Cleveland, Oh Dressage Barn

[SpartanMensRea]

Hi all,

I'm currently looking for a dressage barn within 45 minutes of Cleveland. Nothing to fancy, as my horse and I are just learning. I would like a place though with a good trainer and a school master so I can have the chance to move up.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks

[slc2]

the schoolmaster part is hard.

you could look on www.nodarider.org, for a list of local stables, and contact any to see if they have a schoolmaster for lease or for lessons.

[Hazelnut]

http://www.transitionsdressage.com/aboutlauren.html

http://sarahdiggin.com/

http://www.xhalteqcenter.com/xhalthorses.htm

http://www.nodarider.org/

[slc2]

Sarah Diggen and Lauren Ball are both fantastic instructor/trainers.

[SpartanMensRea]

Fantastic. Thanks. My horse and I are coming in from New York, so it's a big change for me

[khorsem]

I'm looking too! How about this one, SLC?

http://northcrestequestrian.com/

[msine]

I've been at North Crest Equestrian Center in the past. Julie Taylor is a wealth of information and a great trainer. I'm not sure if she currently has a school master, but it would certainly be worth your while to give her a call.

[SpartanMensRea]

I'm going to give that place ^ a call in the morning. I would like to take my horse there, but I don't know if its in my price range.

[KarenC]

Sorry to hijack, but how is Lauren Ball with lower level riders? I just moved to the area and am also looking for dressage instructor to help me with my endurance Arab, and saw on her website that she has experience with the breed.

[slc2]

Julie is way further over on the west side. Lauren is out on the east side.

Julie is absolutely wonderful. I've seen her at shows for a long time. She's been doing this for a very long time and she's very good, not just at riding but at communicating with people and helping them train their own horses. It's a pleasure watching her ride and compete.

I met a beginner/lower level student of hers before she started with Julie, and then I didn't see her for 18 months til she asked me to come see her at a show. I thought I was going to drop my dentures, LOL! I could not even find the girl in the warmup! That's how much the horse and rider had come along! I couldn't even recognize them.

She also hosts some fantastic clinics, I saw Vera Kessells teach there a while ago (I can't remember when). I was stunned that she brought Vera in when she was really not so well known overall. I feel by hosting people of Vera's calibre Julie shows she is very knowledgeable.

Lauren is fabulous with Arabs, but she's fabulous with everything. She is still working with George Williams as far as I know, and I don't know anyone who has worked with George and has not just leapfrogged forward and absorbed tons of knowledge.

She just opened a new farm and is really set up well with a great facility. It was announced in the NODA newsletter. I saw the Arab she had helped with and I believe the owner was really delighted with the horse's training. But Lauren can ride anything. I saw her put in some beautiful upper level tests on a Cleveland Bay (I think Clv bay/thb cross,, but not sure, maybe all Cleveland). She's a very elegant rider, very quiet, very precise, very focused.

This area is absolutely great - we have so many wonderful dressage people here, a great club, tons of schooling and recognized shows. You can definitely find someone who is a good match with your personality and style, schedule, needs, etc. I think you will love it here.

[Posse977]

She just opened a new farm and is really set up well with a great facility. It was announced in the NODA newsletter. I saw the Arab she had helped with and I believe the owner was really delighted with the horse's training. But Lauren can ride anything. I saw her put in some beautiful upper level tests on a Cleveland Bay (I think Clv bay/thb cross,, but not sure, maybe all Cleveland). She's a very elegant rider, very quiet, very precise, very focused.

This area is absolutely great - we have so many wonderful dressage people here, a great club, tons of schooling and recognized shows. You can definitely find someone who is a good match with your personality and style, schedule, needs, etc. I think you will love it here.



He is a Cleveland Bay/TB cross named Idlehour McHenry ("Henry"). He belongs to a friend of mine.

There is also Charlotte Bayley-Schindelholz
http://www.csbdressage.net/
She currently tunes Henry up. I have gotten a lot out of her instruction, but lack the funds and, well, the motivation, to pursue dressage at her level.

