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Lacy Hudson
About Lacy
Lacy Hudson began riding in Austin, Texas in 1977, showing successfully locally and on the national level throughout her childhood. Over the course of her junior years, Lacy worked with Steve Hummel, William Martin, George Sayo, Mike McCormick, Orley Dehoyas, and Phoebe Johnson, and competed in her first Grand Prix at age 14. During her high school years, Lacy focused on equitation, going on to win several medals in the AHSA, USEF, and Maclay, as well as numerous other accolades.
Lacy attended Texas A&M to study Exercise Physiology and Business, where she played on the polo team and showed on the IHSA team, while also continuing to show nationally. After winning a scholarship, Lacy trained and showed under the tutelage of the legendary George Morris for several months. Following college, Lacy continued to bring along young horses while managing her retail stores and clothing company.
In 2006, Lacy returned to Austin to begin her career as a trainer. Since becoming a professional, she has trained several successful young riders to compete at Junior Finals, Medal Finals, and helped these young riders continue their development through NCEA Scholarships. Lacy's own daughters, Caitlin and Mackenzie, are proof of her keen eye and training ability. Caitlin Hudson, the eldest, accumulated many awards in the equitation ring throughout her junior career and now pursues a Master of Business Administration at Concordia University, while also starting and training her own young horses. Mackenzie Hudson turned to the jumper ring early in her junior years and has only excelled from there. Through the training, experience, and opportunities she gained by Lacy's hand, Mackenzie first stepped into the FEI ring in 2019, earning 8th place in a 2* Grand Prix. Today, Lacy and her family call Empire Acres home. She is a vital part of the EA team and we are honored to have the privilege of riding with her.
Mackenzie Hudson
About Mackenzie
Mackenzie Hudson is the youngest daughter of Lacy and also began riding at the age of four. She has since ridden under the tutelage of several esteemed riders and trainers, including the McElvin’s. McAllisters, and Daniel Bedoya Jr.
Mackenzie has always had a passion for jumpers – starting her jumper career at the age of 13 and performing in her first Grand Prix just four years later at 17. Just two years later at 19, she was competing and placing in her first FEI classes, as well as 3* World Cup Qualifiers. Since beginning her career under the lights, she has won several competitive classes, including a 1.35m Grand Prix at the Split Rock Jumping Tour, received a Top 5 Circuit Award for the 1.45m High Amateur at the Winter Equestrian Festival in 2020, and was awarded a spot in the Top 10 Nationally ranked Amateurs Riders in both 2020 and 2021. Mackenzie has also spent a significant amount of her career working with young horses. During the summer of 2019, she received a scholarship to show with Rancho Corazon and when they noticed her potential, she was then granted the opportunity to work with and compete on their up and coming young horses.
After turning pro at the beginning of 2022 she now focuses on sharing her knowledge and experience with kids who have similar dreams, as well as training young horses to their fullest potential. In addition to her equestrian endeavors, she was a decorated gymnast and cheerleader. She has always defined herself as an athlete and has a competitive mindset. This now leads her to seek a certificate in Personal Training which will allow her to develop more well-rounded riders by working with them both on and off the horse.
Caitlin Hudson
About Caitlin
Caitlin Hudson, Lacy's eldest daughter, has been riding horses since she was 4 years old. She grew up riding under the likes of Steve Hummel, Susan and Bill McMorris. During her Junior years, she had a successful career in Equitation – qualifying for Maclay Regionals, Pessoa Medal Finals, Dover Saddlery/USEF Hunter Seat Medal Finals, Devon Hunterdon Cup Equitation Classic, THIS National Children’s Medal Finals, USHJA Gladstone Cup Equitation Classic, Capital Challenge Equitation Weekend, and more. Throughout her entire riding career, Caitlin has proven an aptitude for catch riding and training horses of all breeds, ages, and experience. After breaking her first horse at 13 years old, she came to discover how much she loves working with and developing prospects and has been honing this talent with young horses ever since.
After graduating and earning her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Psychology from Concordia University Texas, Caitlin accepted a job at Dell Technologies. She is still, however, a vital part of Empire Acres and helps to manage the behind the scenes at EA and work with the clients that stay home during the horse show season. She enjoys working with riders of all levels, emphasizing the importance of challenging oneself no matter your experience level. Caitlin teaches her students to ride effectively without sacrificing a proper position in an effort to build strength as well as the ability to finesse.