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Dressage Training

at Helicon Farm

Mission

To raise and train happy, well adjusted horses from green to the level of Grand Prix dressage.
To preserve the enthusiasm and character of each horse by using fair, correct, playful methods of teaching.
To be a lifelong student of dressage and to approach each horse and each fellow horseman as a colleague and and opportunity to learn.
To share the joys and challenges of dressage with like-minded friends and students and to help them on their journey.
To devote my life to the process of mastery in horsemanship

Methodology

Seek and apply the most humane training methods possible.
Develop dressage horses who become more proud, friendly and affectionate as a result of their traiing.
Seek guidance from experts who have similar ideals and horses who reflect their good training.
Create dressage horses by teaching their minds first, using crystal clear aids and timing, and second by developing their bodies with progressive gymnastic work.
Train without the use of force, including draw reins, chambons, rollkur, etc
Put myself “out there,” and persevere despite the challenges and heartaches which come with loving horses and being a student of dressage.
Learn at every opportunity and from every horseman.
Choose mentors, clients and colleagues who share these ideals on horse training. Avoid situations and people where the welfare of a horse is secondary

Accomplishments

I have earned the scores for the USDF Bronze twice, on horses which I bred, raised, started and trained (Dia and Frisbee). Aeros will make three when he earns his third level scores!

8/2010 Update: Aeros made his 3rd level debut and got one of his 3rd level scores!

For the upper levels, I have trained one horse to the FEI level (Di Amore, now showing Prix St. Georges and schooling all Grand Prix movements). Dia and I are halfway to earning the USDF silver medal.

The young horses, whom I had the chance to show in USDF recognized competitions, and whom I have done ALL of the training from starting under saddle to the show ring are:

Frisbee - we won won 2nd in the 5 year old Suitability class at Dressage at Devon, and for two years Frisbee ranked in the top 10 nationally for the USDF materiale class for 4&5 year old colts and geldings. We also qualified and competed in the FEI 5-year-old classes at Devon. Frisbee made his 3rd level debut in fall 2009 at age eight earning a score of 65.6% at the Dallas Dressage Yellow Rose Festival. We have not shown in 2010, so Aeros can have a turn!

Capella - most recently, who just won all four of her training level classes at her first recognized show, 2010 Dallas Dressage Spring, with scores to 71%.

Dunin' Bradstreet who had a USDF median score of 70% at training level with scores up to 74% and won the USDF Region 9 Championships Reserve Champion with a score of 72% just one year after I started her under saddle. Sadly Dunin' had to retire young due to a hoof injury. She is now a fabulous broodmare and mother of Dior, Rubia and School's Out.

Aeros - who won Championships and Reserves at training and first level at Dallas Dressage and Silver Hill. My favorite show was when he won Dallas Dressage Reserve Champion after tying twice with Sabine Schut Kery on a Friesian that she had recently won a high point with at Del Mar in California. **********Aeros just made his 3rd level debut. His tests had scores from 2 to 8, with comments from the judges like "beautiful horse," "upper level potential," and "training is on the right track." We just have to get those flying changes consistent (and without the fireworks, Aeros)!

Darra - who had a median USDF score of 69% at Training Level and was 4th in the nation for all Hanoverians in USDF competition. She was my very first horse to start and train.

Di Amore - this list would not be complete without Dia, now my most advanced horse. I have trained Dia completely myself, and yet Dia also has the challenge of teaching me the ropes at the FEI levels. Our show career has been challenged by show nerves (sometimes hers, sometimes mine!) but she has been an amazing teacher and friend.

I was an exhibition Rider for Proud Meadows Friesians and their (former) head trainer Sabine Schut-Kery. Rode in several quadrilles and pas de trois. The highlights were our at performances at Dressage at Devon in 1998 and 2005. I have also been a catch rider (2008 and 2010) for the finale quadrille o young stallions for the Friesian Stallion testing.

Sabines Farewell Quadrille/Region 9 Championships

Dressage at Devon - Friesian Fun with Brian O'Connor

Friesian Stallion Testing.

Currently my riding is influenced by:

JJ Tate, an active and successful competitor who adheres to classical and playful training methods. Donna Wright, the consummate perfectionist who keeps standards high for me.

Some of my unique learning experiences include:

The incredible opportunity to learn from Sabine Schut-Kery while riding in her Friesian dressage exhibitions.
A month of intensive training (aka boot camp) with Grand Prix and FEI Young Horse trainer Elly Schobel.
A ten day intensive study with Heide Hellwinkel of Dressurstall Schnakenburg in Verden, Germany
A three day intensive study with natural horseman John Lyons. I got to ride Bright Zip and he rode Dia!
The opportunity to observe the three day Hanoverian stallion licensing and final auction in Verden in 2008 as a guest of Kalman de Jurenac and our mutual friend Becky Bundens.

Clinicians who have influenced my riding: JJ Tate, Heather Blitz, Lena Wedenmark, Lars Peterson, Eddo Hoekstra, Elly Schobel, Mary Wanless, Bob Orton, Hannes Mueller, and Jurgen Mainzer.

I also enjoy my conversations with Mary Mahler, who is the only USDF 4th level certified trainer in Texas. She has shared insights with me on and off our horses.

I am very grateful to my past instructors who gamely taught me dressage while I simultaneously figured out how to train my young horses.

Trish Wallace was my inspiration when she trained her Swedish horse Excel from yearling to Grand Prix, earning her USDF gold medal along the way and getting an invitation to try out for USET.
Vicki Maeckle was already retired from riding when I met her, but she had a Yoda-like way of teaching and her metaphors are still vivid to this day.

The goal of dressage is to make the horse go more beautiful, without changing his person.

-- Reiner Klimke

Future star Rubia

by Rascalino out of Dunin' Bradstreet

bred by Sharon Pike

Di Amore and Louisa summer 2009

Laurie Virtskis photo

Dior and Louisa

Aeros ad libs his flying change

Jutta Gomez photo

Aeros stretches in warmup

Jutta Gomez photo