Meet Jenna
Experienced. Purposeful. Invested in the horse-and-rider partnership.
Jenna McGowan Terry - Owner & Head Trainer
Eventing • Dressage • Rider Development • Biomechanics
At Full Stride Equestrian, training is about more than preparing for the next ride or the next show. It is about developing the horse and rider together—building understanding, confidence, correctness, and the skills necessary for long-term progression.
Jenna brings years of competitive experience, continued education, and a genuine commitment to helping each horse and rider become their best partnership.
The Trainer Behind Full Stride
Jenna's approach to training has been shaped by years spent competing, developing horses, teaching riders, and continuing her own education.
Her primary focus is Dressage and Eventing, but her experience extends across a variety of performance horses and disciplines. That broad experience has helped shape a training philosophy centered on one simple idea:
Good training develops the horse and the rider together.
Jenna believes that strong fundamentals create the foundation for everything that follows. Balance, position, communication, responsiveness, and confidence are not separate pieces of training—they work together to create a more effective and harmonious partnership.
Whether a rider is preparing for recognized competition or simply wants to become a more confident and capable rider, the goal is the same: meaningful progress built on correct, thoughtful training.
Experience That Builds Perspective
Jenna's competitive background gives her firsthand experience with the demands placed on both horse and rider as they progress through the levels.
Eventing - Intermediate Level
Experience developing the skills required across dressage, show jumping, and cross-country while preparing horse-and-rider combinations for the demands of competition.
Dressage - Prix St. George
Extensive dressage experience with an emphasis on balance, connection, correct development, and progression through the levels.
USDF
Bronze Medal — With Distinction
Silver Medal
Recognition of sustained development and achievement within the sport of Dressage.
Broad Performance Experience
2008 NSBA World Champion — Hunter Under Saddle
Jenna's experience extends beyond Dressage and Eventing, providing a broader understanding of different horses, riders, training approaches, and performance goals.
Always Learning
The best trainers never stop being students.
Jenna believes that becoming a better trainer is an ongoing process.
Alongside competing at recognized USEA and USDF shows, she continues to pursue education through clinics, training opportunities, and work with respected professionals in the sport.
Her continued education has included training in Germany with Hans Biss, as well as ongoing exposure to different training philosophies and perspectives.
That commitment to learning is an important part of the Full Stride program.
Jenna doesn't believe there is a point where a trainer has learned everything.
There is always another horse to understand, another rider to help, and another level to pursue.
How Jenna Teaches
Biomechanics
Jenna teaches Biomechanics, the art of using your whole body in harmony with the horse's body.
The Rider's Body Matters
Jenna's approach to training incorporates biomechanics—the understanding of how the rider's body influences the horse's balance, movement, and communication.
By developing better body awareness, balance, and position, riders can communicate more effectively and allow their horses to move with greater freedom and confidence.
POSITION → BALANCE → COMMUNICATION → PERFORMANCE
The Full Stride Training Philosophy
Fundamentals First
Correct basics create the foundation for everything that follows.
Balance, position, rhythm, connection, communication, and responsiveness are developed deliberately so that progress is built on a strong foundation rather than shortcuts.
Confidence Through Understanding
Confidence isn't simply something a rider either has or doesn't have.
It grows when riders understand what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how to communicate effectively with their horse.
Horse & Rider Together
A successful partnership requires development on both sides.
Training is designed to help the rider become more effective while developing the horse into a balanced, responsive, confident partner.
Progression With Purpose
Every horse and rider combination is different.
Training should reflect the individual—not force every partnership into the same timeline or approach.
The goal is steady, meaningful progression that supports both the horse's development and the rider's goals.
What It's Like to Train with Jenna
More Than a Lesson
Training with Jenna is designed around the individual horse-and-rider partnership.
Individual Attention
A limited number of training positions allows Jenna to provide focused attention and develop a clear understanding of each horse and rider.
Clear Direction
Riders should understand what they are working toward and why each piece of training matters.
Honest Coaching
Progress requires honest feedback, thoughtful adjustments, and a willingness to address the areas that will make the biggest difference.
Consistent Development
Meaningful improvement comes from consistent training rather than quick fixes.
Competition Preparation
For riders pursuing competition, training extends beyond simply getting a horse ready for show day. The goal is to develop a partnership capable of performing consistently under pressure.
Horse Welfare
A successful program must consider the horse as an individual. Training, workload, progression, and expectations should support the horse's physical and mental well-being.
Beyond The Show Ring
It's about the partnership.
Competition is an important part of Jenna's experience, but it isn't the only reason she trains horses and riders.
Some of the most rewarding moments happen outside the show ring—when a rider finally finds their balance, a horse begins to understand a new concept, or a partnership reaches a breakthrough that once seemed out of reach.
Those moments are what make training meaningful.
Jenna wants her riders to leave each ride with more understanding, more confidence, and a clearer sense of where they are going next.
Because the goal isn't simply to produce a better performance.
It's to create a better partnership.
“Correct training creates confident horses, capable riders, and partnerships built to last.”
— Jenna
Ready to Begin?
Let's talk about where you want to go.
Whether you're working toward your first recognized competition, your next level of performance, or simply becoming a more confident and effective rider, Jenna would love to learn more about you, your horse, and your goals.
Tell us about your horse, your riding experience, and what you hope to accomplish.