Dressage Trainers in Austin, Texas?

[Windermere]

It looks like I will be moving to Austin in the next year or so, and I’ve started searching for a trainer. I am a dedicated adult amateur with a talented 6 year old, and my goal is to take him to Grand Prix.

I’ve been googling and found a few trainers I’m interested in (Christine Bergeron-Calao and Barnie Piccinni), but getting some local opinions would be a great help. And, I’m sure, even in this day and age, there are still good trainers who don’t have an online presence.

I appreciate a tough trainer who is a good teacher. Ideally, I want someone who has a proven record of successful students and coaching them up the levels. But I am at least looking for someone who has been successful with bringing up young horses.

(Also, I am coming from WI - so I need a barn that either provides alfalfa/timothy, or will allow me to bring in my own hay. Or if you have hay suppliers you can suggest, I’d appreciate them. My horse is not a hard keeper, but he’s grown up on the greener pastures of the Midwest.)

[zipeddodah]

What side of Austin are you going to be living? There is a very good trainer on the east side, Cedar Creek area. She has trained to GP and is a judge as well. You will have to trailer to her place for lessons though, and it will be a long haul if you are located on the west or north side of town. Let me know if you want more info.

[Velvet]

No good suggestions for you, but be prepared to buy alfalfa and have your horse on coastal hay the rest of the time. The timothy that you can find in TX is not great and is shipped in at great expense. Also, for alfalfa, you need to make sure you know where it’s sourced. Blister beetles are a big issue and are hazardous to your horse. Be prepared to also have huge bales of alfalfa and spend an arm and a leg on them compared to the more northern parts of the country! Horses are cheaper to own further north, even with the tough winters.

[Windermere]

Thanks. I’ve been very lucky to live in the Midwest. Even though we all complain about the cold, it’s a great place to have horses. My barn pays $3.75/bale for well-grown, local hay, and there’s plenty of turnout. Moving down south will be an adjustment, to say the least.

I’ll be looking into hay suppliers and talking to my current barn owner about the best way to manage my horse’s feed (and everything else) when we move.

[Velvet]

Yeah, $9-12 a bail (about double the size, and you’ll need wire cutters for them) is not unheard of for alfalfa.

[BetterOffRed]

I would recommend Nancy Fair in Dripping Springs, TX.

[Archer]

Highly recommend Martin Arnold at Concordia Dressage!

[atlatl]

[QUOTE=Velvet;8646912]
Yeah, $9-12 a bail (about double the size, and you’ll need wire cutters for them) is not unheard of for alfalfa.[/QUOTE]

Boohoo! In So Cal alfalfa goes for close to $20 a bale, Timothy closer to $25.

[Velvet]

I think Hawaii is one of the only places that might have you beat. :lol:

[MsRidiculous]

[QUOTE=Pierogi;8647004]
Highly recommend Martin Arnold at Concordia Dressage![/QUOTE]

I’m an eventer but I take dressage lessons from Martin too and really love him. He’s very patient and kind, but effective. He’s been absolutely fantastic for us.

[kelo]

[QUOTE=Windermere;8646881]
My barn pays $3.75/bale for well-grown, local hay, and there’s plenty of turnout. Moving down south will be an adjustment, to say the least. [/QUOTE]

As a Minnesotan who moved to Texas…it’s gonna be a big adjustment for you. Best bet is to forget allllll about cheap feed and knee-high grass, it’s nothing more than a fairy tale now.

Down here you’ll buy your $15 bales and you’ll be glad to get 'em :lol: (and also grateful you’re not in California. :winkgrin:)

It is a lot easier to ride and do chores in the winter, though.

[Velvet]

$15 a bale now? Wow! The weird part for me was the size of the bales. They are so much bigger. And the fact that they don’t use twine.

[Velvet]

Oh, and fire ants. Wait until your poor horse discovers fire ants. Or cactus. Ouch!

[Magicboy]

Or a roadrunner with a snake in its beak speeds through the arena.

Nancy fair is a wonderful trainer.

[quiet_girl]

Christine Calao is an excellent trainer.