TRAINERS

History of trainers and how they relate to my present philosophies:

JULIAS Von UHL (6yr to 11yr)
I began riding very young, vaulting, eventing, hunter/jumper, dressage, gymkhanas and doing some point to points, and with Julius learning to fall off correctly!  

ULRICH SCHMITZ(11yr to 18yr)  
Ulrich was very involved in Trakehners in Germany  and had prepared many of these horses for auction.  I credit him with lots of knowledge about Trakehner bloodlines, and for giving me a proper dressage beginning. Ulrich was my young rider coach several times, the first year I was 4th in the team test and earned the bronze team medal.

Ulrich coached me on my very first Trakehner mare “Wogena”.  We evented some, but our love together was dressage.    With Ulrich’s coaching we went on to two young rider competitions, many regional finals wins and to compete FEI, by the time I was 16.  I didn’t really know then that this was quite good! Wogena went on to become an “honor roll mare”, and to have ten wonderful foals!  Wogena died on Christmas day 2005 at the age of 31.

KARL MIKOLKA (during college)  
Karl had a vast repertoire of exercises.  Brilliant in his application, he would not compromise proper training for force.

JAMES “SHEA” WALSH(1991-93)  
I credit Shea with improving the elasticity/following in my arms and therefore, this was my first taste of true seat riding.

REINER SEEMANN (1994-1999  part time in Germany)  
Reiner works the horses from a back first basis, he is an advocate of deep riding. I learned during this time that the horse could learn to further carry the rider more comfortably over his back.   This helped me re-school several horses that had been ridden without the back for long enough to develop physical issues, and therefore emotional problems.  General synopsis of this methodology, all horses should be capable of stretching through the entire top line.  Without this element full elasticity is never fully achieved.  However this ability should be developed over time, and not ever forced!

MARTIN SCHAUDT (1998, 6 months in Germany)  
Martin is very disciplined in his approach.  He is out on his mountain in Germany in all weather, and it does get cold!   Martin is quite skilled  in his preparation for the show ring.

LINDA TELLINGTON-JONES(1999, three day course)  
T-Touch is a wonderful methodology that is of the utmost kindness to the horse.  This left the ever mindful impression, foremost we must know where we are at every second emotionally.  This has left a constant tracking system in place to this day.  If I am not emotionally fit then better to go do something else that day!

WALTER ZETTL(2000-2004)  
Walter is one of the kindest trainers I have ever known.  He always trains from a “horse first’’ basis.  His love of horses is infectious, and he taught me how to ride with a very lovely light quality, while still getting the most out of every horse.  His term “open the door”, was a crucial element in understanding how often we get in the horses way.  This gave me a much truer feel for self-carriage.   And perhaps my biggest gift to date!

HERWIG RADNETTER(2000-present)  
Herwig has been riding with the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, for almost thirty years.  He teaches from a very thorough base, I love the feel of this age old training.  Herwig covers such a vast amount of knowledge in one lesson.  Herwig is very positive in his teaching style.  I learned that it is relaxing to say “good”, and then try for better the next time.  Just this simple word prevents the rider and horse from tensing when it may not be perfect enabling the rider to perhaps do it perfectly the next try.

BETSY STEINER(2004, spring show season, USDF symposium 1994, 2005, 2007)  
Betsy has been my role model for correct and truly beautiful, beautiful position, since I was a teenager.  Betsy was my coach for the USET qualifiers with “Limbo King”.  This was definitely a confidence building experience, Limbo and I never placed lower than fourth in these competitions.  And we earned scores in the 70’s from several judges!

CONRAD SCHUMACHER (clinics Santa Fe, 2004, 2005)  
He is a very tough coach!  However he took what I knew about deep riding and then took away the hand and leg component, this forced me to ride even more with my seat!  I thought prior that I had a pretty good idea of deep riding,  Conrad improved this ability further.

 PAT PARELLI (early 2006)  
This was really fun!  I became an advocate of this thought provoking ground work!  I have been integrating his techniques with all my horses, this has improved every horses manners, confidence and rideability.

In 2007, I have been attending classes at the Florida Equine Acupuncture center, to learn pulsing and acupuncture with Peggy Fleming.  I plan to also study homeopathy, chiropractic, massage, etc...