Moving to Beverly Hills...Dressage barns?!

[aband12]

Hi everyone,

I am a fairly new dressage rider…ex-hunter/jumper rider. It looks as if I am moving back to LA for a job in Beverly Hills. I boarded my horses out in Malibu before when I was living in Santa Monica. Great barn…but now I have made the switch to dressage.

If I choose to live in Beverly Hills close to my job, what dressage barns/trainers would you guys recommend? (I purchased a very well trained FEI Lusitano, so anyone with iberian experience is a plus!)

Access to turnout is also a huge deciding factor, and I know it can be difficult out in LA.

Thanks in advance for the recommendations!

[2tempe]

No suggestions for the west coast, but congrats on your Lusi purchase. I’ve owned one for about two years, love, love, love him. Don’t think I’ll ever ride another breed…

[right_horse_at_the_right_time]

I’m told by LA people:

Provenance Dressage

or more north:

Susann Regalmuto

[alisa]

Well, that depends, how far are you willing to drive?

Within the area, there are lots of options. The best big-name trainers probably within reasonable distance would be Mette Rosencranz in Topanga Canyon (April Atwell is at Topline, also in Topanga Canyon), or Kristina Harrison in Los Feliz. Hilda Gurney is up in Moorpark, as is Jan Ebeling (I think), though that’s probably a bit of a hike (though would likely have pretty decent turnout).

Not so big-name trainers that are good and close to BH would be LAEC’s lot: Lehua Custer, Jaye Cherry, LJ Banks (poor turnout, but you get great trails and access to covered arena when it rains). Pat Lincourt (at the Paddock in Los Feliz, so, again, poor turnout), while primarily a jumper trainer, is also very serious about dressage, is an L judge, is competing her own dressage horse at 4th level (I’m pretty sure) has a solid background with Iberians, and has always impressed me with her integrity and putting the horse first (I’m sure lots do, but with her it was always clear and upfront that that was the case). Pat may also still travel to train, if you end up somewhere else. Middle Ranch (Lake View Terrace area) has a few options, also. Lars Holmberg and Ulf Wadeborn come to mind as being well loved by their clientele. Susan Regalmuto, who also has experience with Iberians, is also excellent (now at Courtship Ranch).

[alisa]

Well, that depends, how far are you willing to drive?

Within the area, there are lots of options. The best big-name trainers probably within reasonable distance would be Mette Rosencranz in Topanga Canyon (April Atwell is at Topline, also in Topanga Canyon), or Kristina Harrison in Los Feliz. Hilda Gurney is up in Moorpark, as is Jan Ebeling (I think), though that’s probably a bit of a hike (though would likely have pretty decent turnout).

Not so big-name trainers that are good and close to BH would be LAEC’s lot: Lehua Custer, Jaye Cherry, LJ Banks (poor turnout, but you get great trails and access to covered arena when it rains). Pat Lincourt (at the Paddock in Los Feliz, so, again, poor turnout), while primarily a jumper trainer, is also very serious about dressage, is an L judge, is competing her own dressage horse at 4th level (I’m pretty sure) has a solid background with Iberians, and has always impressed me with her integrity and putting the horse first (I’m sure lots do, but with her it was always clear and upfront that that was the case). Pat may also still travel to train, if you end up somewhere else. Middle Ranch (Lake View Terrace area) has a few options, also. Lars Holmberg and Ulf Wadeborn come to mind as being well loved by their clientele. I’ve also heard good things about Susan Regalmuto, who also has experience with Iberians (also at Middle Ranch). Dane Lawrence (also in Lake View Terrace) has a lot of Iberian experience (from what I’ve heard).

Straight up the 405 is Carin Bannos at her own facility (CB Sporthorses). A smaller facility, and she is a fantastic trainer all the way up the levels. All horses get turnout every day (some turnouts are small, but some are large-ish round pen size). Her primary experience is with warmbloods & friesians, but has certainly worked with her fair share of Iberians.

Maggie Broekman is also a fantastic trainer (I think she’s itinerant mostly now, as she travels a lot). Her eye and feel is as good as it gets. Left my horse in training with her for a few weeks when I went overseas - when I got back, I was pretty amazed. I didn’t even know he was capable of such talent!

[kpony]

Provenance and Kristina Harrison both have serious experience with Iberian breeds.

[digihorse]

What you are not saying is where are you going to live? That will determine where you board. Get board near home, not near work. It is great if it can be on the way home from work. What are your hours? Will you need to ride at night? THat creates limits. Or will you just be a weekend warrior and have a trainer work the horse during the week?

[Cannot_Decide]

Stephen Birchall at Bell Canyon Equestrian. It’d be a little bit of a drive…but what isn’t in LA?

http://www.bellcanyonequestriancenter.com/stephen-birchall

[Cannot_Decide]

Stephen Birchall at Bell Canyon Equestrian. It’d be a little bit of a drive…but what isn’t in LA?

http://www.bellcanyonequestriancenter.com/stephen-birchall

[Cannot_Decide]

Sorry about the duplicate post - can’t seem to edit it.

[Bristol_Bay]

Sabine Schut-Kery! You may know her has the woman galloping around on an Andy carrying the flag at the World Cup in Las Vegas.

Closer to home, I would also recommend Krissi Harrison at Angele Farms.

Jaye Cherry…newp.

Unless you are willing to travel to the Moorpark area, there is no turn out in the LA area.

[poltroon]

Beverly Hills is kind of a horrible commute to anywhere horsey. You might still find Malibu/Santa Monica to be your best location arrangement. I would suggest considering looking for housing nearer a barn location might work out better, but experiment with your commutes before you commit.

I’ll be another person to suggest checking out Kristina Harrison who is over at Paddock Riding Club in Los Feliz. It’s relatively accessible to BH and she is a lovely person who took an Iberian horse to GP. Housing in that area was relatively affordable, last I looked, compared to the west side.

Middle Ranch is a very nice place, but I think the commute from there to BH would be pretty awful.

[sparklepants]

Not too bad to Middle Ranch from BH!

Hi! I just wanted to chime in and say I live in Century City/Westwood, which isn’t too far from BH (depending on where you’ll be living). It takes me about 35 minutes to drive out to Middle Ranch in the early mornings, but coming back is longer - maybe 45 minutes? Sometimes less, sometimes more.

I board and ride at North Middle Ranch (recently sold - new owners, no new name yet), with Tricia Hamilton, who also focuses on dressage. I’ve heard really great things about Ulf (he comes up and teaches Tricia and whoever else in her barn who would like), and so I plan to take lessons with him, as well. Hilda Gurney’s place is awesome…but SUPER far. It takes me about an hour to get out to Keenridge from my house, and it’s about 50 miles one way.

I should also mention that there are paddocks at my barn - which is part of what used to be North Middle Ranch. The new owners have just taken over, and have yet to put up a website. My horse is in a paddock with 1 other horse, and there are several other paddocks available. It’s not as convenient to Ulf as boarding at Main Middle Ranch, but since he does come up for lessons, it may be something to consider. If you’re interested, DM me for contact info :).

[WasthatC]

Mette Rosencrantz

[SendenHorse]

Ulf Wadeborn is awesome!

[aband12]

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions! Middle Ranch ended up being the perfect choice for me, and with my unique work schedule…my commute will be against the traffic. So, not too bad at all.