Dressage Training
Training packages are available for horses stabled at Freedom Ranch near Hastings, MN. Packages may include lessons in addition to training, or be geared towards a specific goal, like show or sale. I also travel to other stables in the greater Twin Cities metro area on a limited basis for clinics, evaluations, and sales consultations.
Learn more about my methods by reading articles I have written about dressage!
I specialize in training horses according to the time-honored traditions of the classical dressage school, as practiced by my trainers and mentors from 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 consideration. 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. This is where my two decades of experience training hundreds of horses is incredibly valuable. I do not believe in forcing horses to do things that will cause them harm, such as riding them deliberately behind the vertical to achieve a "headset" or trying to force collection before they are ready. I recognize that building an athlete requires increasing demands, and always strive to do that in a way that is sustainable. 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.
Training programs are developed on an individual basis, in consultation with the owner/rider, often with recommendations from a vets, farriers, and body work specialists, and typically in conjunction with a lesson program. For many horses, ground training may be advisable in the early stages of a training program, or even for more mature horses that have encountered problems in their development. I use classical methods of lunging and long-lining to help build the equine athelete.
Showing is available for horses in training, should that be requested. I have successfully competed horses up through FEI Grand Prix, placed with horses at Regional Championships, as well as developed musical freestyles and quadrilles.
If you have further questions or are interested in viewing a lesson or training session, please contact me for my weekly schedule and locations.