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Sarah Ash
Head Trainer
Sarah brings our horses and riders with over 41 years of riding and training experience. She started riding at age 6, and trained with Chuck Waters and Pam Graham as a junior rider. She competed in the junior hunters and the high junior jumpers as a young rider. After graduating from Upper Arlington High School, and The Ohio State University with an honors degree in history, she began working as a barn manager. She started teaching at age 26, and in 2007 she transitioned to Willow Way Farm (now called True Course) as the head trainer.
Sarah has built an extremely strong and successful program training riders from walk trot all the way to the grand prix level. She also uses her skill and extensive experience to successfully develop young horses and imports into top quality competitors. Sarah's other past and present accolades include Ohio Hunter Jumper Association board member, Trainer of the Year, several OHJA Perpetual Awards including Horse and Pony of the Year, Most Improved Rider, and Junior and Amateur Sportsmanship. In addition, Sarah has trained numerous students at the equitation finals and won multiple champion titles at indoors, including 2018 Small and Large 3'3" Junior Hunter Champion, 2023 Children's Jumper Champion at Pennsylvania National Horse Show. Also, 2023 Adult Equitation Champion and 2024 Adult Equitation Reserve Champion at The National Horse Show.
Phone: (614) 206-5452
Email: ridetruecourse@gmail.com
Michaella Del Greco
Assistant Trainer
Michaella began riding at age 9 with Pam Graham and Sarah Ash. She competed throughout her junior years starting in the pony hunters and jumpers and progressed as a junior rider in the big equitation, the junior hunters, and jumpers. She competed at Pony finals, Junior Hunter Finals, and Indoors as a junior.
After spending 2 years as an amateur rider, she began her professional career developing, showing and selling horses under Sarah. While continuing to focus on young horses, she has had success competing at Green Incentive Finals, WCHR developing professional classes and continues to compete in the green hunters, young jumpers, derbies, and prix. Michaella has countless derby wins, jumper prix top placings, and Open Rider of the Year awards. She has also finished top ten in WCHR Developing Professional Finals multiple times.
She is a 2017 graduate of The Ohio State University.
Phone: (614) 205-4723
Email: michaellagerlacher@gmail.com
ridetruecourse@gmail.com
Jake Del Greco
Road Manager/Head Groom
Jake has been a part of the True Course team for over 6 years. He previously managed a farm filled with over 40+ show horses and now manages our horses on the road. He oversees the horses' care, exercise, and health at competitions.
Impeccable horse care and attention to detail is his top priority to give the clients peace of mind when competing away from home.
Jake is also a licensed FEI/USEF Steward at shows both in the US and Canada when True Course horses are not competing.
Phone: (614) 312-9883
Email: jake.delgreco@yahoo.com
Leah Smaller
Assistant Trainer
Leah is a 2006 graduate of the University of Findlay receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies. With over 15 years of experience in all aspects of the equine industry she brings a wealth of knowledge to our team.
She has shown on the 'A' circuit since the age of 10 and competed in numerous finals as a junior rider.
Leah helps manage and train our IEA team, school lesson program, as well as our A Circuit riders. She competes in both jumpers and hunters with many of the clients horses.
Phone: (708) 362-2089
Email: smallerl@gmail.com
Sophie Carlin
Social Media, Sales, and Assistant Road Manager
Sophie is an actively competing amateur rider. She has over 20 years of riding experience in the hunters and jumpers, including numerous appearances and placings at USEF Pony Finals and Indoors. Sophie has a degree in sport management from Elon University, and has experience working shows in many different facets.
Sophie brings her competiton knowledge to the shows in order to assist with administrative work, management, and all other aspects of helping our show horses perform at their best.
Sophie brings her background in social media and management from her college experience and her background in sales to help search for and advertise horses and ponies. Please see our sales page or contact Sophie for inquiries on sale horses.
Phone: (614) 593-9549
Email: Sophie.carlin3@gmail.com
Jenna Rieder
Social Media and Sponsor Coordinator
Jenna is an adult amateur competing in the hunters and equitation. She has been riding for almost 20 years and has spent the last three training with Sarah Ash and Michaella Gerlacher. She has two horses, an Oldenburg named Landon and a young Thoroughbred named Noah. She works in corporate finance and in her free time she loves to foster dogs and go out with friends. Jenna is also the best mom to her son, Oliver.
Jenna brings her social media acumen, passion for horses and positive spirit to our team as well as coordinating our sponsorships. Please contact Jenna for any partnership interests.
Phone: (740) 334-7821
Email: Jm923009@gmail.com