Sydney Kornman
Owner & Trainer
Sydney Kornman has spent her entire life in the horse world. Unlike so many others who grew up at boarding stables with no responsibility for their horses, Sydney grew up with horses at home, cherishing the natural environment and daily care. This would develop into a lifelong passion. In 2002, she fueled that passion with the founding of Idylwood Stables.
Having been brought up with the horsemanship principles of 4-H and Pony Club, she chooses to avoid the conventional approach of training, adopting a hands-on curriculum over standardized education, and seeks to train riders in every aspect of daily equine care and maintenance. She quips, "When a rider graduates from my program, they should be able to go out and train their own horse with some input from others, rather than being totally dependent on others."
Her English riding career began with Eventing. The pure adrenaline of cross country thrilled her and she admired the tremendous physical demands of dressage. "It was the one sport that really brought me to my knees." But it was her introduction to the art of equitation, through Jen Hamilton in Canada, that won her heart. "It's like the difference between ice skating and hockey," she says, "One's elegant, one's brutal. I don't want to see a rider's effort. Show me poise."
Sydney's engaging personality brings out the best in people and their equine partners. She prides herself on building a complete rider. She often starts her students as early as five years old (Idylwood Stables summer camps are where many of her current adult riders found their start) and takes them all the way to the highest levels. She also coached Texas Equestrian, an IHSA team at UT-Austin, for five years, taking riders to Regionals and Zones.
Sydney also has great admiration for the therapeutic value of horses and believes there is much more to be learned about the workings of the mind when human and equine interact. She actively promotes therapeutic riding and hippotherapy and supports many local organizations in Austin.
​
​
Jennah Arrington
Assistant Trainer
Jennah Arrington began riding at an early age and has thrived in equine care and barn management while showing competitively in local TSSA and Centex shows. She graduated with bachelors degrees in equestrian science and accounting from William Woods University, where she specialized in hunter/jumper coaching and training. Coupled with her extensive experience in dressage, eventing, and directing camp programs, Jennah strives to develop well-rounded riders both in the saddle and in horsemanship.
​
Since joining Idylwood in 2020, Jennah has nurtured riders and horses to find their fullest potential through solidifying foundational skills and developing independence in aids and feel. Her first priority is maintaining a safe, positive, and productive environment while helping riders discover and experience the joy of riding. Jennah is also the assistant coach of the Salado Elite Riders IEA team.
​
​