Michelle grew up on a beef farm in New Zealand riding her pony over the hills and on the beach. Her parents moved them to Brisbane when she was 12. 

Michelle attempted to find another sport – but nothing compares to the partnership you develop with horses. 

Michelle was a very active member of our local pony club – volunteering many hours to help younger riders.

In 2009 she took one of her horses down to Victoria and stayed with Andrew and Manu for a month at AEBC. That’s also where I she met Rowan. This trip opened her eyes to a whole new and logical way of training horses. She took that back to Brisbane with her where she was coaching part time while she was studying at university. 

After graduating in 2011 she balanced riding and competing with working full-time as a children’s mental health nurse until her and Rowan moved to the Lockyer Valley in 2018. The beginnings of Michrow Park. 

Michelle and Rowan took the family to Germany for almost 3 years where she completed her ESI studies and trained part time with a German Grand Prix rider, Marin Pfeiffer. Michelle now works alongside Rowan running the business, training young horses, caring for their 3 children and is about to open a small riding school – where she can combine her love of horses and her extensive knowledge from her previous life as a  clinical paediatric nurse.