Dressage Training
I primarily train at Chinnock Farm, a private boarding facility that I manage near Hudson, Wisconsin. Boarding opportunities are available for those interested in establishing a regular training program with me. Due to the time and cost of travel, I can only take horses into half/full training if they are boarded at Chinnock. However, I do travel to other stables in the greater Twin Cities metro area on a limited basis for individual sessions.
I specialize in training horses according to the time-honored traditions of the classical dressage school, as practiced by my mentors at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. This involves following certain consistent principles that aim to establish clear and harmonious communication between horse and rider, with the long term well-being of the horse as the primary considertation. Classical dressage recognizes that the horse as athlete needs sufficient time to develop the strength, stamina, and mental abilities required by the progressively more difficult exercises of haute école. An important part of the training process is ascertaining when a horse is ready to be challenged by more difficult exercises and when it has reached the practical limit of its current mental and physical condition. I do not use any unorthodox training equipment or shortcuts, nor do I believe in riding horses behind the vertical to achieve a false "headset."
For me, the process of training is the most rewarding aspect of my work. Seeing a horse develop greater sensitivity, balance, relaxation, and expression in its movements is ultimately the goal of any training program, whether the horse is working towards a grand prix dressage test or towards successfully negotiating a hunter course.
Though I prefer to work with horses specializing in dressage, I am happy to accommodate "multi-discipline" horses, as well as horses that may need dressage work as preparation for or intermission from other types of work. I am also available to help correct horses that have developed problems in their dressage schooling, or to assist with preparing horses for a specific goal, such as show, sale, or inspection.
Training programs are developed on an individual basis, in consultation with the owner/rider, occasionally with recommendations from a vet, farrier, or chiropractor, and often in conjunction with a lesson program. For many horses, ground training may be advisable in the early stages of a training program, even for more mature horses.
If you have further questions or are interested in viewing a lesson or training session, please contact me for my weekly schedule and locations.
