Hi all, I am moving to the Albany area next year after spending several years down south. I have extensive hunter experience but have transitioned to dressage and feel it’s the discipline I want to stick with for the rest of my riding career. I’m currently leasing and taking lessons but want to make sure I can continue to commit to my riding and potentially be competitive even with moving to North. I’m ideally looking to move within an hour of Albany itself, most likely outside of the city. I am willing to drive up to 45 minutes to ride for the right fit, and I hope to find someone comfortable with biomechanics applied to dressage. Any suggestions for trainers, barns, or connections to make would be greatly appreciated!
I think of them as a hunter/jumper barn, but Dutch Manor has been there for a million years. So if they don’t do dressage stuff themselves, they could probably give you suggestions for the Albany area.
If you’re on FB, the Capital District Horsesource group might be a good place to look/ask for recommendations.
Not Albany, GA, then?
No- Albany, New York. Apologies for not clarifying in my original post.
Thread on this back in 2022; Not much response, but this is their “local” organization: Eastern NY Dressage and Combined Training. https://www.enydcta.com/ Several farms listed on the membership page.
Go on FB, check with Barb Sanford, she can probably answer your questions. Finding instructors who work with biomechanics isn’t easy in my NSHO.
Michelle is located in Cazenovia NY now (she recently moved), google maps says Cazenovia approx 2 hours west of downtown Albany, so depending on where you end up moving and her location, this could be outside your desired area. She’s very highly recommended, has a large following, and has the biomechanics knowledge you mentioned.
edited to fix my mistake in directions, Cazenovia is WEST of Albany. Sorry and thank you @furlong47 for correcting me.
Cazenovia is WEST of Albany, almost to Syracuse.
I believe Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs has a dressage program. Not sure they take outside students, but could probably steer you to someone in the area. I believe there are also dressage shown in Saratoga, so must be some barns in the area. Saratoga is about 30 miles north of Albany.
Skidmore seems to have a private facility, unfortunately. I’m really hoping HITS being close by and Saratoga being so horse-focused in general are good signs for finding somewhere!
I know of some options about an hour south - Meagan Davis in Stone Ridge, Koryn Doolittle and Courtney King in Millbrook, Molly Maloney in Clinton Corners.
If anyone cares, the Georgia city Albany is pronounced “all-BENNY” with emphasis on benny. At least by native Georgian me.
Don’t know if Cazenovia would be too far but I second the recommendation re Michelle LaBerre. Great focus on biomechanics and working on your seat – classical training.
Cazenovia would be a solid two hours each way.
And that’s in good weather. Never mind central New York in the winter.
These are also quite far from Albany, again potentially do-able depending on if OP lands in a suburb south of Albany