Executive Co-Director of EES
Event Organizer for EES and the Balimo™ Program
Distance Learning Faculty for the Balimo™ Program 
Board Member for EES

Vicky began riding at the age of 3 on the family dairy farm where she grew up. Her early riding experiences were mostly bareback or western with no formal instruction or competition during these years.

Her basic goal was to have fun and go as fast as possible!

As a young adult, Vicky took a hiatus from horses while she earned a double degree in Liberal Arts and History from the University of New Orleans. After completing her bachelor’s degree she worked in the Trust division of Hibernia National Bank in Oil and Gas & Real Estate during the day while she continued to go to school at night to earn a Law Degree from Loyola University.

After her formal education was accomplished, horses re-entered Vicky’s life. She began riding again when her poor unsuspecting husband bought her a buckskin quarter horse to pleasure ride as a wedding gift. A friend introduced her to Dressage and she was instantly hooked. That was 1992. In 1997, as an amateur rider she bought her first warmblood. She eventually trained that green broke 4 year old to PSG, now schooling I-1, earning her bronze and silver medals on this horse she trained entirely on her own. In 2000, after becoming a professional she worked for a total of 5 years for two different breeding farms, starting young horses, developing them for sale, preparing them for performance tests, competition, and so on.

In 2001, Vicky began to pursue instructor education with Jill Hassler-Scoop and Equestrian Education Systems, then IAT&L based out of Hilltop Farm. Over the next 5 years, Jill mentored and guided her education. During that time, Jill worked with Vicky and her students several times a year in unique clinics that included Dr. Kathy Kelly. These clinic formats were a precursor to the holistic approach of the Balimo™ Program today as the students were addressed both inside and out. Jill also encouraged Vicky to go to Germany regularly, which she continues to do. It was during one of those trips that Jill became exposed to Mr. Meyners work. From that point, for 3 whirlwind years, the Balimo™ Program was developed to bring this unique work to the United States. Jill felt that to insure the successful dissemination of Mr. Meyners work for the future, instructors needed to be trained in its use. Jill worked to that end tirelessly until her death. Vicky worked closely with her over those years, particularly during her last, to become prepared to fill the multiple roles of EES, Event organizer, Board Member and Faculty for the Distance Learning program. The first year after Jill’s death in October 2006 was a challenging time for Vicky and the entire EES staff – but out of this struggle the promise of a secure future has begun to emerge for EES and the Balimo™ Progam.

In 2007, Vicky expanded her own business to include a small breeding operation. Busch Sporthorses LLC was created in the Spring of 2007 with breed stock purchased, the construction of a new barn, more land cleared on her property (just finished the job that Katrina started) and plans for a covered arena in early 2009. (now under construction!) An active and successful competitor as well, she currently has 8 horses in training. Vicky is also a busy clinician finding herself on flights (usually delayed) 15 times in a year in both 2007 and 2008 for both teaching her own clinics (combination of Balimo™ and regular riding clinics) as well as organizing and overseeing EES/Balimo™ workshops and Symposiums.

Vicky rides regularly with Lief Sorrensen of Denmark and with Anne Hornbeak as her local coach. She has also ridden in the past year with such clinicians as Hannes Mueller, Heike Kemmer, and Jan Ebling. Her most recent trek to Germany was her second trip to the German Riding School to ride with Hannes Mueller. Previous trips to Germany included the International Academy in Warendorf twice in 2003. In 2004, Vicky also spent a week in Luneburg intensively studying with Mr. Meyners and Evi Rainsborough.

“Adjusting to the loss of Jill was difficult. I feel privileged though to have had the blessing of this great friend and mentor in my life. Jill and I spoke on a daily basis, and even though I still find myself reaching for the phone for guidance, I feel more confident every day that she guides me still. The honor of being selected as part of a team to help bring her life’s work, now integrated into the Balimo™Program, into the future is one I take seriously. I look forward to working actively and diligently to ensure the success of EES, the Balimo™Program and furthering our mission statement, which is to improve the lives of horses through rider education.”