ABOUT SHAUN GANDIA

Shaun Gandia has been riding horses longer than she has been walking !

Shaun grew up in upstate New York, where her mother introduced her to horses at the age of 1!  Shaun began riding at an early age,  Not having much money, Shaun learned to ride the horses others did not want.  She competed, and won in the Quarterhorse English circuit, under the direction of her trainer Linda.

Shaun went to the University of Rochester TO RECEIVE HER BS IN OPTICS ON AN ROTC SCHOLARSHIP!  How many trainers can say they are laser scientists?  Shaun continued to compete in hunter/jumper shows, only now with her appendix mares. 

After graduation, Shaun moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where she began to formalize her training in dressage.

In the fall of 1995, Shaun moved her 2 appendix mares to Albuquerque, NM, where she began a winning streak that just hasn't stopped.  In 1996, she rode TB mare Madrigal to a zone championship in Adult Amateur Jumpers.

Shaun repeated the feat on Porsche in 1997, and added a zone championship in Adult Amateur Hunters on Porsche.

In her final season in the southwest, Shaun rode both Madrigal and Porsche to zone championships again.  This time with Madrigal again in A/A, and on Porsche in both OPEN JUMPERS and REGULAR WORKING HUNTERS!

When Shaun moved to South Carolina, she began her first job in the civilian sector, and it threatened to take her attention away from competition.  Porsche and Maddie got some time to be horses, but the desire soon drew Shaun back into the competitive ring.   But this time, Shaun finally gave in and "went pro."  Soon, she and her husband Steve opened Iron Horse Equestrian, and were providing first class boarding and training to 34+ horses and 70+ students, with an active, and extremely successful show team.  That team sported Camden Equine Circuit year-end champions, Progressive Show Jumping year-end champions, Mini-Prix winners... You name it!.

 The story continued when Shaun and Steve moved to Florida in 2004.  Operating out of a smaller barn, Shaun continues to excel with adult students and younger students alike.  Shaun's stable has produced the Hopeful Jumper Year-End Champion multiple years in a row!  Mae and Petey have stepped forward to take over the mantle as IHE's UNBEATABLE DUO, with Petey winning everything 3'6" and under, and Mae looking at the  Gran Prix circuit.  We have a wonderful barn family/Inner Circle, and look forward to buying our dream facility right here in north Florida and putting down some ROOTS!

cell:  (904) 910-9839   fax:  (904) 371-7809       10310-1 103rd Street Jacksonville, FL 32210   Last modified:  22 Dec 2007