Andrea began riding at age 8 on Arabian ex-racehorses in the heart of the desert at Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, and was hooked for life. After her family moved to Texas at age 10, she continued taking lessons at a hunter-jumper barn, and became a classic “barn rat,” mucking stalls and cleaning tack in exchange for ride time. After a brief hiatus to focus on academics, she renewed her passion for horses during college, when she relentlessly pursued every local horse opportunity she could find. These included starting young ranch horses under saddle, restarting off-track thoroughbreds, and exercising polo ponies by riding one and ponying 3 at a time.
After graduating with a B.S. in Computer Science and a M.S. in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience, Andrea evaded a corporate career and continued to pursue life in the horse industry, becoming a working student in Florida for 5* eventer Jennie Jarnstrom. After moving to California, she continued her education as assistant to 4* eventer David Acord, during which she showed her own OTTB Monty through the 3*/Intermediate level. While rehabbing Monty from an injury, Andrea had time to focus deeply on dressage and fell in love with the finer details of the art form. She furthered her education as assistant trainer to Grand Prix dressage trainer Nadine Pestana, where she was given the opportunity to work with horses from Training level to Grand Prix. 

Today, Andrea works as assistant trainer to Grand Prix trainer and USEF ’S’ Judge Katy Barglow. She continues to work with horses at all levels of training from barely under saddle to FEI, including her own Wally, whom she plans to debut at FEI Prix St. Georges in 2025. Andrea particularly enjoys the puzzle of translating the language of dressage to the language of the horse. She believes that, when it comes to horses, “misbehaviors” are generally misunderstandings, so she is always working to find new ways to bridge the gap of understanding between horse and human. She enjoys teaching amateurs, and can often be heard excitedly shouting “YES! That’s IT!” when she gets to witness a client experiencing a new “feel.” Andrea believes that with good technique, there is no need for force, and she is always striving to expand her repertoire of techniques so that she can share them with her horses and students."

Throughout her equestrian education, she has learned from trainers and horses in a variety of equestrian disciplines, and believes that first and foremost, a horse is a horse. The fundamentals of balance, harmony, and correct biomechanics apply to all horses. The goal of correct training is to build a happy athlete who enthusiastically cooperates  with their human partner, because moving well together feels good. Andrea feels that a joyful moment of true understanding with a willing equine partner is the closest she’ll ever get to telepathy, and she lives for that feeling and strives to impart it to her horses and students.