The People of Silver Tail Farm
Laura Frederiksen-Park — Owner-Manager
Silver Tail Farm’s owner-manager Laura Frederiksen-Park was born in Minnesota. At age five, Laura’s family moved to Keerbergen in the Flemish section of Belgium. Laura began riding about a year later. She soon began her formal education, attending a French-language all-girls school in Brussels, a daily bus ride of more than thirty miles from home. (Laura learned to read and write French before she learned these skills in English.)
In 1969, the family returned to the US, moving to Sacramento. Laura later established herself in the Bay Area, and in 1997 she came to Oregon, settling in Eugene. The purchase of the land that has become Silver Tail Farm, in nearby Creswell, was Laura’s most recent, and most profound, relocation.
The seeds of Laura’s career path were sown early. Her father was a large animal veterinarian, a brilliant scientist, and holder of a number of patents. His passion for science has been an inspiration to Laura throughout her life, an inspiration that’s as strong today as ever.
The ‘non-horse’ part of Laura’s career included a variety of work with a variety of physicians — including with OB/GYN doctors.This cultivated her interest in fertility practices, including IVF (in vitro fertilization). Her work with human patients afforded her the invaluable opportunity to absorb information and develop a sound basic understanding of IVF theory and procedures.
Laura’s medical experiences also drew on and fed her natural inclination to be a caretaker and to offer service to other creatures — both human and non-human.
Meanwhile, Laura continued to pursue riding. That lifetime of horse ownership, riding, and performing in multiple disciplines has provided her with a solid understanding of form and function. Through experience and observations, Laura came to understand the appropriate ‘pairing’ of horse and rider, in which each complements the other. Laura compares it to the pairing and development of a successful dance couple. She has grown to recognize the essential blend of qualities that create the ultimate and unique equine partner for each rider.
Laura’s goal for Silver Tail Farm’s breeding program is to create opportunities for these successful matches – creating spectacular horses, suitable for the professional but also amateur-friendly, solid-minded horses with good character.
Putting into equine practice Laura’s knowledge of IVF (supported by a team of talented veterinarians and embryologists) allows Silver Tail Farm to create foals that draw on the genetic heritage of the country’s top performing mares – throughout their entire performance career and beyond!
“So,” Laura says, “the circle is now complete…Silver Tail Farm brings to fruition my dream to meld my passions for horses, nurturing, and science, and to share the result with the world.”
Emily Park — Trainer
Emily began her riding career at the age of 5, exploring all disciplines until she officially decided on Dressage at 12. She acquired her first Dressage horse and moved up the levels with her. At age 16, Emily and her horse moved to Del Mar, CA to train with the Grand Prix trainers and premier sales agents, David Blake and Rebecca Rigdon, as a working student. Under David Blake and Rebecca, Emily gained many valuable experiences, riding at least four horses a day, from those just starting to the FEI level. With David, Emily caught the ride on Pretty Lady, who became her NAJYRC 2014 mount, placing 6th on the first day of competition. An unfortunate boarding facility malfunction gave Lady a career-ending injury that forced them to withdraw from the competition.
After NAJYRC, Emily stayed with David for another year, developing her superstar young horse, Heide Star (Heide Spirit). She then accepted the job of grooming a top FEI horse for Tracy Roenick and Steffen Peters and traveled to the top CDI’s from Del Mar to Wellington, experiencing the highest levels of Dressage. After this experience, Emily began training under FEI rider, Nick Onoda. Together, Nick and Emily have solidified a program for starting the young horses bred here at Silver Tail Farm.
Emily is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, currently working towards her Gold Medal. She is also campaigning D-Dancer Epona B at the FEI levels and Le Couer De Licosto in the Young Horse classes.
Emily has been broadening her training business over the last three years as a clinician, while continuing her education in the L Program. She caters to clients of all levels and trains horses from their career beginning up the levels. She also offers an all-ages program with an emphasis on youth riders.
To schedule training with Emily, please use the contact form on the training page.
