CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINERS
The Legacy of the Horse Championship brings together some of the most respected and accomplished horse trainers from Australia, New Zealand, and the USA. These elite competitors have been hand-selected for their exceptional horsemanship, proven ability to connect with young horses, and their commitment to ethical, thoughtful training.
Each trainer will work with a lightly handled two-year-old colt, showcasing their individual approach to building trust, understanding, and performance from the ground up. Across multiple rounds, they will be scored on their technique, feel, timing, and the progress made with their colt—all in front of a live audience.
Joined by the winner of the Wild Card Challenge, our Championship Trainers will go head-to-head for the title of Legacy of the Horse Champion 2025.
This is horsemanship at its finest—authentic, educational, and unforgettable.
Meet the trainers who will lead the way.
LILY SANTULLI
CHAMPIONSHIP
Clinician & Trainer
Red Horse Ranch Versatility | Oregon, USA
We are thrilled to welcome Lily Santulli as our first confirmed Championship Trainer for Legacy of the Horse 2025. Based in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, Lily is the owner and operator of Red Horse Ranch Versatility in Oregon, where she is known for her dynamic horsemanship, dedication to developing well-rounded horses, and her engaging approach to teaching both horses and humans.
A true all-rounder, Lily is a multiple-time featured clinician across the Pacific Northwest, a Fiesta Cowboy Gathering Ranch Roping Champion, and a passionate competitor with her eyes firmly set on the future. In 2026, she will campaign her homebred Metallic Cat colt at the prestigious NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity, a dream she is bringing to life through years of consistent training, deep horsemanship, and a commitment to excellence.
Lily is widely recognised for her ability to create confident, connected, and versatile horses—skills she applies across a range of western disciplines, particularly in ranch roping, reined cow horse, and colt starting. While her foundation is rooted in the western tradition, she is equally respected in the English riding community, regularly teaching at large dressage and jumping barns throughout Oregon.
What truly sets Lily apart is her holistic and emotionally intelligent approach to horsemanship. Having interned with Warwick Schiller and learned from some of the most accomplished horsemen in the industry, Lily has developed a unique talent for helping both horses and riders work through anxiety and emotional blockages. Her deep understanding of human-equine emotional dynamics allows her to guide horse and rider partnerships to a place of clarity, confidence, and trust.
Lily is a sought-after clinician and presenter, often teaching on topics such as foundation work, colt starting, performance preparation, and emotional balance—all while making learning fun, empowering, and inspiring. Her presence in the show pen is magnetic, and her impact in the arena extends far beyond competition.
A strong advocate for inclusivity and community in the horse world, Lily often reminds her students:
“Cowboy hat or helmet, we are all cowgirls. We are equestrians.”
Her fierce love for the horse, the sport, and the people dedicated to it makes her an incredible addition to Legacy of the Horse. We are honoured to have Lily representing the USA as part of this international event.
SCOTTIE BARCLAY
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CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINER
Saltarin Lodge Stables | Victoria, Australia
We are thrilled to welcome Scottie Barclay as our Second confirmed Championship Trainer for Legacy of the Horse 2025. Based in Victoria, Australia, Scottie is the owner and head trainer at Saltarin Lodge Stables, where he is known for his world-class show jumping background, exceptional colt starting skills, and deep dedication to developing confident, versatile horses for a wide range of disciplines.
A true horseman, Scottie brings a lifetime of experience to the arena, having launched his own horse-breaking business at just 16 years old. His early career quickly evolved into international success, with Scottie representing Australia as part of the Young Rider Team before moving to Europe to further hone his craft. While based in Ireland, Scottie rose from working pupil to head rider, competing across Ireland, Germany, and Europe, including at the prestigious World Young Horse Championships in Belgium.
Today, Scottie draws on decades of hands-on experience across multiple disciplines to produce horses that are willing, confident, and prepared for anything—from the show ring to the ranch. At Saltarin Lodge, he coaches riders of all levels, applying his philosophy of fairness, clarity, and feel to every horse and rider partnership he builds.
What truly sets Scottie apart is his unwavering commitment to doing right by the horse. His methods blend traditional horsemanship with a modern understanding of equine development, creating horses that are not only talented but also mentally sound and emotionally balanced. His ability to adapt to each horse’s individual needs—and to teach riders how to do the same—makes him a standout trainer and a natural leader in colt starting and beyond.
