Jasmine Piepho, PtP Program Supervisor
Jasmine Piepho, Supervising Program Trainer, joined Via Nova in 2021 as a Student Trainer. A valuable member of Via Nova, Jasmine primarily coaches our team of Assistant Trainers to proficiency, applying Positive Reinforcement and applying our Positive approach. She continues to test new practices and methods, train our horses, and coach clients in PtP.
Growing up in Minnesota, Jasmine’s family had a small hobby farm where she discovered her passion for animal husbandry. At 16, Jasmine began riding lessons and began dreaming of her equestrian calling. She went on to study biology and equine studies at South Dakota State University.
Throughout her college years, Jasmine developed a career as a riding instructor, barn manager, and trail guide (ask her about Glacier National Park). During this time, Jasmine purchased her first horse, Leia, an experienced western gaming mare, and began her path with Positive Reinforcement.
“I never stop learning from horses! Their personalities are so fun to explore, and positive reinforcement work goes hand in hand with really getting to know them as an individual, which makes relationship building with them so much sweeter!”
Jasmine found that Leia, though skilled and dependable undersaddle, was withdrawn and prone to anxious reactions in ordinary situations. Jasmine applied R+ techniques, effectively helping Leia relax and reveal her personality and motivation.
Wanting to learn more about R+, Jasmine joined Via Nova and has continued her R+ journey. Jasmine brings a love of teaching others, horse husbandry, and creativity in developing new methods to build our team of talented staff, grow the PtP program, and bring Via Nova’s mission to the traditional equestrian world.
These days, she trains her BLM mustang, Wally, to be more confident, with the goals of becoming a lesson pony, a reliable trail horse, and a dabbler in some western sports.