Whitney Lagace
Head Trainer
Owner Whitney Lagace is the head trainer and instructor at Whitney Ridge. As a loving mother of four, Whitney has balanced her family business alongside her husband Mike. She has earned herself a reputation nationwide as a knowledgeable and skilled professional. She serves on AQHA Professional Horsemen's Council, AQHA Show Committee, a board member on Region Six and Connecticut Quarter Horse Association and has been a Team Wrangler member. Whitney has guided many winning teams across the country to national titles. With many World Show Titles, NSBA World Show, and multiple high-point achievements. Whitney has also earned record-breaking scores at the All American Quarter Horse Congress. She considers her clients "barn-family" and proclaims the highlight of her career is building successful teams with riders and their horses.
Michael Lagace
Facilities / Book Keeper
Michael is co-owner of Whitney Ridge. He has a bachelor's degree in Engineering. Mike is responsible for all the financial aspects (payroll, invoicing & paying the bills), he also oversees all the maintenance for the property and helps keep everything running smoothly.
Jayna Lagace
Barn Support
Jayna is very involved with the barn; she shows the AQHA circuit with her horse Stanley. Jayna has met so many friends throughout this industry and has learned a lot of great life lessons. Her older siblings CJ, Ashley and Ryan make appearances at the shows to cheer her on but they are all very busy working towards their life goals.
Heidi Smith
Lesson Instructor
Heidi is yet another great instructor at WRS. She has been teaching riding lessons at Whitney Ridge since 2009 and has grown up around horses her whole life. She got her first pony at 5 and showed the 4-H as a child, then shortly after her parents bought her first registered Quarter horse. Then as a young adult she qualified for the World Quarter Horse Show and currently shows registered paint/pintos and hunter pace. Heidi is a member and participates in the CT horse show assoc., New England Pinto Horse Assoc., Pinto Horse Assoc., CT Color Breed Assoc., Tri-state Horsemen's Assoc., East Greenwich Horsemen's Assoc., Lower CT River Valley Horsemen's Assoc., Pony Club Horse Masters Assoc. Certified ARIA Instructor and an OHSA carded judge. Heidi loves to teach and share her love of horses to students of all ages.