Riley Alexander aboard New Star LP, with Rebecca Hancock (left) and Christan Trainor (right). Image by Simon Scully.
Christan Trainor is a name that has entered the dressage world in Australia on so many levels: as a coach, rider and breeder of outstanding progeny. She may be diminutive in stature – but look out, as she is big and bold in knowledge, passion and success.
Since moving to Australia 15 years ago, Christan has truly stamped her name in an unassuming way on producing top foals, young horses and FEI competition horses. This has not come through good luck, but hard work, dedication and surrounding herself with positive and passionate enthusiasts.
Born in the United States but raised largely in the Caribbean until she was 13, Christan Trainor came from a completely non-horsey family. Yet from childhood she was utterly obsessed with horses. She first rode at seven in the Caribbean and, after moving back to North Carolina, negotiated rides by cleaning stalls at a riding establishment where she learned to ride through hard work and determination.
At 15 she found an inexpensive Thoroughbred and trained at that agistment centre with him in eventing. That horse placed her on an Olympic pathway toward the 2000 Games. When injury ended that dream, she walked away from horses entirely and pursued university studies, graduating with degrees in African Political Studies, Ancient History and Classical Humanities.
Straight after university, however, horses drew her back. In North Carolina she built her own successful barn with around 30 horses in work — dressage horses, eventers, working pupils and training clients. It was a vibrant and formative period of her life. Competing there as a professional and coaching many students, Christan admits it was hard work and intense, but a period she would not ever trade.
Christan Trainor eventing in the USA with the 14.2-hand pocket rocket named Theodore O’Connor. Image supplied.
Among the horses associated with that era was Theodore O’Connor, the extraordinary eventing pony who went on to become world famous. Christan produced Teddy to four‑star level before Karen O’Connor, her trainer and mentor, later took over the ride. Karen and Teddy competed together at Kentucky Three-Day Event and Pan American Games, winning individual gold for the USA.
Christan’s career across both eventing and dressage would profoundly shape the breeder she would later become.
THE MOVE TO AUSTRALIA
After a fundraiser at an Irish pub in America, Christan met the Australian military soldier who would become her husband. She sold almost everything — horses, truck, trailer, business and belongings — and moved to Australia in 2010, bringing two horses with her and marrying.
In Australia she taught and rode intensively, first in Helensburgh just south of Sydney, then Camden and also at Oaks Sport Horses – where she and her husband lived for a time, often riding ten horses a day. Eventually a Southern Highlands property captured their imagination, and from rough beginnings it evolved into an impressive competition and breeding base with an indoor arena and great facilities to say the least.
Glenhill Sporthorses began almost by accident. Two favourite horses unfortunately sustained injuries that curtailed their competitive careers could not be rehabilitated back to enable a top-class competitive life, prompting Christan to breed from them. Initially, she was breeding horses purely for herself to ride, not to create a commercial enterprise. The name Glenhill combined her husband’s family property, Glenhope, with the shared effort of building something new together.
The breeding philosophy increasingly shifted toward dressage performance horses. Every broodmare on the stud is either a current or former competition mare. Christan believes knowing mares intimately — their rideability, temperament, strengths and weaknesses — is fundamental before breeding from them.
“Riley jokes that Christan is
‘obsessed with the V lines’…”
Christan and Riley Alexander, Glenhill’s main rider. Image by Amy-Sue Alston Photography.
Riley Alexander became a key part of the Glenhill story. Meeting in South Australia, the partnership grew steadily, and Riley now rides much of the Glenhill team, from young horses through to Grand Prix horses.
Riley jokes that Christan is “obsessed with the V lines” — stallions such as Vitalis, Viva Gold, Valverde, V-Power and carefully selected modern crosses.
RECENT COMPETITION SUCCESS
Glenhill horses are increasingly validating the program in competition. New Star LP (Negro x DiMaggio) is already competing at Grand Prix with scores above 70%, while New Star’s progeny are emerging strongly.
At the recent Sydney CDI, New Star won the CDN Intermediate II and was a narrow second in the CDN Grand Prix, while Glenhill Vivid claimed the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I to win the CDN Small Tour Championship.
New Star LP (Negro x DiMaggio) was in the top ten as a five- and six-year-old in the Young Horse classes at Sydney CDI, Advanced Champion Sydney CDI, and now winning at CDN Big Tour level. She was awarded 2026 Hanoverian Horse Society of Australia (HHSA) Broodmare of the Year for her progeny’s results, including having a licensed stallion son, Glenhill Springstar – the recent Queensland Young Horse Four-Year-Old Champion. New Star LP has Proud James and Zonik Plus foals due this year via embryo transfers. Image by Amy-Sue Alston Photography.
“Glenhill horses are
increasingly validating the
program in competition.”
