By Diana Bezdedeanu
Portraits by Maddy Falkowitz
Ashley Henry’s love for horses began in the Bahamas as a child and has only deepened over time. Now the director and head coach of equestrian programs at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Ashley has shared that passion and expertise with hundreds of equestrians in the past two decades.
Originally from Nassau, Ashley got her start in the sport thanks to her grandmother, an amateur rider from California, who was determined to bring world-class instruction to the island after moving there with her Bahamian husband.
“My aunt was an amazing rider and trained with Judy Richter in Wellington, Florida, but she and my grandmother realized that there needed to be more equestrian sport in the Bahamas, so they took it upon themselves to bring in clinicians,” Ashley explained. “The first clinician she brought in from the states was Judy Richter. After her first visit, Judy regularly hosted clinics on the island. We also brought in Michael Page, Melanie Smith Taylor, Scot Evans and Kathy Scholl, who was Judy Richter’s assistant at the time. They all were incredible horsemen, but at the time, I was too young to recognize that. I just loved horses and wanted to be a better rider; little did I know I was getting such a strong foundation.”
That early exposure to top-level instruction helped shape Ashley’s understanding of the dedication required to succeed in the sport—something she now instills in her students. “I’ve always been very passionate about proving to everybody how much it takes to be an equestrian,” Ashley said. “As all equestrians know, we don’t just show up to practice, throw our boots on and walk out. We have to prepare an animal, clean up after them, care for them. It’s a lifestyle you have to adapt if you want to participate in this sport.”
School and Horses
Ashley’s love for horses only deepened in eighth grade, when she enrolled at Garrison Forest School, a private day and boarding school in Owings Mills, Maryland, known for its strong equestrian program. “I practically lived at the barn,” Ashley joked. “When I got to high school at Garrison, we had to pick one sport for each semester—and I stuck with horses. My dad probably threw his head back when I said it, but that was it for me.
“Maryland is incredible horse country,” she continued. “There was no shortage of equestrian opportunities. I joined the eventing team, was on the tri-state equitation league team, leased horses to take to local shows, and we frequently went over to the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club. Some of my girlfriends did steeplechasing—but that was a whole new ball game to me. Garrison is also one of the only high schools in the country that has a polo program, so I got to try a little polo, too.”
While she dabbled in many disciplines in high school, it was equitation and catch riding that ultimately drew her in. “During my final year at Garrison, I went to my first National Finals at Andrews Osborne Academy in Willoughby, Ohio, which was the starting place for the IEA. That was when I discovered that I really loved the thrill of catch riding,” Ashley said.
At SCAD, Ashley rode on the equestrian team all four years, serving as captain during her junior and senior years. “Riding in college was life-changing,” she said. “I loved getting on some of the more challenging horses and figuring out how I could help them under saddle. Coming out of the ring and getting compliments from other riders and trainers was always so humbling. Traveling to collegiate shows, circuit shows and local shows, there were so many great experiences and teammates, but it was such an honor to ride on the team that won SCAD’s first equestrian national championship.”
After earning her Bachelor of Fine Arts in metals and jewelry from SCAD, Ashley planned to move to New York to pursue a jewelry design internship. But a life-changing phone call altered everything. SCAD asked if she would consider returning to coach the next generation of equestrians—and she said yes without hesitation.
Now, 20 years later, she’s still there.
“I knew that trying to compete on my own after college would be tough,” Ashley admitted. “Horseback riding is a lifelong sport. The intensity, the level and the passion you get to compete with at college—that lights a fire. I wanted to help others find that fire in themselves.”
Growing SCAD
That’s exactly what she’s done. Under Ashley’s leadership, SCAD’s equestrian program has continued to grow exponentially, offering students access to top-tier horses, elite coaching and a team environment that sets them apart from other schools.
“There have been so many incredible people who’ve shaped SCAD’s equestrian program over the years,” Ashley said. “They’ve influenced the way I teach and helped me grow from a young professional to where I am now. It’s hard to imagine I could have had this experience anywhere else—and even now, I’m still learning and growing for the sake of our student-athletes.”
That growth includes bringing in top trainers for clinics and exposing students to a variety of venues and events. “It’s an honor to lead the next generation, to give them the best collegiate experience possible and provide the kind of foundation I was fortunate to have as a student,” Ashley continued.
Ashley’s riders come from all walks of life. Some are seasoned competitors while others are complete beginners. “For the IHSA, there are eight levels of competition,” Ashley explained. “Level one is for students with less than five months of professional instruction. So sometimes I have to find a student who’s basically only ever been on a trail ride. And I’m like, fantastic—let’s go!”
