I was born in Germany and started riding when I was seven years old. At the age of 12,
I passed the national test for young riders with a bronze medal, allowing me to compete
at A-level horse shows. The test consisted of a 1.10 meter jumper course and a
dressage test, as well as an oral and written test about horsemanship, knowledge of
aids, and their application.
I moved to the US in 1981. Three years later, together with a partner, I started Foxmoor
Farms. Besides managing this 30-horse facility, I taught lessons, rode, and showed in
the hunters and jumpers. In 1989, I moved to Tacoma, Washington and took over the
management, riding, and teaching at Brookwood Stables. After that facility was sold, I
relocated to Gig Harbor and started HarborBrook Stables. Along with having an
extensive school horse program, I continued to bring along young horses and riders, as
well as compete in the Grand Prix Jumper ring on a thoroughbred gelding I had rescued
from the killers and trained to that level.
In Tacoma I met my husband, who was serving in the US Army Rangers. We were
married in 1994 and moved to Warsaw, Poland, where we lived until 1997. I continued
to teach, train, and show. While in Poland, I also began to buy young hunters and
jumpers to train and sell. Unfortunately, ten moves in the next fifteen years while my
husband was in the military, made it nearly impossible for me to continue a customer-
based riding and training business.
To continue pursuing my passion for horses, I had to change my focus from mostly
training riders and taking them to horse shows to training and selling young horses. I
have owned, trained, and sold many horses over the past decades, most of whom
continued on to have very successful careers in the United States.
Due to severe genetic osteoarthritis, between 2002 and 2023, my body had to be
reconstructed with “spare parts.” My hips and knees were replaced with titanium and a
large portion of my back is also stabilized with titanium. This helps me to be functional
but only “serviceably sound,” however, it does not allow me to ride anymore. When I was able to spend more time in the saddle, I continued my education as a professional training with accomplished riders and trainers, including George Morris, Jeff Cook, Joe Fargis, and Mclain Ward, to name a few in the Hunter Jumper world. I have also worked with Buck Brannaman and continue to work with Jim Thomas on a regular basis. As part of my ongoing education, I have also obtained my “r” judging license for Hunters and Equitation.
My focus has now turned to teaching lessons and clinics, restructuring training programs, and teaching horses and riders solid flatwork. Using my extensive knowledge of competing, training young horses, and years of experience in classical dressage, jumping and natural horsemanship, I have developed my Track-Momentum-Balance System.
Juliana Zunde 