I just moved to the Wilmington NC area and am not having much luck online in finding a place to continue dressage lessons. I don’t own a horse so it has to be a schooling barn. Does anyone know of someplace near Wilmington that will do dressage? I don’t mind hunters/jumpers but I can’t jump every week due to an angry knee so I have to keep on the flat 90% of my lessons. Help! I’m really starting to miss riding…:no:
You’d think with that beautiful park in williamston there’d be plenty of barns to choose from (and there may be) but all my coastal friends haul inland for lessons.
It’s pretty sad. I’m hoping that there’s someplace that just isn’t advertised as much that I’m missing. I did find someone who, and it sounds like they’re just starting in the business, will meet at the park and do dressage lessons on their lesson horse. But that’s about it. I moved from Kentucky where there are tons of eventing barns always happy to give dressage lessons so it’s a wee bit frustrating LOL.
I would post on the NCDCTA group on Facebook, if you have one. The people on there are usually pretty helpful 
Funny you should be posting this. I just returned from a visit to the Southport area and researched barns. I found a really great place somewhere between Wilmington and Southport in Bolivia. It is primarily a dressage barn, but also has some eventers, I believe. There are two dressage rings and a jumping field. The owner seems knowledgeable and everything looked very well taken care of. There are lots of nicee trails adjoining, as well. She said they have a dressage instructor come down once a month. I don’t know if she has school horses or not. The name is Willetts Horse Farm. Her name and number Carol 910-253-5538.
Ive heard that Wilmington can be a dead area for Dressage. NCDCTA does have a facebook page so check it out and post there. https://www.facebook.com/groups/126787530576/
I looked at the trainer directory on the NCDCTA website and it looks like http://www.victorylanddressage.com/ is in your area. I know nothing about them though.
You can also check out this website. http://www.edctsa.org/
Good luck!
I live in Wilmington. You can PM me for additional suggestions if you like.
Jolene
Dressage Lessons, Wilmington NC
Victory Land Dressage is located in Burgaw NC and specializes in helping women find their bliss with horses. If we cannot help you, we may be able to refer you to someone else who can. Feel free to email victoryland.dressage@yahoo.com.
[QUOTE=sajast;6778046]
I just moved to the Wilmington NC area and am not having much luck online in finding a place to continue dressage lessons. I don’t own a horse so it has to be a schooling barn. Does anyone know of someplace near Wilmington that will do dressage? I don’t mind hunters/jumpers but I can’t jump every week due to an angry knee so I have to keep on the flat 90% of my lessons. Help! I’m really starting to miss riding…:no:[/QUOTE]
unfortunately, trainers in Wilmington are hard to find. You (or they) will likely have to travel if you are searching for upper level riders. Sometimes clinics come to the area, but not frequently.
What comes to mind…
Mary Haskins Gurganus is located in New Bern, NC, about an hour and a half to two hours away if you are willing to travel. Very accomplished gold medal rider. She has Michael Barisone coming to Vanceboro, NC April 5-6 at Jasmine Meadows.
Unfortunately, Brendan Curtis is no longer in the area.
Fallon Blackburn is in the Jacksonville, NC area. She is an upper level rider with FEI experience.
Melissa Deal at Victory Landing in in Wilmington and is a very nice woman with a unique program. I believe she focuses on dressage and sport horse versatility.
Jeanette Van Mills has a farm in Aberdeen, NC but often travels and clinics. She is a pleasure to work with.
The other spectrum would be traveling to Raleigh, Southern Pines area.
Here is the trainer’s directory for NCDCTA (which is a fun organization to be involved with): http://www.ncdcta.org/TDirectory.php?Area=East&AreaSearch_submit=Find+Listings
There are FB groups to join as well: Sandhills Equestrians, Wilmington Equestrians, and Triangle Area Equestrians. Those may be helpful.
Second MH Gurganus. Also, Susie Weidman clinics in Wilmington once a month. They’re both great.
Just so you know, this is a zombie thread, resurrected from January, 2013.
[QUOTE=SillyHorse;8570742]
Just so you know, this is a zombie thread, resurrected from January, 2013.[/QUOTE]
But really there’s no timeline when it comes to the importance of a woman finding her bliss. 
