Caitlin Burns is a hunter/jumper trainer based in the Twin Cities, offering personalized lessons and training to riders and horses at independent barns across the region. A Minnesota native, Caitlin grew up competing in the junior hunters, equitation, and junior jumpers, spending the majority of her junior career riding under the guidance of Kim Barone. Her pursuit of professional growth led her to Colorado as a working student for Alex Granato and Teri Knowlton of Windcrest Farm. Traveling with the Windcrest program gave her hands-on experience with professionals managing and schooling top grand prix horses introducing her to the discipline and pace at the highest levels of the sport.

Following her time on the road with Windcrest, Caitlin returned to the Midwest to work for Maffitt Lake Farms under Melinda Antisdel and Sarah Jane Franklin. There, she developed a deeper understanding of what it takes to produce and fine-tune top-quality hunters, jumpers, and equitation horses—as well as the riders who compete with them.

Caitlin stepped away from a full-time professional trajectory to attend the University of Minnesota. During that time, she worked in live music event production, the nonprofit education sector as a communications professional eventually opening her own firm, Take Hold. Even while growing her career outside the ring, she never left the horse world entirely and continued to work with young horses locally.

Her passion for horsemanship brought her back to the barn full-time, managing Hunters Court Stable outside of Nashville, TN for esteemed trainer Dani Grice. There, Caitlin learned the importance of thoughtful, individualized programs and deepened her knowledge in developing young horses with patience and clarity. Her journey has since included time riding with Meadowview Farm in Grand Rapids, MI, and Flipside Horses in Portland, OR.

Now based back in Minneapolis with her partner William and their dog Harlo, Caitlin offers training services based out of Brandywine Farm in Corcoran, MN to clients throughout the metro.

Current Focus

Today, Caitlin specializes in helping amateurs and juniors reconnect with the parts of riding that matter most—connection, relaxation, fun, and feeling—while still pursuing meaningful progress and competitive goals. Her approach is rooted in correct fundamentals, strategy, a deep respect for the horse, and a commitment to creating horses and riders that enjoy each other.