About Us
Sage Equestrian is a Hunter Jumper training program based in Bend, Oregon. We can help riders of all skill levels reach their goals by teaching strong foundations and providing expert level techniques.
Tara Niculescu - Trainer
Tara Niculescu (Brothers) grew up on her family’s horse farm in Tumalo, Oregon, where she learned to manage all aspects of raising and caring for horses. Tara enjoyed a successful junior career which included winning the Zone IX Medal Finals, ASPCA Northwest Medal Championship, Zone XI Junior Hunter Finals, top placing in the North American flat equitation championships at Capital Challenge, and competing in the AHSA (USEF) Medal and ASPCA Maclay National Medal Finals.
In college, Tara rode for the University of South Carolina, where she led the team to two National Championships and was named Hunt Seat MVP three years in a row. In 2004, she won the coveted IHSA Hunter Seat National Title, known as the Cacchione Cup. Tara graduated with honors with a BS in Marketing and Sports Management.
After graduating, Tara worked for trainer Tom Wright at All Seasons Farm and the Lindner Family, where she gained experience showing at the most prestigious shows on the East Coast and in Europe. In 2011, she returned to the Pacific Northwest and was an Assistant Trainer for Oz, Inc in Portland, Oregon for six years. In 2017, Tara moved back to her hometown of Bend, Oregon and partnered with Lindsay Paton-Garner at Capstone Equestrian. Today, Tara runs her own training program, Sage Equestrian, where she prides herself on providing exceptional horse care and giving riders the focused attention they need to help them reach their equestrian aspirations and goals.
We would love to hear from you and see how we can help you reach your goals as a rider in our hunter jumper training program. Email Tara Niculescu at sageeqbend@gmail.com or call us today to learn more.