[slc2]

Oh i love that henry horse. What an elegant animal. far as I know, Charlotte has students of all levels. she's been very kind and helpful to me, i have nothing but good to say about her. those who want to advance draft crosses should talk to Charlotte, she took one to Grand Prix. As well as winning many awards to i1, if i remember, on a Quarter Horse she owned, training friesians, etc. we just got a lotta talent around here, no doubt about it.

[wildREDhorse]

Nothing to fancy, as my horse and I are just learning.

I have heard great things about Charlotte as well, my BO trains with her, but I think she's on the "fancy" side...

[slc2]

I've never heard of her refusing to teach someone because their horse wasn't expensive enough.

[wildREDhorse]

I've never heard of her refusing to teach someone because their horse wasn't expensive enough.

No no, not saying that - the OP just said she was not looking for any place too fancy.. Or at least that's how I understood? I was thinking as far as boarding places, I think it is pricey?... Maybe I misunderstood the OP.

[Hazelnut]

No no, not saying that - the OP just said she was not looking for any place too fancy.. Or at least that's how I understood? I was thinking as far as boarding places, I think it is pricey?... Maybe I misunderstood the OP.

Charlotte Bayley's farm is "fancy" and more expensive than the average stable. I'll bet you understood the OP perfectly.

[slc2]

i haven't checked prices there recently. i don't think of charlotte's as 'fancy'. to me the word suggests fussy or overdone, but if 'fancy' means more cost i guess the OP will have to just comparis on shop and decide.

[SpartanMensRea]

I just don't want to be surrounded by people that will look down their noses at me and my QH. As far as price goes..lord I live on Long Island now...where anything with an Indoor is over 800 if you're lucky.

[Hazelnut]

You will be welcome in NE Ohio.

[onetempies]

Definitely don't discount Charlotte until you can speak with her and check things out at her farm. She's absolutely fantastic to watch as a rider and the way she interacts with the horses she shows. Looooooooooooooved that Thorcheron that she used to show & you could tell that he loved his job and tried his heart out for his rider! Absolutely droolworthy! :yes: The other option would definitely be Lauren as well.

[Posse977]

Definitely look into Charlotte- she certainly will not look down on your QH! Heck, I took my Clyde/ASB to her and she was great with us. I just wish I had the spare $$$ to keep going back... She even helped me a little bit at shows- even though I wasn't there "with" her- and didn't charge me for it. Her students were all great too- read for me if I needed it, and kept and eye on Sherman when I wasn't around. Even offered to toss his supper to him since I had to leave due to a critically ill friend.

Her farm is lovely- but decidedly not "fussy".

[slc2]

Someone who has taken a draft cross to Grand Prix probably won't look down on your horse!

I think most of the trainers in this area have worked with a big variety of different breeds and I frankly don't find anyone here to be snobby about breeds.

[Posse977]

Someone who has taken a draft cross to Grand Prix probably won't look down on your horse!

I think most of the trainers in this area have worked with a big variety of different breeds and I frankly don't find anyone here to be snobby about breeds.



Well, he's kinda funny looking...

[Hazelnut]

Maplestar farm is lovely.

http://www.csbdressage.net/maplestar.htm

[khorsem]

I'm going to check out Northcrest next week! I have to say that so far, Julie seems to be incredibly friendly and welcoming and not even a tad snooty. I can't wait to go and watch some lessons!

[SillyHorse]

slc isn't the only one in the area who knows about the barns. If anyone would like to PM me, I'd be happy to tell you what I know (and I know quite a bit), but I won't do it publically, positive or negative. ;)

[khorsem]

Just wanted to update:

I had my first lesson with Julie Taylor yesterday and she is AMAZING!!! :) Really, I can't say enough about her. She's just one of those people that has the gift of being both an amazing rider/trainer and instructor and truly loves her horses what she's doing- and it shows. I wish I could take lessons every day!

[slc2]

Well that is pretty much how I see her too! Hope you have a lot of fun!!! :winkgrin:

We are very, very lucky here. There are a lot of resources here.