About Janna
Janna got her start as a young equestrian at the Windy Ridge Ranch in Minnesota under the guidance of Mark Ward. While learning to safely enjoy riding horses on the flat, over fences, on the trail, and playing games, Janna developed a passion for dressage riding, which she pursued further with the help of grand prix trainer Anne McKay of Aux Chevaux Dressage Center. Working as an apprentice at Aux Chevaux through high school and college, Janna gained experience riding everything from green dressage horses to advanced school masters, as well as insight into the operation of a successful dressage breeding and training facility.
In 1997, Janna had her first opportunity to spend a summer as a working student at the private stables of Hans Riegler, chief rider at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. With over 40 high quality sport horses stabled at his facility, including several Lipizzaner stallions from the SRS and horses of olympic riders, Janna learned a great deal about European methods of training and horse care. Through daily lessons with Herr Riegler on advanced school-masters and working several of the privately owned horses at the stable under his guidance, Janna gained firsthand experience in the classical principles of riding and training. She has since returned for several additional summers of training with Herr Riegler, and spent the entirety of 2005-06 in Vienna training with him on privately owned horses.
For the last 10 years, Janna has provided dressage lessons and training, both freelance and under the auspices of her two primary dressage mentors. She returned to Minnesota in 2006, where she now resides and trains a dedicated group of riders and horses. Janna owns the Dutch Warmblood mare Godiva, with whom she has successfully competed at the FEI level and earned her USDF silver medal award.
