Maryland boarding and training options for dressage newbie

[altermare]

I purchased a lovely horse several years ago for another discipline, but turns out the horse is best suited for dressage. He’s been working with a pro from the current farm for a few months and doing really well- but later this summer I really need to move him because the current farm isn’t set up for it and the pro that comes now can’t teach me on weekends.

I would like a barn with excellent care, solid training for my horse, and lesson availability on weekends. Budget for board and training is about $1500/month. I am an experienced rider but know nothing about dressage.

Does anyone have recommendations for the Boyds/ Germantown/Gaithersburg/Brookeville area? Any thoughts on the following options? Should I add anyone else to my search? Please no barn bashing, pm me if its bad.

Wyndham Oaks- several trainers
Moore Hebert Dressage at Alsikkan Farm
Waredaca or Southwind with Carolyn Del Grosso
Elevation Dressage at the Sunset Hills at McCuan Farms location

Thanks in advance- I am out of my element and feeling lost.

[Graymaresrule]

Wyndham Oaks is beauthiful

[Roni4444]

Hillary is excellent and a fun person. She just added capacity to her barn and I believe has opening because of the addition.

[dkcbr]

I would urge you to go watch some lessons and training sessions at any of the barns you are considering, especially since you have some lead time.

[smilesthepony]

Have always heard great things about Evergreen and Windsor as well, but both might be far from your area. Good luck!

[Knubbsy]

Nicki Carson (Elevation Dressage and Eventing) is fantastic.

I’ve been riding with her for about a year when I moved too far away to continue to train with Britta Johnston (one of the clinicians she brings up regularly, and who recommended I ride with Nicki.) The horses are happy and healthy and her students progress. I haven’t been to her other locations, but FCF is her mom’s farm and what I’ve heard about Goodness Ridge, now Sunset Ridge has been good as well. Sunset Hill has a lot of eventers so you may be riding around a jump lesson, or hacking out on the trails while people are going over XC fences.

I normally ride with her during the week since I had dog shows on the weekends but occasionally have gotten in weekend lessons.

(Remember summer is going to be a little weird for everyone since it’s peak show season, so that’s probably not an indication for any trainer what their normal availability is.)

[MontanaDun]

Check out Caroline Jordan at Good News also. Excellent care and a very warm and inviting facility.

[JenEM]

@altermare;8718092

Waredaca or Southwind with Carolyn Del Grosso

Not sure what your background is, but Waredaca is mostly Eventing, and usually has quite a wait list for boarding. I boarded at Southwind for years (I left because of a shift in my discipline of focus, and due to a change in work schedules that left the drive not really workable for me, the care/management is good and I would recommend looking at it), it’s a mixed discipline facility, at least when I was there mostly Eventers, then a good Dressage contingent, and some H/J folks as well, along with a few pleasure riders. I didn’t ride with Carolyn, but she’s very nice, and works well with people who come from other backgrounds–she worked with quite a few of the Eventers at the barn. Barbara Strawson (who I did do some training with) also teaches there, and works well with not-strictly-Dressage folks; she’s also got her own facility nearby.

[ladyj79]

I’ve known Hillary for almost fifteen years. A great person and a great trainer.

[altermare]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. To clarify, I have no background in eventing nor do I wish to pursue that discipline. I mentioned Waredaca and Sunset Hills because they are both close to home and I knew some dressage trainers teach there. I absolutely will plan to tour each facility and watch lessons/ training sessions before figuring out where to go.

[Knubbsy]

[QUOTE=altermare;8719498]
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. To clarify, I have no background in eventing nor do I wish to pursue that discipline. I mentioned Waredaca and Sunset Hills because they are both close to home and I knew some dressage trainers teach there. I absolutely will plan to tour each facility and watch lessons/ training sessions before figuring out where to go.[/QUOTE]

I only mentioned the eventing aspect of Sunset Hill because that’s the majority of riders there- Dressage is definitely Nicki’s primary discipline (her husband is an eventer)

[fullcircledressage]

Elevation dressage is lovely. Nikki has a good hand with young horses and is a very solid rider. Hillary is an exceptional and quiet rider… I watched her rides this past weekend at R4L and was impressed by what I saw.

[anon68314200]

How far are you from Damascus?

[altermare]

[QUOTE=Isabeau Z Solace;8721712]
How far are you from Damascus?[/QUOTE]

Damascus is definitely doable. Mt. Airy is probably too far.

[anon68314200]

OK. Check out Emily Osborne. The Heart of Riding LLC at Great Strides in Damascus Maryland.

[starsandsun]

The Stables at Rolling Ridge are absolutely gorgeous. Barbara Strawson teaches out of there, and she is a wonderful trainer, and a lovely person.

[Can_tFindMyWhip]

I’ve heard nothing but good things about Wyndham Oaks and Hillary.

I toured many of the eventing facilities mentioned here with dressage trainers or eventers who claim they can help you with lower levels because they have ridden up to 3-star. I boarded at one of those places for a whole month and a half. I don’t recommend it. If you have no interest in eventing or familiarity with eventers in that area, I recommend steering clear of them all together!

[dante6masd]

Second Caroline Jordan and Good News Stable. They have a number of good clinics with trainers such as Bettina Drummond, Felicitas Von Neumon-Cosel, and others, and the care is excellent.

[egood]

Jaclyn Sicoli (Peace of Mind Dressage) is up in Frederick, not sure if that’s too much of a hike from where you’re at.

[altermare]

Thanks everyone for the input! I have several good places now to look. Time to make some phone calls and watch lessons.