Amy Tilson Ochoa

Amy began riding at age 8 and began showing with Valerie Renihan in Hunters and Equitation when she was 10. Amy continued to ride and show and over the years earned numerous regional year end championships in the Children‚ Hunters, Junior Hunters and Equitation. In 1987 Amy won the IHJA Medal.

In addition to her showing and riding commitments, Amy held several director positions over the years in her affiliation with the Indiana Hunter Jumper Association.

After High School Amy went to Indiana University and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice. Upon graduation in 1994 she decided that her career path would take her back to horses and returned to become an assistant trainer at Meadow View Farm until 2002. During this time Amy continued to develop young horses and earn more regional championships in the professional divisions.
Amy worked and taught lessons with Wendy Newby and Tammy Provost and in 2002 was given an opportunity to establish her own clientele at Lucky Farms in Carmel, Indiana. Amy developed her business and established her own Sierra Woods Farm in 2005.
After several years building her business, Amy returned to Meadow View Farm in a partnership with Wendy Newby and eventually purchased the Meadow View Farm property in August of 2008 and making it the permanent location of Sierra Woods Farm.

Amy continues to work with horses and riders of any levels, taking her team to shows around the Midwest. In addition to supporting and housing the Zionsville Equestrian Team, in 2020 she took on the Butler University Equestrian Team. Amy is passionate about helping all riders achieve their goals and all horses achieve their potential. 

Amy is an active member if the United States Equestrian Federation, the United States Hunter Jumper Association and the Indiana Hunter Jumper Association. 

Emily Ahlfeld

Emily is from Wabash, IN. At age 10, she began riding at Hunter Hill Stable in Fort Wayne, IN under the guidance of Robin Bode. She was fortunate to work at the barn throughout High School, enabling her to ride many different horses and teach lessons.

After High School, Emily attended Purdue University and competed on the Purdue Equestrian Team. While on the team, Emily traveled to intercollegiate shows around the state and also showed in several intercollegiate invitationals out of state. Emily graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and went on to get her get her Masters Degree from Ball State University.

Upon graduating, Emily began riding at Meadow View Farm where she met Amy Tilson. In 2006, Emily started working for Amy Tilson at Lucky Farms teaching lessons.

Emily spent 19 years as a 5th grade teacher in the Hamilton Southeastern School District. In 2019 she made the decision to leave teaching in a classroom and teach riding lessons, coaching, and work with horses full time. She continues to ride, take lessons, and participate in clinics with Sierra Woods Farm and develop riding and teaching skills. Emily is an encouraging and constructive instructor that teaches beginner through advanced riders. Emily runs the Sierra Woods Farms summer camps, and she is the coach of the Zionsville Equestrian Team. Emily has taken the the team and various riders to IEA Nationals every year since she began coaching in 2017. Emily recently took on coaching the Butler University Equestrian Team when the team moved to Sierra Woods Farm in 2020.

She and her husband, Matt, live in Noblesville and have three children, a pony currently at Sierra Woods Farm, and a dog at home. 

Erica Zirkelbach

Amy Tilson Ochoa is the owner and head trainer at Sierra Woods Farm. She is joined by assistant trainers Emily Ahlfeld and Erica Zirkelbach.