Hello!👋
I thought maybe I should introduce myself for those of you who don't know me. What's a better way than a blog post? lol
I suppose, let's start with the basics...
My name is Ashley Lane McLaughlin, I was named after Lane Frost, the famous bull rider. I am 25 years old, and a dual citizen of both Australia and America. I have been riding horses ever since I can remember. One of the most memorable experiences I've had is thanks to frominte. He was a little black Shetland pony, named after Vegemite. He was a circus pony my grandpas childhood friend had, and wasn't using. My dad brought home this hairy, grouchy, Shetland pony with a bad case of tall poppy syndrome. That pony didn’t belong to me, nor did anyone ever buy him, but he taught me how to get sticky and stay on, because as soon as we made it to the very far end of the driveway (approximately ¼ mile) that hairy, fat, fart took off back to the barn as fast as he could, bucking and farting all the way back.
-Photos Left to right-#1 Fromite, as a very old man, and baby Paige-#2 Moo Moo and 8yr old Ashley-#3 My first sliding stop on Oakie.
Anyhow, I fell off at the first kick up of his little butt. I was so mad. I got up, dusted myself off, walked all the way back where my dad was standing with pony in toe. I kicked that turd muffin in the guts (I was 7, there was no damage done to the horse) I got back on, and went down the driveway again, only this time, I ran that pony as fast as I could up that driveway… we got to the top, and turned around… and he took off again, bucking all the way back… but I hung on. As soon as we got back to my dad, we spun around and went flying up that driveway again! I made that pony go as fast as his little legs could carry him until finally he stopped bucking.
I suppose I'm feeling sentimental.
Ever since, my horse training father took the liberties of finding all the little ponies in the neighborhood, or that he knew of, in for training. Only I was now the assistant trainer. I had ponies that would buck just cause, ponies that ran across fields of Rhodes grass--I don't know how he could have seen, the grass was taller than the pony--even one that took me through a barbed wire fence, leaving a deep scar on my leg still to this day. I may not have been fortunate enough to always be able to ride the best horses out there and compete with the industry's leading competitors, but I know how to make an uncontrollable and even dangerous horse, calm, collected, and kind.
-Photos left to right-#1 Sydney and I in Gatton QLD, on sweet Oakie-#2 College days at NEO a&m Horsemanship Team-#3 My sister Bailey and I with Joey and Saidie
Horses have been apart of my life ever since I can remember. Good horses, some not so good horses, and everything in between. Some of the scariest horses will teach you the most. I have had the privilege of riding for John Amabiel, Jim Dudley, and working with my dad Donnie McLaughlin for years. Although honestly, I have learned the most since going out on my own and starting AMC Performance Horses. Mostly how to teach, especially kids. Thanks to my students I have learned more patience, confidence within myself, and created some amazing friendships along the way.
I'm grateful and excited for the future opportunities 2024 has to bring. I hope for those of you I don't know yet, I will get the privilege of working with you in the near future. Ps. I owe a particular student of mine an embarrassing picture. I think I have just the one! Go easy on me, it was my first time showing again in years, as a professional too! My nerves were shot going into that arena!
-Photos- Cedar Rapids 2022, My first time showing Joey since 2016. Let's just say, we were both rusty 😅
For those of you wanting to watch my team show this year, I will be posting the events I will be attending throughout the year! I promise it will be better than that^. Also for anyone interested in what I teach, I offer lessons, clinics and summer camps. If you're looking to ride for fun, or to be competitive within the reining industry please feel free to join The AMC Community! Thank you for taking the time out of your day, to learn about your local horse trainer.
