Offering Training, Clinics and Lessons
Evan Ackerly: Professional Profile
Evan Ackerly is based at Tailwind Trails in Palm City FL. He is widely known for his expertise in horsemanship and ground work. He has an extensive and varied resume of experience with all breeds and disciplines.
Evan is a Consultant and Trainer for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Mounted Unit, training new horses for this unique job, as well as regularly working with their existing herd, covering everything from desensitization to tactical formations. Additionally, Evan has trained over a dozen mounted units across the state.
Evan rides for and trains with the Treasure Coast division of the Peace River Equine Search & Rescue Team, specializing in equine scent work for both cadeavor and live find missions. As President and Coach of the former Treasure Coast Top Guns CMSA Mounted Shooting Club, Evan continues to teach the basics of mounted shooting and has competed in Men’s Level 1 events on client horses.
A frequent guest lecturer for the Keiser University Equestrian Sciences Department, Evan also sits on the Professional Advisory Board of the Equestrian Sciences Department. He has been featured as a “Hawk Talk” speaker, Keiser’s popular on campus version of Ted Talk.
He is on call for Dr. Karie Vader Werf at Treasure Coast Emergency Equine Services and The Liberty Barn for the hardest and most dire cases of injured and sick horses who won’t load into the trailer, as well as assessing and re-training rescue intakes for adoption.
Evan has been an invited Clinician and Demo rider at the South Florida Fair since 2020 and is best known there for his Liberty Demonstration with his horse, Vegas, and the fantastically popular “Ultimate Desensitization Clinic” annual mounted ride through the fair.
Some of his more recent personal career highlights include competing in Dressage on a young stallion that he trained, with scores in the 70s, placing first and second. Evan has also successfully competed in Showjumping up to 1.25m at the area’s top venues including WEF, WEC and ESP, on a horse that he owned and trained, bringing home several ribbons there as well.
Evan has helped many private owners with their horses, as well as fellow trainers and many mounted units. Evan specializes in Natural Horsemanship, Saddle Starts and Behavioral Issues, and has experience with all breeds in any discipline.