Hello. We are considering relocating for my husband’s job to Michigan - northern suburbs of Detroit area. It’s proving to be very difficult to find a good dressage barn and trainer combined. Is it not popular in that area I’m beginning to wonder? Some seem to have decent trainer but no bathroom or heated tack area or adequate arena. Others minimal turn out and some no hay/water during the day. Especially for the price. Most of the nice barns seem to be hunter/jumper. It’s getting concerning. Does anyone have any recommendations?
What level of training are you looking for? A full training situation with a USDF Gold Medalist or something more low key?
How far are you willing to travel for a barn and what part of the north part of Detroit are you potentially going to living? The northern side of Detroit covers a lot of terrain.
You’re probably going to have the biggest issue finding a super nice barn with tons of turnout. Many dressage trainers in this area seem to not believe in very much turnout.
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All I can think of is Canterworks dressage, which is about an hour and a half west of Detroit, but I would think that is too far.
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Brilliant Reflection Farm, south of Davison, fits all the requirements in your post. Horses are turned out all day, year-round (heated water tanks in the winter). Pastures are rotated so they don’t get grazed to death, and the horses have round bales in holders in the winter.
The barn bathroom and boarder’s tack room are heated. If you are interested in competing, coaching is available for both schooling and recognized shows. There are regular clinics with top level trainers every year.
I’ve been a student there for over three years, and just bought a horse which I board there. You can message me or the owner, @blondmane , for more info. 
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I just visited Brilliant Reflection Farm, it’s lovely… and the trainer is wonderful. I was horse shopping with a client, and I would have to recommend that farm. Happy horses, knowledge owner, and safe facility.
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PiaffeQueen2 - Okemos is at least 1.5 hours from the Detroit metro area. Not really doable for someone moving north of Detroit. I know Vanessa Voltman (Holland Dressage) recently relocated to the Metamora area. She doesn’t own a barn–but is now based out of one there. You might reach out to her—most of the barns in the Metamora area are quite nice and have a good combination of adequate turnout and very nice facilities. If you haven’t toured the barns around Metamora—it’s definitely worth checking out.
Down Under Stables (Ann Arbor) - Rosalind Kinstler trains out of there half the year
https://www.facebook.com/DownUnderStables/
Theres also Rattlewood Farms (Oxford) - Will Davis. They have some amazingly good trainers come in for clinics. Really impressive stuff there (for MI).
Is Ros Kinstler training there full time since Jan Macafee passed away? I see on the farm FB that someone apparently bought the farm, but there aren’t any “real” names attached.
Sounds like you may have been out of MI for a while, you might be surprised. Past and upcoming clinics, just off the top of my head: Janet Foy, Natalie Lamping, Lauren Sprieser, Jan Ebeling, Eddy Van Westerrode, Dolly Hannon. I know there are more coming up this year too.
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Janet and Natalie–Brilliant Reflection, Lauren Sprieser–farm in Metamora I can’t remember the name of, Jan Ebeling–Topline Dressage, Eddy Van Westerode–Dr. vanWessum’s farm in Mason.
MDA is also hosting a USDF instructor certification program starting in January as MSU, auditing available. Dolly Hannon is doing the first session and will be staying an extra day to clinic at Rattlewood in Oxford.
There will be more clinics coming up during the year.
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Last I heard (few months ago), she was still planning on teaching out of Down Under Stable in summers (winters in FL) after the new owner’s bought it.
Dang! I guess I haven’t been paying enough attention.
i wish I lived closer now. 🙂
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Thank you all. Still looking for the right place. A big factor from everywhere seems to be missing, whether it’s the trainer or facility. Rattlewood is beautiful, but there is no water during the day for turn out (during the winter - no heaters so once it’s frozen, no water). Access to water and hay and no fasting is essential. So the search continues.
Summerwood Equestrian Center in Hartland is wonderful. I’ve organized clinics there with Spanish Riding School Bereiters, and the people and facility are both lovely. Teah Bankes is the owner/trainer. I believe Teah has her Gold Medal. She might have ideas for you, if it turns out her place is too far. I’m guessing she has a waiting list.
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Can I ask why you didn’t like Brilliant Reflection? just curious.
Hi! I am the Vice-President of the Midwest Dressage Association. We have trainer and barn listings in our newsletter. We cover the area that you are inquiring about and we host lots of clinics for our members. There are a lot of people who can steer you in the right direction. Good luck!
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She may have checked and found it is full right now–however, there will be one opening in a month or so–one student brings her horse in for the winter as she doesn’t have an indoor at home.
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Hi Speedy!
Hey Tarlo! 
I’m Back in the Saddle Againnn… currently in Vienna to bring Africa to the US in 2 days (if all goes well, fingers crossed).
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