About Haley
Hi there! My name is Haley Madden, Ph.D., and I’m a a horseback rider, riding instructor, community-engagement professional, and writer based in Madison, Wisconsin. I received my Ph.D. in Mass Communications in 2017 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I researched health communication and health inequities. I have worked at the Morgridge Center for Public Service since 2014; I began my time there as a graduate assistant and am now the Assistant Director of Community-Engaged Scholarship, supporting community-university partnerships that involve research and teaching.
Outside of my time at UW, I ride and train horses and teach riding lessons. I have been riding since I was a child and as a teenager and through college, I had the good fortune to be a working student for Pat Fitzgerald, a fantastic rider, teacher, and horseperson. Through the years, I have ridden with Janet Foy, Steffen Peters, Cindy Ishoy, JJ Tate, Boyd Martin, Heidi Wright, and Dom and Jimmy Schramm. Since 2012, I have ridden with Brad Hall, focusing on jumping and eventing. Since 2014, I have ridden with Patti Becker and her assistant Jessica Nilles, who have helped me move through the levels of dressage. I have shown through Intermediate I, achieved my Bronze and Silver medals, and am schooling the Grand Prix with several completely self-trained horses. I have also showed through Training level eventing. I love starting horses from the beginning and bringing them up through the levels with a focus on groundwork, safety, conditioning, and creating a happy athlete. For the past 20 years, I have been the “horse daughter” of Ingrid Krause and the late Carlo Krause, who own a wonderful private barn in Middleton, Wis. and have generously supported my riding education (and general horse addiction!). I have started and trained many of their horses through the years, including the four horses I am focusing on currently.
Throughout my time as a rider, I try to share my knowledge and love of horses through teaching. I teach dressage to all ages and abilities and feel privileged to spend time with my students to support them in their horse journey. My focus is on safety, a secure and effective position, and developing the horse to the best of their abilities. I have worked with a wide variety of horses, breeds, and abilities and truly believe dressage is a way to bring the best out of every horse and rider.
I have also loved to write ever since I was a kiddo and am excited (scared? petrified?) to use this platform to share more of my writing.
"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."
— Nelson Mandela