Trainers near Southern Pines, NC in April?

[SarahandSam]

My barn is planning a trip to Southern Pines in April to stay at a horse B&B, hack around and relax, and also trailer out for lessons. It’s a predominantly eventing barn, so lessons are planned with Will Faudree and Robert Costello and possibly Denny Emerson. I’m certainly happy to take dressage lessons with any of them (I’m showing 1st/working on 2nd level, so I’m just looking for lessons to improve my riding in general at lower levels, not for anything fancy), but was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for specific dressage trainers in the area as well. I was already thinking about John Zopatti; he’s giving a clinic there the weekend after we leave, so hoping he might be around. Anyone else likely to be there in April that I should look into?

Thanks!

[SarahandSam]

(Not meaning to imply that Will Faudree or Robert Costello would be not-fancy; I am very happy to get to ride with Olympic eventers, just wanted to be clear that I don’t need Grand Prix dressage trainers to work with me and my little QH–anyone who has a unique perspective or might be helpful with lower level riders is a great recommendation.)

[Dutchmare433]

Fie Anderson/Equito Dressage is in Southern Pines now through the end of April/maybe into May a little bit.

[ACMEeventing]

Kris Hamilton, Lynn Doki Camina

Pm if you’d like contact info

[Sancudo]

John Zopatti is great!

[emo]

John Zopatti is fabulous. He was my first dressage trainer, and worked with my little QH. He has a horse at Will Faudree’s barn, so is likely to be around.

If you connect with him ask him if he remembers a little red QH named Sam.

[HeyJealousy]

Another vote for John Zopatti. He is AMAZING.

[SarahandSam]

[QUOTE=emo;9004355]
John Zopatti is fabulous. He was my first dressage trainer, and worked with my little QH. He has a horse at Will Faudree’s barn, so is likely to be around.

If you connect with him ask him if he remembers a little red QH named Sam. :)[/QUOTE]

Aww, I also have a little red QH named Sam!

Thanks for all the recommendations, folks!

[Lord_Helpus]

John Zopatti is amazing. We had some lovely lessons with him. But he is a “big picture” person; he tells the rider what he wants the results to be, and the rider has to figure out how to get the results. A good method, but IMO, an adult rider gets more out of a lesson if she is told HOW to get to the end result (“use inside leg” – “half halt with the outside rein”, etc.)

When John left for most of last summer we switched to Candy Allen and have been more than happy with her. She understands the “adult” mind and knows how to get the most out of each hour.

[KLCarp]

Sent you a PM!

[SarahandSam]

@emo

John Zopatti is fabulous. He was my first dressage trainer, and worked with my little QH. He has a horse at Will Faudree’s barn, so is likely to be around.

If you connect with him ask him if he remembers a little red QH named Sam.

I just wanted to let you know that when he met my horse yesterday, he immediately said, “Oh, I’ll remember that name. Last Sam I rode was another little red quarter horse and he got me off.”

John is absolutely great, btw!

[emo]

If you see him again, tell him Ellen and Sam say hi.

For years he introduced me as “This is my friend Ellen who has the 15.1 quarter horse that bucked me off.” Sam was 6 then, he’ll be 29 next month. He’s a memorable guy