Scottie is a sought-after coach and mentor, respected for his sharp eye, kind approach, and infectious passion for continual learning. Whether he's helping a young rider find their first rhythm or fine-tuning an elite athlete for international competition, Scottie’s belief remains the same:
"Hard work will always prevail. Never stop learning. You can learn something from everyone—even if it’s what not to do."
We are incredibly proud to have Scottie Barclay representing Australia as part of our Championship Trainer team for Legacy of the Horse 2025.
LISA EARLEY
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CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINER
Lisa Earley – Western Saddle Maker, Rawhide Braider & Horse Trainer
Based in Northland, New Zealand, Lisa Earley is the passionate force behind Earley Rawhide and Leather. A skilled Western saddle maker, award-winning rawhide braider, and dedicated horse trainer, Lisa combines her love of craftsmanship with a lifelong commitment to horsemanship. Her goal is simple: to help both horses and their humans thrive through well-made gear, thoughtful training, and shared experience.
Lisa’s journey began in the English riding world, progressing through traditional lessons and pony club. A turning point came when she was introduced to Natural Horsemanship—a philosophy that reshaped her entire approach and set her on a path that would define her career. Eager to learn, Lisa immersed herself in studying different training methods and attending horsemanship clinics.
A transformative experience came after attending a Martin Black clinic. Lisa was invited to spend three months on Martin’s ranch in Idaho, USA, where she deepened her knowledge by working with rawhide braiders and saddle makers, participating in brandings, and helping to start young horses. That time cemented her passion and inspired her to continue pursuing excellence back home.
Upon returning to New Zealand, Lisa apprenticed with renowned clinician Russell Higgins for four consecutive summers. Under his mentorship, she refined her colt starting techniques and further developed the foundational principles of good horsemanship.
Lisa has since gained recognition for her craftsmanship. At the 2024 Australian Western Makers Expo, she won the Rawhide Braiding section and placed second in the Open Saddle category—an impressive testament to her skill and dedication. Her diverse riding background includes competing in barrel racing, bronc riding, breakaway roping, Equifest’s Future Stars, the Kaimanawa Heritage Horses Stallion Challenge, and most recently, Reining.
Constantly seeking growth, Lisa believes in pushing beyond comfort zones and setting bold goals. She often says, “Things of quality have no fear of time,” a belief she applies to both horsemanship and gear-making alike.
Lisa and her husband Tim are fortunate to live and work on their family farm, where her saddle workshop is also based. They use their horses daily for practical ranch work—giving Lisa unique, firsthand insight into the real-world demands of working horses. Her experience ensures the horses she trains are confident, responsive, and prepared for the challenges they may face—whether in the show pen or out on the farm.
Through Earley Rawhide and Leather, Lisa offers:
Custom Western Saddles
Saddle Fitting
Rawhide Braiding Courses
Horsemanship Lessons & Clinics
Colt Starting Services
Lisa is thrilled to have been invited to compete in Legacy of the Horse, viewing it as another opportunity to challenge herself and expand her horsemanship further.
Wild Card Challenge Winner
CHAMPIONSHIP TRAINER
TBA
WILD CARD CHALLENGE TRAINERS
The Wild Card Challenge is where rising talent meets opportunity. Three skilled trainers will go head-to-head for a coveted spot in the Legacy of the Horse Championship Round. Each trainer brings a unique background, style, and story to the arena—making this one of the most exciting and unpredictable parts of the event.
Over the course of the challenge, these horsemen and women will demonstrate their ability to connect with and guide a lightly handled two-year-old colt from groundwork to riding, showcasing both feel and foundation under pressure.
The winner of the Wild Card Challenge will join our Championship Trainers to compete for the title of Legacy of the Horse Champion 2025.
Meet the trainers ready to make their mark.
WILD CARD TRAINER
GERONIMO FAGGIANI
Geronimo: Horseman, Trainer, Student of the Horse
Geronimo’s journey with horses began on the sweeping plains of Uruguay, South America, where he was raised among the rhythm of working ranch life. From a young age, he was in the saddle - riding alongside experienced gauchos, moving cattle, and feeling the heartbeat of the land beneath the hooves of the tough Uruguayan criollo horses. As a teenager, he immersed himself in the adrenaline of rodeo, competing bareback and gaining a deep respect for the power and athleticism of the horses that carried him.
His early experiences with horse breaking followed traditional Uruguayan methods, but even then, Geronimo was drawn to exploring gentler, more intuitive approaches. He watched, listened, and asked questions - always looking for better ways to connect with horses, to understand them, and to earn their trust.
