ABOUT TRUE NORTH STABLES
True North Stables is a full-service hunter/jumper training and sales program, dedicated to horsemanship and to providing top-class riding, training, and sales services to both horse and rider. Led by Caitlyn Shiels and assistant trainer Cody Wooten with bases in Illinois and Florida, True North Stables offers highly-individualized instruction, horse acquisition and sales assistance, and the opportunity to excel in the sport.
Boarding your horse with True North is a comprehensive and inclusive experience that includes daily turnout, and a set schedule of care and fitness tailored to your horses. With regular attention from experts including our farrier and veterinarians, as well as a custom-created feed program pairing your horse with the right supplements to make for a healthy horse inside and out, True North takes every inch of your horses's well being seriously. We treat your horses as if they were our own and provide you with peace of mind knowing they are always in knowledgable, kind, and caring hands.
We offer hunter, jumper and equitation training, and provide lessons from beginner to advanced. Whether you are just beginning your equestrian journey or you have serious competitive goals you'd like to achieve, we work with you and your horse to reach those goals. True North Stables also specializes in horse sales and finding the ideal match of horse and rider.
about caitlyn Shiels, Owner and Head Trainer
Caitlyn Shiels was born and raised in Sheffield, Massachusetts, where she began riding at the age of eight. As a junior, Shiels began commuting to New York to train with Andre Dignelli at Heritage Farm, and under his tutelage, she finished in the top ten of each of the major American equitation finals.
In 2004, Shiels claimed both the team and individual gold medals at the North American Junior and Young Rider Championships (NAJYRC) and took the next steps to launching her career as a professional trainer and rider. In the coming years, Shiels worked alongside and apprenticed with Jonathan and Christine McCrea, Ken and Emily Smith, McLain Ward, and others, before joining the team at Canterbury Farm in 2013. In her first year working alongside Greg Franklin at the Chicago, IL, based hunter/jumper facility, Shiels was recognized by Horse & Style magazine as one of the top five assistant trainers of the year.
While at Canterbury Farm, Shiels competed successfully in both the jumper and hunter rings aboard client horses and her own young jumper and grand prix mount, Cavalier II. In 2016, following numerous championships throughout the year, Shiels was named the World Champion Hunter Rider (WCHR) Midwest Region Developing Rider champion, and she finished in the top eight of the WCHR Developing Pro Challenge at the Capital Challenge Horse Show.
Today, Shiels is thankful for the endless support of her sponsors including Butet, EquiFit, inc., Essex Classics, Samshield, and Tucci, MDC Stirrups, Riders Boutique, Personalized Products, Infused Equestrian and for the opportunity to bring her years of experience and industry expertise to her own True North Stables, based in Illinois.
about cody wooten, assistant trainer
Cody Wooten is graduate of Centenary University in New Jersey, where he received a degree in equine science. While at Centenary, Wooten participated in internships and training sessions with many top trainers including Joe Fargis, Stacia Madden, Chad Keenum, and Courtney Boyd. In 2014, Cody finished second in the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) Emerging Athletes National Training Session. After college, Wooten spent several months traveling Europe searching for top young hunter prospects with Rothmann Sport Horses before returning to the U.S. to work for Olympic gold medalist Peter Wylde.
Wooten works alongside Shiels to produce top sales horses and to train hunter, jumper, and equitation riders of all levels.
About Karyn Armstead, Barn Manager
Karyn was a welcome addition to the True North Stables Team last Spring. She was instrumental in helping organize our new location in Mundelein, Illinois.
Karyn competed in both hunter and jumper divisions under many notable trainers in Illinois as a Junior and Amateur Rider.
She competed successfully on her IEA Team and she will continue her education while assisting in the management of True North Stables.
Karyn’s energy and versatility and organization enhance our Training Program at Horse Show’s and at our new facility in Illinois.