About Janna
Janna got her start as a young equestrian at the Windy Ridge Ranch under the guidance of Mark Ward. After learning to be equally at home riding over fences, on the trail, or 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, head trainer at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. With over 40 high quality sport horses stabled at his facility, including several stallions from the SRS and the horses of Olympian Nina Stadlinger, Janna learned a great deal about European methods of horse care and training. 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 as a freelance rider and under the guidance of her two dressage mentors. Prior to living in Vienna, she freelanced at several stables in upstate New York, including training young horses at a Swedish Warmblood breeding facility, working as an assistant rider to FEI trainer Debbie Lockemeyer, and giving lessons and training at a number of private boarding stables. She now returns to the Twin Cities area in Minnesota, where she is available for lessons, training, sales, and clinics at local stables.