In his early twenties, this curiosity led him to work on a non-traditional ranch, where he
was introduced to the principles of natural horsemanship. This was a turning point in his life - not just in how he worked with horses, but in how he saw them. The focus on softness, feel, and communication resonated deeply, and Geronimo embraced this new way of working, blending it with his practical ranch skills and cultural roots.
It was during this time that he met his Australian partner, Cozzy. Sharing a spirit of adventure, they soon set off on a three-month packhorse journey across Uruguay, traveling completely unsupported with two riding horses, a packhorse, and his loyal dog. The trip became a powerful chapter in his horsemanship, as he lived with his horses day in and day out, relying on their strength and trust in the most remote and wild corners of the country.
Since relocating to Australia six years ago, Geronimo has built a solid reputation as a versatile and reliable horseman. His experience spans Polo, Endurance, Racing, and performance horses, and his gentle, consistent approach has made him a sought-after trainer across disciplines. Over the past four years alone, he has started more than 450 horses, bringing a calm, thoughtful, and confident presence to every colt and client.
In 2024, Geronimo took his skills to a wider audience by competing in the MFSR Bush Festival Trainer’s Challenge—working with two different horses and showcasing his adaptability, timing, and feel in front of an appreciative crowd. It was another step in a journey marked by humility, hard work, and a love for the process of learning.
At the core of Geronimo’s philosophy is a deep respect for the horse. He believes that patience, consistency, and clarity are the foundation of good horsemanship. His training approach is guided by using intention to build connection, open a conversation, and help the horse find relaxation and confidence. Every horse he works with is an individual, and every interaction is an opportunity to learn—not just about the horse, but about himself.
For Geronimo, horsemanship isn’t a destination—it’s a lifelong pursuit. A journey of curiosity, compassion, and quiet determination to always be better for the horse.
WILD CARD TRAINER
THOMAS JONES
Thomas Jones, 37, grew up in the heart of Western Sydney, but his soul has always belonged to the paddocks and stockyards of rural Australia. Most weekends and every school holiday were spent at his family’s farm in Gulgong, where generations before him had worked with horses — his great-grandfather a skilled blacksmith and horse breaker in NSW Mid-West regions. It was here, among the horses bred by his family over the years, that Thomas first developed his deep connection with horses and horsemanship. From an early age, Thomas balanced city life with the rawness of the land. Though he played representative football at a high level until he was 17, his true calling became undeniable. He walked away from the sport to pursue his passion for horses, beginning a lifelong journey of learning, teaching, and personal growth.
Gifted his first horse, Carla — a spicy off-the-track chestnut Thoroughbred mare — at the age of 16, Thomas forged an unbreakable bond that continues today. Riding Carla across the suburbia of Minchinbury taught him patience, adaptability, and the beginning of a lifelong craving: to truly understand the horse.
The journey wasn’t without its challenges. After purchasing a stud colt named Spanner, Thomas faced a steep learning curve. Mistakes were made, and hard lessons were learned — but instead of giving up, he doubled down. Two years of consistent, thoughtful work transformed Spanner from a troubled stud colt into a trusted beginner’s mount, known for his calmness and reliability that took many kids through pony club in all disciplines. That experience sparked a turning point: the realisation that there had to be a better way to communicate with horses — and he was determined to find it. Over the years, Thomas dedicated himself to learning from some of the finest horsemen, often working for little or no pay, valuing knowledge over a pay check. He looks up to legends like Tom and Bill Dorrance, Ray Hunt, and Buck Brannaman — horsemen whose philosophies form the backbone of Thomas’s approach today. Known for his ability to work with the most troubled horses, Thomas has built a reputation as someone horses can trust. His work is grounded in a deep understanding of horse psychology, clear communication, and feel. Calm, consistent, and clear, Thomas leads with body language, purposeful movement, and a quiet confidence that allows horses to find comfort and confidence in the human world.
Thomas doesn’t just see horse training as a profession — he feels it chose him. Working with horses brings him into the present moment, where nothing else matters but the connection between horse and human. His greatest teacher will always be the horse itself. In 2022, Thomas and his partner Ash founded Foundation First Horsemanship, a business born from a desire to change the horse world for the better. They specialise in colt starting, restarting, young stock handling, problem solving, clinics, lessons, and creating reliable partnerships through strong foundational training. Their mission is simple but powerful: Horses only get one first start. Let’s make it the best one possible.
