Laura Shea
Laura is the owner and founder of the original Cornerside Stables. Growing up in Enfield, Connecticut she worked very hard for her first horse at the age of 12 which was an OTTB gelding starting lessons with Barbara Watson in Glastonbury, CT and this began her lifelong career of 50+ years in industry. Throughout the years she has developed many young horses specializing in OTTBs to different levels within dressage, eventing, hunters and jumper rings. She trained with many top riders along the east coast, taking many wins. She has been a professional rider of over thirty years’ experience in the hunter/jumper competitions of all ranks. Laura has a strong background in Dressage which is what has played a huge key role in her young horse training and success. Teaching the importance of balance and correction, making for an effortless jumping round in the hunter ring. She hopes to pass each of these important riding concepts on to her students. With her classical foundation and amicable personality, she makes every rider and horse in her presence feel exceptional. Laura has brought many young riders to their highest potential, one of her greatest pupils being her daughter Michelle. She teaches and manages Cornerside Stables alongside her daughter and eternally hard working husband Timothy.
Michelle Shea
Michelle grew up in Andover, Connecticut on her parents farm and began riding before she could even walk. Starting out with her first 11.2h Shetland Pony progressing up to her lifetime horse Sylvester who she competed at many nationally known shows across the East coast with in her junior years. She had qualified for many state finals in her equitation divisions as a junior rider. One achievement having won 2nd place overall in the Medal Maclays in Ocala, Florida in 2009 and placing 11th in the New England Equitation Finals in 2009. Over the past 15 years in the horse industry she has many other great achievements and awards in the Junior equitation, hunter and jumper divisions. Michelle has worked alongside many top trainers throughout the years, but brings her broad knowledge back to Cornerside Stables. Having a sharp eye for raw talent, she and her mother have brought many young horses along in the hunter and jumper divisions.
Since moving to Kentucky in 2010 she attended the University of Kentucky graduating with an Associates in Business management/marketing degree and a Bachelors in Animal Science degree with a nutrition focus. She now resides on the farm in Paris, KY and she has taken on the responsibilities and duties of managing the daily tasks of Cornerside Stables.
Michelle has developed an in-depth teaching style for both young riders and adults focusing on teaching her students a solid foundation of flatwork and classic Equitation. She enjoys teaching both horse and rider, developing them to reach their personal and competition goals. She also enjoys working with her clients developing their young horses for the show ring.
Tracey Wiater- Herbert
Tracey grew up in Medford, New Jersey and at the age of 7 started taking lessons at Flora Lea Farm, a local eventing barn that still runs both recognized and schooling events every year as part of Area II. This solid foundation of dressage and correct jumping skills has carried through to a 35 year career of competing, teaching lesson, training horses from the ground up, and coaching Pony Club.
After getting her first horse at the age of 12, Tracey has never been without at least one personal horse; at her farm in NJ she owned as many as 22 horses that her husband and twin daughters all shared with dozens of students and US Pony Club members. Their family currently owns 8 horses and one mini donkey at their 42 acre farm in Cynthiana, KY.
Tracey Prides herself in starting beginner riders with a solid foundation, with a focus on safety and confidence. Lessons are personalized toward each rider's personal goals, whether they want to work toward competition, or riding competently for pleasure.