Training

Susan has over 20 years of experience in competitive dressage and horsemanship and holds her USDF Bronze and Silver medals. At age 12, through a project horse named Choco, Susan was introduced to the horsemanship principles taught by Tom Dorrance, Ellen Eckstein and David Hillman. She prides herself on combining the principles of classical dressage with horsemanship in her training business, clinics and lessons. Susan has since worked with many prominent figures in international dressage including Marisa Festerling, Shannon and Steffen Peter’s, Sabine Schut-Kery, Christine Traurig, Robert Dover and Michel Assouline. She spent 10 years training with US Team Rider Dennis Callin to whom she credits much of her international and national competitive dressage success and education.

Susan’s recent focus has become more local and on her students, developing multiple horses and riders to the FEI levels including Grand Prix. She’s a coach to many aiming for national, statewide and regional championships in not just dressage but also eventing. Her teaching philosophy is centered around building confidence in both horses and riders through the understanding and fair use of the aides. Susan believes positive communication is essential and that horse/rider partnerships are first and foremost.  Susan has a very active lesson calendar and gives lessons to a wide variety of pairs, from currently competing FEI riders to pleasure riders who would like a foundation in classical dressage and horsemanship.

Eva is the Assistant Trainer at Winterhaven Dressage, and holds her USDF Bronze and Silver medals. She was the typical horse crazy child, and grew up on a ranch just south of Half Moon Bay, CA. She and her pony, Strawberry, roamed the coastal hills on a daily basis, participated in local parades and Pony Club. During Eva’s college years, she began focusing on Dressage, and that was when she met Susan.

In addition to Susan’s regular coaching, Eva has also worked extensively with Ellen Eckstein, David Hillman and Dennis Callin. Dennis was instrumental in helping Eva further her dressage education, as well as experience in the high performance show ring. Eva has also worked with a number of top coaches, including Robert Dover, Shannon Peters, Sabine Schut-Kery, Christine Traurig and Marisa Festerling.

Under the guidance of Susan, Eva has developed her horse, Drake, from an un-started yearling to schooling the Grand Prix at 10 years old. Drake has a list of accomplishments including top placings at shows through the levels, FEI young horse classes, USDF & American Hanoverian Horse of the Year in 2016. In 2017, Eva qualified for the Markel/USEF Developing Horse Championships, where she finished fourth in the nation in the Prix St. Georges division. In addition to training and competing horses, Eva enjoys teaching lessons to her dedicated group of riders.