I am a Silver and Bronze Medalist with the United States Dressage Federation. These prestigious awards were earned on a horse I purchased as a three-year-old and trained entirely on my own. In addition, I hold a C-3 Rating with the United States Pony Clubs, earning these ratings on horses purchased green or off the track and training them myself.
I started riding horses at a very young age and have spent my entire life studying the training of the horse. In this pursuit, I have worked with FEI "C"/USEF "S" dressage judge Maryal Barnett for more than 30 years. In addition, I spent many years training with USDF Gold Medallist Judy Kelly. I supplement my education whenever possible by participating in clinics with respected and accomplished instructors such as Michael Poulin, Lendon Gray, Jessica Ransehousen, and others.
Teaching is my passion, and I travel to numerous farms throughout lower Michigan and offer quality instruction to horses and their riders. I aim to train in a manner that allows every horse to succeed.
I started riding horses at a very young age and have spent my entire life studying the training of the horse. In this pursuit, I have worked with FEI "C"/USEF "S" dressage judge Maryal Barnett for more than 30 years. In addition, I spent many years training with USDF Gold Medallist Judy Kelly. I supplement my education whenever possible by participating in clinics with respected and accomplished instructors such as Michael Poulin, Lendon Gray, Jessica Ransehousen, and others.
Teaching is my passion, and I travel to numerous farms throughout lower Michigan and offer quality instruction to horses and their riders. I aim to train in a manner that allows every horse to succeed.
Education and Experience |
My early education began as a United States Pony Clubs member in Combined Training (Eventing). Pony Club gave me a thorough and diverse education encompassing many riding and horse care aspects. For 12 years, I participated in the numerous educational programs offered by the USPC, including rallies, championships, prep-clinics, and many others. I attended the USPC Festival three times and completed every rating through the C-3 level, with my dressage skills rated at the A level.
While I enjoyed the challenge and excitement of Eventing, my passion was always Dressage. When I was a teenager, my family had the unusual opportunity to purchase the retired international-level Grand Prix dressage horse, Robert. Robert was unique because he was trained in the Netherlands by the very talented and capable Jeanette Haazen. He competed against many of the most incredible horses of the 1980s, including Ahlerich, ridden by Dr. Reiner Klimke, and Martzog, ridden by Anne Grethe-Jensen. With his kind patience, Robert became a schoolmaster for me and allowed me to learn not only the upper-level dressage movements but also from an absolute master. Robert's training was of the highest quality. His natural ability was so incredible that even at 16 years old, Robert could perform at a level that many horses never achieve. The experience I gained from the eight years I spent riding Robert paved the way for all of my future endeavors and accomplishments. 
During these formative years, I also began actively starting young horses under saddle and developing them for competition and sale. The type and style of the horses I trained were very diverse and encompassed everything from ponies to retired racehorses to young warmblood stallions and everything in between. I thoroughly enjoyed bringing along these horses and found great success with them over the years.
My most memorable accomplishment with a young horse to date was finishing sixth in the 2004 USEF/Markel Young Dressage Horse National Championships and second, with an 80.2%, in the 2004 NABF North American Young Dressage Horse Championships at Dressage at Devon. My partner for both competitions was my beloved Dutch gelding, Silverado, a horse I trained through the Prix St. Georges level. In addition to my competitive accomplishments, in 2005, my training skills were recognized nationally when I was selected as one of only 20 participants (out of over 250 applicants) to participate in the first annual Young Dressage Horse Trainer's Symposium held at Hilltop Farm. This fully sponsored event was a rare and unique opportunity to study the training of the horse with the very best trainers in the country. The education gained by this opportunity was priceless. Since then, I have continued my dressage education and have dedicated my efforts to developing and competing horses at every level, from Intro to Prix St. Georges. 
In addition to becoming the best trainer I can be, I have also put a tremendous amount of time and effort into developing my teaching skills. I work with horses and riders of all ages and abilities and have a particular fondness for working with adults and teenagers. I also welcome riders of other disciplines wishing to supplement their training with dressage principles and offer basic Western, English pleasure, hunt seat, and jumping lessons. Regardless of the discipline, the main objective of my training program is to help others learn to train their horses in the most effective and kindest way possible.
In 2018, I was asked by Albion College to join their elite team of instructors by becoming their IDA Dressage Team Coach. I spent two years giving lessons multiple times per week out at Albion's state-of-the-art Held Equestrian Center, developing the riding and competition skills of the Dressage Team riders. In my first year as the coach, the team finished third regionally, and an individual first-level rider qualified for the National Championships. She finished eighth Nationally against the best IDA riders in the country. The 2020 pandemic curbed competition opportunities in my second year, and I resigned to pursue more teaching opportunities with Expressions Dressage. Still, I will always be glad to have had a chance to coach for Albion. Above all else, I believe strongly in training with the utmost compassion and understanding for the horse, and I always strive to be fair to the horse in everything I do. I understand that learning never ends when it comes to training horses, and I thoroughly enjoy helping my students achieve both their competitive and non-competitive equestrian goals while maintaining the overall health and well-being of all the horses. |
Lessons, Training and Boarding |
I am fully insured and travel to offer private and semi-private lessons and clinics throughout the lower Michigan area. I travel to Manchester, Napoleon, Jackson, Parma, Leslie, Eaton Rapids, Charlotte, and Williamston. I also offer training for horses owned by regular clients or those wishing to become regular clients, and I offer training for young horses preparing to be started under saddle. Finally, some of the facilities I travel to may have space for boarding, but Expressions Dressage does not offer boarding directly.
Please contact me for pricing and more information, and start your journey today! |
