Looking for a classical dressage (kind to the horse!! and rider!!) trainer in Northern VA. Preferably near Millwood, VA.
I PM’d you.
There are several good ones in NOVA. Mary Flood (Lovettesville), Marina Genn (Leesburg) and our own DressageDiosa (Marshall) are all very good.
But if by “kind” you mean anything close to soft/easy/gentle— you’re barking up the wrong tree.
Most good classical riders know how hard dressage is. They demand fit riders and fit horses. And its anything but easy.
Having said that, all three of the people above have reputations for being good honest professionals. They’re not going to berate you (but they aren’t going to blow sunshine up your ars either!) 
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Oh, I’m all about classical dressage, no short cuts! But I don’t need to be yelled at all the time, that’s no way to learn. And I don’t like trainers who are
mean to the horse, of course discipline when needed, but also should praise when they do a good thing.
wow.
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[QUOTE=slc2;4307234]
wow.[/QUOTE]
hmm?
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The thread just represents a lot of different ideas about dressage and trainers. I think many people have an idealism about dressage and training that isn’t practical. I think rileyt summed it up.
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Candy Allen is excellent.
I think anyone looking for a trainer really needs to get out there and watch some of these people teach. Some of the trainers mentioned are excellent and some trainers just think they are excellent.
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YL - I agree!
[QUOTE=YankeeLawyer;4308259]
I think anyone looking for a trainer really needs to get out there and watch some of these people teach. Some of the trainers mentioned are excellent and some trainers just think they are excellent.[/QUOTE]
Agreed.
Shantihorse,
I already PM’d you. You’d probably be more than welcome to come out while Trainer is working with the student above me and watch her teach. I sit with her all the time to learn and educate my “eye”. I’ve gotten much better at “seeing” how things are supposed to be this way.
Eileen
I agree. One that was mentioned in particular. :winkgrin:
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Regardless of the interest that may be picqued by the last several posts (as in…“one of the named are no good as implied”)…as in everything, finding a good match for rider/horse/trainer is often done by trial and error.
Finding a good fit is a personal choice, whatever the endeavor.
[QUOTE=sid;4308858]
Regardless of the interest that may be picqued by the last several posts (as in…“one of the named are no good as implied”)…as in everything, finding a good match for rider/horse/trainer is often done by trial and error.
Finding a good fit is a personal choice, whatever the endeavor.[/QUOTE]
I totally agree, but it’s worth trying the most recommend first, then working down the line!
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A friend/client of mine in N. Va. rides with Candy Allen and loves her. She is a very quiet, compassionate, fundamental rider who likes to take her time with her horse. She is doing great with him and Candy – showing at lower levels and winning and progressing well. She bought this young horse from me and went through some difficulties with another trainer before riding with Candy.
PennyG
There is Nadine Schlonsok. Young but proving to be quite brilliant and quite a good instructor. German but exceptionally understanding and kind with the horses. Very classically trained. In Bluemont so quite close to Millwood.
[QUOTE=Bellfleur;4310148]
German but exceptionally understanding and kind with the horses. [/QUOTE]
“but”? :lol Are you implying Germans usually aren’t?
Spotted Mustang…that’s what I was thinking also.
I don’t think there is a “best” trainer. If the goal is to find one whose instruction is grounded in the classical method that’s one thing and a good thing, IMO.
The rest of the equation is to find one that communicates that effectively to both the horse and to the rider. Every instructor has their own teaching “style” to influence the rider as well as the horse.
What’s “best” for one person (or particular horse), isn’t necessarity the “best” for another. If you can find one that is a good fit on both levels, then you’ll be satisfied.
Look, can you believe that Boleem was actually pulled from Robert Dover who was the owner’s first choice, when the horse was starting into the FEI levels (this was in the early 90s)? Owner not happy, horse not happy. Many would consider him the “best” at the time. Yet he wasn’t for that horse, or for that owner. Who knows? A switch to the Poulins was made and it was a perfect fit and they brought him all the way up to Olympic qualifiers.
Moral of the story: This happens at all levels and with many people…just have to find the right fit, as an owner, a rider and for the horse.
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I am a freelance dressage trainer in NoVa and sometimes notice that students pay the higher travel fee to have me come down from MD, because there don’t have the hugest selection of trainers in their particular area.
Compared to Maryland, where there is an FEI trainer every 10 miles, I look forward to the day that there are more people like Alison Head, Lauren Sprieser, etc. in Northern Virginia that students can work with and grow an even greater interest in our sport.
[QUOTE=CapitolDesign;4311511]
I am a freelance dressage trainer in NoVa and sometimes notice that students pay the higher travel fee to have me come down from MD, because there don’t have the hugest selection of trainers in their particular area.
Compared to Maryland, where there is an FEI trainer every 10 miles, I look forward to the day that there are more people like Alison Head, Lauren Sprieser, etc. in Northern Virginia that students can work with and grow an even greater interest in our sport.[/QUOTE]
Hmm. Well, I think there are a number of good trainers in NOVA, so I am not sure what your statement is based on. People are perhaps willing to pay your travel fee because they like training with you. In addition, many of the better trainers in NOVA will NOT travel, which is a source of frustration for those who own their own facilities. Hence, the few who will travel are greatly appreciated and probably very much in demand.
