“I have been working with Sierra Johnson for almost two years, and in this time she has matured and grown into a competitive athlete within the equestrian sport. She was faced with some challenges early on with an injury to her horse, which unfortunately this sport too often teaches that hard lesson. Being a witness to her resilience on rebuilding and reframing her mindset has been inspiring to be a part of. Her adaptation and ability to learn to ride and be competitive on other horses has been rewarding to see as her trainer. Sierra is a very supportive barnmate and remains humble within her own successes. She goes into the arena with a very competitive edge and focus which makes it fun to teach her. She is very coachable while teaching her to ride different types of horses. Her love for horses and all animals is undeniable. I know Sierra would absolutely be an asset to any team because of her level of commitment and her willingness to learn. She is a fantastic upbeat and supportive teammate and whoever gets her will be lucky to have her.”
~ Diane St. Onge, Owner Di-Namic Equine Clinton Corners, NY
“For the past year, I have had the privilege of training Sierra Johnson. Sierra is one of the most dedicated people I know. Her love for horses, kindness to others, and willingness to help set her apart from others I have coached. Sierra has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to riding and has achieved significant success both individually and as part of a team. Last season, Sierra missed qualifying for IEA Nationals by one point, however that didn’t stop her from taking a trip down to Tryon to cheer on her teammates, which not only shows tremendous team dedication but also great sportsmanship. She is very supportive and always the first one to lend a hand at the horse shows or around the farm. Sierra’s keen sense of strategy, discipline, and focus, together with her natural talent, is what makes her stand out as a rider. At each lesson, Sierra brings not only a strong work ethic but also a commitment to personal growth and determination to push herself. She also maintains an excellent academic record and effortlessly manages to balance it with rigorous training required to stay at the top of her game.
Having been a former NCEA head coach, I am confident Sierra would excel in the NCEA format and be an asset to any team she chooses to join. She has worked hard for all of her accomplishments, and I believe she possesses the right combination of drive, intelligence, and interpersonal skills required to be a student athlete. I strongly believe that Sierra will be a great addition to any team and will only help strengthen any program she is part of.”
~ Helaina Ricciardi, owner and head trainer of Meadow Creek Farms
“I have known Sierra Johnson for the past eight years. Sierra was just a young child when she started riding with us at Lucky C Stables, in New Paltz NY. Her Mom and sister rode, so Sierra was always following them around and trying to do what they were doing. She has always had an impressive natural talent and has the work ethic to develop her skills. She is very serious about her riding and works very hard to accomplish any skill you or the horse challenges her with. If she doesn’t understand, or can’t manage the skill, she will work at it until it is accomplished. She loves the horses deeply, but wants to learn and understand the value in the relationship and carry that through to her riding. We sold the farm two years ago, retiring and making a life change, but she continued under difficult circumstances. She was leasing a Children’s Large from us and showed and trained her throughout a couple of seasons. She was very successful in the show ring and received many impressive scores. When I left, she had bought a horse to move her into the 3’ and 3’3”. Although I was no longer teaching her, I knew she would continue excelling. Unfortunately, her horse got hurt and she moved onto a lease horse. Her career continued to build and she is now back on her own horse after rehabbing him. Like most of our customers, Sierra’s family has always played in the “A” circuit, but without having several horses to choose from and being on quality but green horses or ponies, the progress is slower but very educational. Our farm had a winning IEA Team, and many of our riders went to Nationals year after year. Sierra was one of them. Through this program, Sierra learned to ride all different types of horses. She has expanded with her own horse or leased horses into all three rings, not just Equitation, but with Hunters and Jumpers as well. Her road through her junior career hasn’t been easy or without many adjustments, but she is extremely passionate about riding, is willing to work hard and do whatever is necessary to be successful. She is friendly and always willing to help. She can do everything from cleaning a stall, to bathing, wrapping, clipping, loading, unloading, medical care and basically whatever may arise that needs to be done. She will be a huge asset to any program and certainly will assist in the success of your Team. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 845-389-7222 or sclark8@twc.com”
~ Susan Clark
“I am writing to recommend Sierra Johnson for admission to your program. I work in the Student Life department at the Lycée Français de New York, where Sierra has been enrolled since 2012. I am the grade coordinator for her class, I have therefore had the pleasure of working closely with her since 9th grade. Over the years that I have known her, Sierra has shown herself to be not only a dedicated and organized student but also a committed athlete who has successfully balanced the demands of our rigorous bilingual academic program with her passion for running and horseback riding.
Sierra has been an active member of the Lycée’s cross country as well as indoor and outdoor track teams for the past few years. She has demonstrated the ability to manage her time efficiently, ensuring achievement both in the classroom and in athletics. Despite frequent travel and excused absences for competitions, Sierra consistently maintains high academic performance. Outside of her sports absences, she has maintained a strong record of punctuality and attendance in her classes. Her organizational skills and her dedication to catching up on missed work demonstrate a high level of maturity and responsibility.
Sierra is not only an exemplary student but also an active member of our school community. She has been an integral part of our institution since primary school, volunteering at various community events throughout the year in addition to participating in community service. She displays a strong work ethic, punctuality, and a positive attitude in all that she does.
Please feel free to contact me if you require any additional information or have further questions regarding Sierra.”
~ Davis Haithcock, High School Student Life Department, Grade coordinator, Class of 2026