Courtney Bolender

Courtney Bolender is Ridgebury Farm’s Equine Wellness Director, overseeing the health, fitness, and wellbeing of the farm’s therapy herd. She also teaches wellness and adaptive riding lessons, trains volunteers in horse handling and barn management, and works closely with instructors and therapists to ensure Ridgebury’s mounted and unmounted programs remain safe, effective, and horse-centered.

A fifth-generation horse professional, Courtney has more than 40 years of experience riding, training, and caring for horses. She grew up in Pony Club and competed in multiple disciplines before focusing professionally on dressage. Over the course of her career, she earned her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals and trained and competed at the highest levels of the sport.

Courtney believes that happy, healthy horses are the foundation of every successful session. Drawing on her dressage background, she focuses on helping each horse develop the strength, balance, and confidence needed to thrive in their role. She feels fortunate to work alongside both animals and people every day and is continually inspired by the powerful connections that form between Ridgebury’s horses and the individuals they serve.