The Full Story
NextGen Equine
NextGen Equine is a private training facility dedicated to developing exceptional equine prospects. We specialize in uncovering the potential within Hackney Ponies and American Saddlebred Horses, carefully training and preparing them to reach their peak capabilities. Once they are polished and ready for the show ring, we match them with new homes where they can thrive as their owner’s next show companion.
Mission
The mission of NextGen Equine is to produce and nurture top quality equine athletes in the Hackney and Saddlebred worlds. This is accomplished by discovering and embracing an equine's natural talents and amplifying them for the show ring. Here at NextGen Equine we specialize in finding that synergy between horse and rider, pony and driver, with the ultimate goal of success in the challenging Saddlebred and Hackney industries.
Vision
NextGen Equine's vision is to continue developing top-rated athletes while becoming a widely respected training facility. We carefully select the horses and ponies that enter and leave our barn, maintaining a standard of quality in everything we do. Our goal is for every owner to proudly say their horse or pony came from NextGen Equine. We are dedicated to building a program that prioritizes success in the show ring while ensuring every horse is treated with care, respect, and kindness.
Erik Lee
Erik Lee is the owner of several horse related businesses including the Jerald Sulky Company, The Scoop Feed & Supply, and NextGen Equine. He has been a United States Equestrian Federation Professional for over 25 years and holds judging licenses in Saddlebreds, Hackneys, Roadsters, and Saddle Seat Equitation. He also holds a degree in Quantitative Methods and Computer Science from the University of St. Thomas. Erik’s professional and personal life is horse centric: the Jerald Sulky Company is the last commercial manufacturer of performance horse drawn vehicles, from which show carts are shipped all over the world; The Scoop Feed & Supply is a multi-brand feed store with a strong equine service practice; and NextGen Equine is Erik’s horse training business where he develops, trains, and markets horses & ponies from his farm in Waverly. Erik typically has 20-30 horses in his care and is actively developing about half of them at any time. In addition to judging horse shows Erik gives clinics on horse driving and reinsmanship. Erik currently resides in Waverly with his wife Shelli (who purposefully knows almost nothing about horses) and has been a member of the Cedar Valley community for about 10 years.
