Autumn Acres Equestrian
Our Trainers
Sashi McDowell
Sashi McDowell is the Owner and Head Trainer of Autumn Acres Equestrian. Sashi has been riding since she was eight years old and has shown successfully in the Hunter and Jumper rings. She specializes in teaching students that would like to compete in Hunters, Equitation, Jumpers, Dressage, and lower level Eventing.
Sashi has ridden with and worked for some of the top Grand Prix riders in the country. Sashi graduated from Centenary University in 1998 where she received a degree in Equine Studies. At Centenary, she competed on their Jumper Team and was given an Academic Achievement Award. Sashi has been teaching for 29 years and has owned Autumn Acres for the last 22 years. Sashi’s students have competed in some of the largest shows in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Her students’ accolades including winning the Jack Fritz Challenge at The Garden State Horse Show as well as the Devon Fall Classic. Autumn Acres students also boast an array of ribbons from local through A-Rated shows in all rings.
Sashi’s philosophy includes teaching with a positive attitude and encouraging her students to become true “horsemen”. Autumn Acres students learn how to take care of their mounts from start to finish, so that they build lasting relationships with the horses.
Alex Ritter
Alexandra Ritter is our Assistant Trainer at Autumn Acres Equestrian. Alex has 17 years experience in the sport, successfully competing at Hunter, Jumper, and Eventing shows. Currently, Alex is training her ex-race horse Bill to become her next Jumper prospect. She has been training Autumn Acres’ students for 12 years, including planning and running our camp program.
Alex loves teaching both in the classroom and in the ring! Alex is a graduate of Centenary University with a BA in English as well as dual certification of Elementary and Special Education. She has taken our students from their first lessons to earning Champion placement at local horse shows. Alex has a natural talent for easing nervous riders and encouraging them to push themselves to reach their full potential.
Abby Bonita
Abby is out other assistant trainer at Autumn Acres. She has been riding for almost 16 years, competing in hunters, jumpers, and equitation. She participated in pony club for 3 years and IEA for 3 years, as well. Abby went to college at Delaware Valley University for 2 years and competed in IHSA shows. She been teaching riding lessons since the age of 17 and continues to teach now, while obtaining her degree locally in Business Management. However, her talents certainly do not end there! On top of teaching riding lessons, loving on her horse, Wyatt, and obtaining her degree, Abby is also learning to become a farrier, a dream she has followed for most of her life.
Abby owes all of her gratitude to her mom, who rode her entire life, and passed this gift down to her. It is because of her Mom that she decided to follow her passion for horses and create a life of her own that revolves around nothing else but them.