It’s those brand-new riders that often make the biggest impression. “You’re teaching them how to put their foot in the stirrup iron properly, how to balance—and then you see that sparkle in their eyes when they connect with their horse for the very first time,” Ashley said, smiling. “Some of my favorite students came in, never having ridden, and now they’re national champions. Years later, they write me saying, ‘Thank you for giving me this passion I never knew I needed,’ and that’s what it’s all about.”
Ashley believes that no matter what discipline a rider starts in—Western, dressage, saddle seat—they can find their place in equitation. “I tell my students all the time: Give me the horse nobody wants to ride. I’ll do it happily; it’s all about your mindset,” she said. “Of course, we all want the nice horse. But I take pride in helping the complicated ones. Maybe I can’t make it jump better—but maybe I can help it in some way, even if it’s just to walk better.”
Barn Family
Whether she’s mentoring an advanced rider or introducing someone to the concept of a barn family for the first time, Ashley is proud of the culture she’s built. “A lot of riders don’t know what it’s like to compete for a team, to rely on each other. It’s a different kind of bond,” Ashley said. “Sometimes it’s hard because a big group graduates and I feel like a little piece of my heart goes with them. At the same time, we’ve created such a strong alumni community so it doesn’t feel like I’m losing them, but rather gaining a bigger family that’s just spread out farther than before.”
For many years, Ashley carried the bulk of the teaching load herself. “It was just me teaching for a long time,” she said. “In 2016, I got my first assistant coach when I had my first child. I knew being a new mom that I was going to have to balance a few more things.”
That first assistant came from an IHSA background and focused more on stable management than traditional coaching—stepping in to teach when Ashley wasn’t available but primarily reinforcing what Ashley considers a cornerstone of the program: horsemanship. In 2019, a returning alum took over the role, and in January 2023, Ashley brought on her current assistant coach, Sammy Perlman.
“Sammy is always out in the barn making sure we’re grooming our horses fully, tacking them up properly, putting leg wraps on correctly,” Ashley said. “We do a lot of in-house therapies—whether it’s the BEMER blankets, vibe plate or icing and wrapping—because horsemanship is essential. I don’t want my riders coming out to the ring if their saddle pad isn’t positioned correctly, if their boots aren’t polished. If we’re not crossing all of our T’s and dotting our I’s, then we’re not aiming for the level that we need to be.”
Even after stepping into her new role as Director of Equestrian Programs in June 2025, Ashley has remained a strong presence in the arena. “Now, I’m preparing to teach a little less than I’m used to so that I can spend more time in the office scheduling and planning,” she said. “Everyone asks me, ‘Where’s your office?’ And I always respond the same way, ‘It’s out in the arena. If you want me, you can find me out there.’”
Ashley’s time in the arena also informs her decisions as a coach. “When we go to horse shows, with as many students on our team as we have, you have to pick the right riders for the right shows, based on statistics,” she said. “If I’m picking them, I need to see how they’re following instruction. If they can’t do it at home, then how can I trust they’re going to be able to do it at the show ring? There’s a ton of strategy that goes into each event; it’s not just about how well an athlete rides.”
Trust and consistency also guide Ashley and Sammy in their work together. “We have a very open line of communication,” Ashley said. “We have the same principles in riding and understanding of what we’d like our athletes to be. That’s very important for our program so that we don’t have trainers saying conflicting things.”
Ashley encourages students to view different perspectives as learning opportunities. “I tell my students, ‘That’s life. You’re going to encounter people that tell you different things, but what you need to do right now is learn how to process what that specific person is saying in this given time and moment,’” she said. “We learn how to do that in clinics as well. When we work with outside trainers, they all have something really helpful to teach, and our students have to figure out how to apply it at that moment. Doesn’t mean it’s going to be that way for the rest of their riding career—but it’s a bag of tools they can always go back to. The more knowledge we’re given, the better equestrian we are.”
From a horse-crazy young girl in the Bahamas to two decades as a nationally respected collegiate coach, Ashley Henry’s journey has come full circle. Her teaching continuously centers around connection—between horse and rider, coach and student, teammate and teammate. She’s not only building skilled riders, but helping the next generation discover what kind of equestrian they want to become, both in and out of the arena.
Follow Ashley on Facebook at Ashley Lauren and the SCAD team on Instagram @scadequestrianteam. Also visit savannah.scadathletics.com/sports/equestrian and visit scad.edu
Photos by Maddy Falkowitz
