Trudi Wade – Horse Trainer and Instructor
Some paths with horses begin later, but feel no less certain once they start. Trudi was nominated for her dedicated, positive, and encouraging support as a teacher, particularly through her many years of work with the Wilton Pony Club. She did not start riding until she was fourteen, coming from a non horsey background, but the draw had always been there. As a child, she spent her time reading horse books and dreaming of a life that, at the time, felt just out of reach. It took time to persuade her parents to let her begin, but once that first riding school lesson happened, everything changed.
From that point on, horses became part of who she was, not just something she did, but something that shaped her life. Over the years, that connection has grown through both training horses and teaching riders, bringing a quiet sense of purpose and enjoyment that has stayed with her throughout. She speaks about the importance of keeping an open mind. Horses are individuals, each one different, each one offering something new to learn. It is a process that never really ends, no matter how many years you spend around them. And perhaps that is part of what has kept her so engaged in both teaching and training, there is always more to understand.
For her, horses are the complete picture, powerful yet sensitive, intelligent and expressive, ranging from the quiet and reserved to the bold and full of character. Over the years, she has been fortunate to work with and own horses that have left a lasting mark, not just as athletes, but as companions, partners that feel more like friends.
Spending time with Trudi, what stands out is a genuine sense of appreciation for the path she has taken, a recognition that this life, built from something that once felt like a distant hope, has given her far more than she ever expected. Her advice is simple, keep learning, stay open, and if the opportunity presents itself, give it a try. Because sometimes the things we come to later in life are the ones that shape us the most.
