Grace Golden, EqDT
Barn Director & Head Trainer

Grace Salutes the Juidge. Grace and Chip.

Grace began taking riding lessons at the age seven in New Jersey, where she trained with several hunter/jumper trainers for 9 years. She competed in the northern New Jersey hunter/jumper circuit and throughout the tri-state area and New England in the Arabian Horse Show Association circuit.

When she turned sixteen, her passion turned to Thoroughbreds and she began a career on the New Jersey and New York racetracks. After several years of exercising racehorses, Grace's passion for the horse took her in a new direction--Dressage.

Originally, Grace pursued Dressage as a means of rehabilitating ex-racehorses but her passion for the sport grew. She started under Olympian Heide Erickson and later began teaching at her barn. Grace then went on to successfully complete her apprenticeship under Gail Hoff-Caramona, an International Judge and competitor. After a move to Minnesota, Grace trained through Grand Prix and competed through the FEI levels under Ann Marie Gilquist, who short-listed for the 1988 Olympics, and Axel and Betsy Stiener.

In 1995, Grace moved to MA and started Goldmark Farm. Within 5 years, Goldmark Farm serviced 65 students per week, and Grace had developed a successful riding camp, several community programs, and traveled weekly throughout the show season with clientele. She has successfully completed the USDF judges' program with Distinction and currentlyt travels throughout New England judging horse shows. She is also an ARICP certified instructor and has served as an officer on the Worcester County Mounted Unit from 2002-2006.

In 1992, Grace purchased a 2 year-old gelding, which she broke and trained to the Grand Prix level. Currently, she owns a 6 year-old Thoroughbred mare, which she also broke and is currently riding at 2nd level. Grace has recently adopted a Canadian Warmblood yearling and hopes she will be her third start to finish Grand Prix horse. Grace aspires to continue to train and learn and pass her knowledge on to her students so that they may all someday have the same passion for the horse as she does.