The quintessential ‘bush kid’ Sandra grew up on the back of a horse, and she credits the beginnings of her unique ability with animals to the countless hours she was able to chalk up with horses, dogs and cattle as a child. Sandra rode ‘D’ graders as a pre-teen and won a Darling Down’s Individual Interschools Combined Training title in her senior year for Fairholme College. At 18 she went on the win the 2004 equestrian scholarship to Marcus Oldham College and graduated at Distinction level.

In her adult years she was worked for multiple international showjumping, eventing and dressage riders both in Australia and Germany and also ran her own stud and stable for 10 years breeding, starting and competing her own young stock and both stallions, with the focus on selling young competition proven performance horses. Sandra completed the ESI Diploma in 2015 and it revolutionised her training system, improving her relationships and results with both her horses and her students.

In 2019 Sandra stepped back from a career as a full-time professional rider, trainer and coach and is fostering her interest in Organisational Psychology at the University of Southern Queensland whilst still mentoring and coaching those who are interested in pursuing the training of horses and coaching of riders via the lens of Equitation Science. She plans to continue riding at an elite level, albeit on a part-time basis now