I am currently looking for a trainer to help my horse and I on XC. I feel we are solid in Dressage and SJ, but my horse has confidence issues out on xc. She does fantastic over obstacles she has seen before, but new style jumps (I.e. Brush jumps, trekehners, etc.) cause her to put on the brakes. I’m not ready to give up on her just yet as she is only 5 and I really feel with time and positive experience she can work through this (I’m really hoping so anyway). So I’m looking for a trainer near Dallas that has their own xc course (who is proficient at building horses confidence) that I can haul in for lessons. The closer to the east side of Dallas the better, but I will haul if there is someone really great a bit farther out. Thanks in advance!
I’m sure others will have their opinions, but I spent 10 years in the DFW area and had a terrific confidence building experience with Mary D’Arcy.
She can be difficult to get on a schedule with sometimes, but there is no one else I’d rather work with. It was always worth the effort to ride with her.
I boarded at Quail Run Farm and Mary taught next door.
I’m sure you could trailer into QRF, or perhaps to Curragh, where she has also taught, or to Willow Draw.
I can PM you her contact info, if you’re interested.
Mary D’Arcy-O’Connell is in the DFW area. She was Chef d’Equipe of the Irish Olympic Team and is a USEA Level IV Instructor.
Another vote for Mary D’Arcy O’Connell. But yes it is terribly hard to get into her program, she takes only a few and is loyal to her students. She works mostly out of Curragh Equestrian Center (I think still).
Angela Grzywinski is another instructor who has brought a number of students from BN to Prelim. Her location may be moving, though. She’s a member here on COTH although I don’t think she posts often. Here’s her FB.
https://www.facebook.com/angela.grzywinski
Check with the North Texas Eventing Association for a list of many good trainers around DFW & north Texas generally. You may have to be a member to view them.
http://www.nteventing.net/
Where in Dallas are you located? “Dallas” refers to a HUGE geographic area, compared with many other cities. People are assuming DFW, as Mary D.C. is not near Dallas, actually, she’s mostly working in the southwest corner of Fort Worth. Greater DFW is the largest metropolitan area in the U.S., so it will help to be more specific about your location.
Thanks all! I will try and get in touch with Mary this week and see if we can’t set something up. She is a bit of a haul from me, but it would be well worth it if I can get my mare confident and happy out on xc. I live outside of Dallas on the east side. Quail Run is about a 2 hour drive from me, but again, well worth it to me if the instruction is great.
Interested in hearing how it goes. Good luck to you getting everything sorted and going happily, however you manage to do it! 
Mary does several clinics a year, so check with Quail Run Farm and Greenwood Farm for future dates. They are both on the NTEA website.
Yes, even if you can’t start with regular lessons just yet, take the clinic in January that Mary usually does at Quail Run as a starting point and clinic as often as you can with her. She is always open to motivated riders, IME.
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Thanks all! I will try and get in touch with Mary this week and see if we can’t set something up. She is a bit of a haul from me, but it would be well worth it if I can get my mare confident and happy out on xc. I live outside of Dallas on the east side. Quail Run is about a 2 hour drive from me, but again, well worth it to me if the instruction is great.[/QUOTE]
Again, get in touch with the NTEA, and check their facebook as well. East of Dallas has some horsey areas with eventers. I don’t know exactly who is located where, but you have some good choices.
That said, personally Mary is always my starting point.
Thanks again to all who have replied. I have a lesson scheduled with her next Thursday. I’ll be sure to update with how it goes afterwards!
Great! Please do let us know how it goes 
Most everyone with their own facility and xc jumps are south and west.
Id check out Rebecca brown and Becky Brown. Theyre located at BuckBranch in south Dallas.
Ellen Doughty is in Rockwall but doesn’t have an on site xc course.
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Most everyone with their own facility and xc jumps are south and west.
Id check out Rebecca brown and Becky Brown. Theyre located at BuckBranch in south Dallas.
Ellen Doughty is in Rockwall but doesn’t have an on site xc course.[/QUOTE]
I’ve got students ranging from starter through two star. I have ridden through four star. I am very good at building confidence in horse and rider! Located in rockwall (www.rockwallhills.com ), but we do not yet have an on site xc course. We do go to a bunch of schoolings though. Went to quail run today in fact! Mary d’arcy.is super, I have ridden with her a lot! Carsten Meyer is great as well, he is a xc course designer as well. … he comes to our facility every Wednesday. Email me if you want more info, txhorsetrainer@gmail.com
Ellen Doughty-Hume
My lesson with Mary went extremely well. She was very complimentary of my horse, but more importantly, my horse left the xc field more confident than she started. She was polar opposite of some of the things I had been taught before and helped me to understand some concepts I had been struggling with on others. Could not be happier with how my lesson went and plan on going back to lesson with her regularly. Thank you everyone for your recommendations!
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My lesson with Mary went extremely well. She was very complimentary of my horse, but more importantly, my horse left the xc field more confident than she started. She was polar opposite of some of the things I had been taught before and helped me to understand some concepts I had been struggling with on others. Could not be happier with how my lesson went and plan on going back to lesson with her regularly. Thank you everyone for your recommendations![/QUOTE]
That was my experience with her as well. Glad you had a great lesson!
