Sarah Rhodes is an equestrian coach and consultant based in Waxhaw, N.C., who has dedicated over 20 years to the equine industry. As the principal of Sarah Rhodes Equestrian LLC and the founder of A New Equestrian Mindset, Rhodes has developed a unique methodology that goes beyond traditional equine management. Her career is defined by her belief that the relationship between horse and rider is as much about internal peace and clarity as it is about using proper physical techniques.
Academic Foundation and Specialized Training
Rhodes’s professional journey began with a formal academic foundation centered on the business of horses. She attended St. Andrews Presbyterian College, a private university in Scotland County, N.C., where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in equine business management in 2005.
Recognizing that technical skill is only one facet of the equestrian experience, Rhodes sought to deepen her understanding of the human side of the equation. In 2014, she began a rigorous journey into Reiki, eventually achieving certification as a Reiki Master Teacher.
Rhodes’ dual educational background allows her to integrate holistic practices into her coaching. She finds that it helps riders identify and resolve mindset blocks that might otherwise impede their progress.
Professional Growth and Expansion
With a career spanning two decades, Rhodes has navigated various sectors of the equine industry. Her early years were centered on skills that ranged from managing hunter jumpers to the western disciplines, where she spent a decade participating in barrel racing, pole bending, and team penning.
Before Rhodes established her independent practice, she gained invaluable experience through summer camps, lesson programs, and guided trail rides at various local barns. She also served as the assistant barn manager for Fox Farms from 2008 to 2014. A significant milestone occurred in 2018, when, during her competition years, she guided one of her thoroughbred horses to recognition in the Horse of the Year competition.
Outside the performance arena, Rhodes maintains a diverse professional portfolio. Her accomplishments include serving as an independent consultant at Arbonne from 2017 to 2022 and a doTERRA consultant from 2022 to 2025. Her transition across several disciplines reflects her broader belief that adaptability and mental clarity are essential elements to proper rider development.
Civic Work and Professional Affiliations
Rhodes is an active member of the broader equestrian community. She holds professional memberships with the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Dressage Federation, and the North Carolina Dressage and Combined Training Association.
Additionally, Rhodes’s commitment to the therapeutic potential of horses is evident in her four-year tenure on the board of directors for Two Hearts One Language, an equine-facilitated learning program. Throughout her roles, she has contributed to the educational and philanthropic efforts that characterize different parts of the equine community.
Riding into the Future
As she rides toward the future, Rhodes has a new focus: expanding her influence through digital education. She aims to shift her focus toward online courses to reach a wider, more global audience of women riders and professionals, while also emphasizing a self-care mindset within the context of equestrian retreats.
Her belief that horses create a space for healing enables her to help not only riders but also professionals who are ready to reclaim their identities outside their careers. Additionally, she intends to establish a trail riding venture in the Altoona Crescent region of Pennsylvania.
Outside her various professional pursuits, Rhodes remains an avid hiker and continues to participate in the equestrian lifestyle as a hobbyist. She also maintains the personal connections to horses she established when she first started riding at age two.