Foundation First Horsemanship isn’t just a training service; it’s a movement toward a kinder, more thoughtful horse community — a place where both people and horses are set up for long-term success. Thomas’s work is a tribute to the horses who taught him, the mentors who inspired him, and the generations of horsemen who came before. Every colt he starts, every horse he helps, carries forward the legacy of respect, understanding, and true partnership between horse and human.
WILD CARD TRAINER
KIARA STANLEY
Kiara Stanley: Horsewoman, Trainer, Listener of the Horse
Kiara Stanley’s life with horses began almost before she could walk, growing up on the outskirts of Lara, Victoria. From her earliest memories, the pull toward horses was undeniable—a deep, unshakable bond that has guided her every step. Horses were never just a hobby for Kiara; they were her therapy, her grounding, and her greatest teachers through all of life’s twists and turns.
Born into a family where horsemanship ran deep, Kiara carries forward the legacy of her late father—a horseman whose values of connection, curiosity, and feel left a lasting imprint on her approach to life and training. Her early years in the saddle instilled a respect for the horse’s mind and spirit, something she now weaves into every aspect of her work.
Today, Kiara operates a thriving horse training business and small riding school in Lara, offering riding lessons, clinics, float training, colt starting, re-starting, and more. No matter the task, her approach remains the same: to truly listen to the horse. For Kiara, it’s not about controlling the horse—it’s about creating a conversation, finding softness, and helping each horse feel safe enough to express themselves. As she says, “If you listen, they will talk.”
Though her background includes riding and competing in English disciplines, Kiara’s true passion lies beyond any single arena. She is drawn most strongly to the misunderstood, the unhandled, and the horses that the world sometimes overlooks—the ones who need patience, presence, and a chance to be heard. Working with energy and feel, Kiara invites curiosity to guide her work, meeting each horse exactly where they are and helping them find their confidence at their own pace.
Proudly sponsored by Pryde’s EasiFeed, Jill Steptoe Equine Myofunctional Therapist, and High Horse, Kiara surrounds herself with partners who share her vision of kindness and respect for the horse.
Her philosophy is simple yet profound:
💬 “I can’t make this world a better place, but if I can make their world a better place while they are on this earth, then I know my job here is accomplished.”
For Kiara, horsemanship isn’t about titles or trophies—it’s about creating a better life for every horse that crosses her path. It’s a journey of patience, presence, and an unwavering commitment to listen first, and act second. A journey she continues, one horse, one conversation, one quiet victory at a time.
WILD CARD TRAINER
OLIVER ELSON
Oliver Elson: Horseman, Trainer, Student of the Journey
Oliver Elson grew up in a small town on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, where a love for horses and the rural way of life ran deep from a young age. Even as a boy, it was the young horses that fascinated him most—the rawness, the honesty, and the incredible opportunity to build trust from the very first touch. This early passion set the foundation for a lifelong commitment to horsemanship.
Driven to develop his skills and deepen his understanding, Olly sought out the mentorship of one of Australia’s most respected colt starters and horsemen, Dan Steers of Double Dan Horsemanship. Under Dan’s guidance, Olly was able to refine his feel, timing, and leadership, learning firsthand from some of the best in the business.
Over the past four years, Olly has been an integral part of the Double Dan Horsemanship team, travelling, training, and absorbing the art of starting and educating horses across a range of disciplines and settings. His time with Double Dan has not only shaped his technical skills but also strengthened his belief that great horsemanship is a lifelong pursuit—one grounded in patience, consistency, and respect for the horse’s individual journey.
In 2025, Olly took a bold step into the competitive colt starting world, entering his first event at the Coonamble Challenge. It was a defining moment that confirmed his passion for colt starting, blending technical ability with his natural empathy and curiosity for the horse’s mind. Now, he is excited to continue this journey by stepping onto the stage at Legacy of the Horse, ready to further test and evolve his skills.
For Olly, every colt is a new story waiting to be written, and every challenge is an opportunity—not just to teach the horse, but to become a better horseman himself. He approaches each horse with humility, open-mindedness, and a quiet determination to earn trust and build a foundation that will set them up for success in their future careers.
At his core, Olly believes that horsemanship isn’t about dominating or controlling—it’s about learning, adapting, and growing together with the horse. It’s about giving the horse a voice, listening carefully, and responding with clarity, compassion, and feel.
With a strong foundation, a hungry spirit, and a willingness to learn from every horse he meets, Oliver Elson is set to make his mark on the colt starting world—one horse, one experience, one quiet step at a time.