Young horse classes have provided further confirmation of the program’s depth over the years, with plenty of success at DJWTS and the Sydney CDI, and this was once again the case at the 2026 Sydney CDI.
Glenhill Ilyas (Ibiza x Furst Heinrich) placed third and fourth in the four‑year‑old classes; Glenhill Quatessence (Quaterhit x Don Schufro) won the first round and was Reserve Champion Five‑Year‑Old overall; and Glenhill Totil Star (Totilas x New Star LP) was crowned Champion Six‑Year‑Old, winning both rounds and the final, as well as the AEIE 6YO Dressage Futurity, with scores above 80%. Also out of New Star LP, Furst Supernova placed third and fourth in the six-year-old classes as well.
Glenhill Quatessence (Quaterhit x Don Schufro) is owned by Karma Wilson. He was the Reserve Champion Four-Year-Old at 2025 DJWTS and Champion Five-Year-Old this year, and was the Reserve Champion Five-Year-Old at Sydney CDI. Image by Amy-Sue Alston Photography.
Seeing New Star win and then her daughter win on the same day was enormously exciting for Christan, Riley and everyone involved.
Glenhill also breeds some German Riding Ponies and has immense success in Young Pony classes at major events – in particular with their stallion, Glenhill Mr Hollywood. The Young Dressage Pony Champion of Champions from 2024 Dressage and Jumping with the Stars, Glenhill Divine Classic, was recently sold to Emma Booth for future Paralympic campaigning.
In addition to the horses campaigned by Riley at Glenhill, the success of other Glenhill-bred horses being campaigned by their owners is extremely rewarding for Christan and maintains the motivation to continue breeding. At this year’s DJWTS and the Sydney CDI, Glenhill For Amour, who was purchased in utero and out of the same successful dam (the late Tulara Schufretta II) as Quatessence, finished in the top ten of the four-year-old classes at both competitions. Most recently, Glenhill Springstar (out of New Star LP, and a licensed stallion) was the Queensland Young Horse Four-Year-Old Champion.
Glenhill Totil Star (Totilas x New Star LP) is from New Star LP’s first crop. She was Reserve Champion Five-Year-Old at the 2025 Sydney CDI and Champion Six-Year-Old this year. This season she has foals due by Lord Europe, Viva Gold and Secret. Image by Amy-Sue Alston Photography.
PHILOSOPHICAL ABOUT THE FUTURE
With 14 horses in work and substantial property responsibilities, supported strongly by her now-retired husband, the Glenhill operation is substantial. Yet Christan remains philosophical about the future. With fewer breeders remaining active and imported horses becoming increasingly expensive, she sees real opportunity for her well thought out Australian breeding programs. Looking toward Brisbane 2032, she remains realistic but optimistic — New Star and Vivid are possibilities, but experience has taught her that keeping horses sound of mind and limb is one of the sport’s greatest challenges.
Glenhill is once again expecting an exciting crop of foals this season, most via embryo transfer. Two out of New Star LP, by Proud James and Zonik Plus, are ones to watch, as are Glenhill Totil Star’s awaited progeny by Lord Europe, Viva Gold and Secret (this year’s DJWTS Young Horse Champion of Champions, Stryker K, is by Secret). In addition, Glenhill Vivid has two foals due by Glamourdale and Bon Coeur. In addition, there is a foal by Ibiza, and another “V-line” foal by Vitalis.
Glenhill Vivid (Vitalis x Zonik) was a Sydney CDI Five-Year-Old Champion and DJWTS Six-Year-Old Champion and was in the top ten as a seven-year-old at both events. Now as an eight-year-old, she was the CDN Small Tour Champion at Sydney CDI. This season, she has foals due by Glamourdale and Bon Coeur. Image by Amy-Sue Alston Photography.
“The team loves what
they do, the horses
enjoy their work.”
Ultimately, Christan believes enjoyment is essential. The team loves what they do, the horses enjoy their work and despite the immense workload, Glenhill Sporthorses continues to grow through instinct, hard work, careful mare selection and an enduring passion for producing quality sport horses. EQ
Still available for sale from Glenhill’s 2026 foal crop:
Warmbloods:
Vitalis x Sezuan (Glenhill Silhouette)
Ibiza x DeNiro/Negro (Glenhill Demisante)
Bon Coeur x Vitalis (Glenhill Vivid)
V-Power x Diamond First
Viva Gold x Totilas (Glenhill Totil Star)
Glamourdale x Vitalis/Escolar (Valeria)
Glamourdale x Glenhill Vivid
Proud James x New Star LP
DeNiro x Negro (New Beginnings)
German Riding Ponies:
FS Next Diamond x Movie Star (Glenhill Matinee)
Glenhill Mr Hollywood x Glenhill Divine Classic
Glenhill Mr Hollywood x Numero Uno (SPB Dominique)
Golden Daim x Glenhill Divine Classic
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