Hi…posting for a friend looking for a good Dressage trainer in N. VA that won’t break the bank for lessons (less than $100/hour)…any suggestions?
Thanks!
For haul in lessons? There are a couple.
Lauren Sprieser, in Marshall is under $100/lesson and she often has specials if you are going to be a regular student where you can get a discount by pre-purchasing a lesson package. I’ve been riding her for 2 years now and have been making really good progress.
I don’t know pricing, but there is also Mary Flood up towards Lovettsville. She gets good reviews.
Allison Head in Purcellville.
Finding a long term instructor is hard. You have to find someone within a reasonable distance, who you mesh with and who has flexibility in the schedule.
I wonder if VADA would consider adding an “instructors” link to their web page. I just took a glance and realize that there is not a list.
I know there are lots more, but I’m nursing coffee and need to get outside to ride a horse before I go to work.
Kelly Weatherhead at Summerbrook Farm in Catharpin is good and has reasonable rates. All her info is on her website: www.summerbrookfarm.com.
I ride with Lauren Sprieser in Marshall. She’s great and her teaching style works for me. And she’s flexible about haul-ins, which is important since my job doesn’t allow me to keep to a totally regular schedule.
I also have a good friend who rides with Mary Flood. Raves about her and her horse has shown great results. She is pretty pricey though - well over $100/ride IIRC.
Define NoVA…
If Doswell is an option, easy haul down I95, there are two good possibilities here
http://www.glamorganmanor.com/gmd_index.php
FWIW, I would rather haul down the interstate than through the back roads of Loudon, but that’s just me. The area around Leesburg gives me nightmares
Benny Pfabe is a young German dressage trainer new to Millwood, VA. He’s excellent and super nice! Check out www.bencodressage.com and www.fairviewmillwood.com
Isn’t Doswell down there by the King’s Dominion Exit? Almost to Richmond?
I thought the residents down there consider that part of the “real” Virginia. :winkgrin:
LOL, yes it is the Kings Dominion exit
Donna Gatchell in Nokesville. Reasonable rates and excellent instructor. Easy to train with and her students do well at he shows.
One criteria would be whether your friend is willing to trailer in to a trainer or wants a trainer who will travel to her - that would help make the decision. Some listed above travel, others do not.
And I just have to say that it’s not fair to single out Western Loudoun as far as road issues (and personally I don’t think it’s bad out here but I may be biased). Much of this area has it’s own road issues - from construction to traffic to smaller winding roads. I mean I-95 on a Sunday afternoon in summer is not my idea of fun. Unfortunately, driving with a trailer throughout No. VA is not so simple any more.
Where is your friend? Northern VA takes on a HUGE amount of turf, especially based on the traffic issue Alison brought up. I live 10 minutes from Alison and some days just trying to get through Purcellville (especially at about 2:45 when the buses start running)is hard and yes, lots of back roads, construction, etc. It now takes me longer to commute within the County than when I went to Tysons everyday. You have lots of choices but location would be a determining factor:
Candy Allen
Alison Head
Lauren Dearlove
Lauren Sprieser
Natalia Martin
Heidi Berry
Pascal Martin
Sarah Balinski
Margot McAllister
Debbie Marriott
Mary Flood
Linda Koenigsberg (I think I just butchered her last name, sorry)
Holly Wilmoth
Stephanie Alvord
just to name a few and actually many others to choose from and as Alison said, some travel and some don’t.
[QUOTE=Commander Cody;5095978]
And I just have to say that it’s not fair to single out Western Loudoun as far as road issues (and personally I don’t think it’s bad out here but I may be biased). .[/QUOTE]
I agree. I commute almost daily to DC from Western Loudoun and go to plenty of shows, etc in the area and really don’t have any issues except on my own private lane to my farm which is less than ideal! But otherwise I mostly zip up and down Routes 15, 7, or 9 or the Dulles Greenway. Not sure why that is a problem. Also, if you use a GPS with a traffic alert system, you can generally take a detour of you hit a jam or construction.
LOL, I guess it’s just a matter of what you are used to
[QUOTE=carolprudm;5097755]
LOL, I guess it’s just a matter of what you are used to[/QUOTE]
Literally I have NO problem so I don’t know what there is to “be used to.”
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Stacy Pattison at Bae Prid Farm in Gainesville - excellent trainer and one who will travel within reason, I believe. Good rates.
Most of the people I would recommend have alrady been liasted. But I have one to add-
Stephanie Millham in Rixeyville.
Does anyone have contact info for Natalia Martin?
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
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