About Us
Winterhaven Sporthorse Centre is the dream come true for US Team member and FEI Dressage trainer Susan Treabess and her husband Scott Stanley. Purchased in late 2015, the property formerly known as Hacienda Haleguena has undergone substantial renovations while preserving the intimate, peaceful feel. With a strong emphasis on horsemanship, yet designed for the dressage and jumping equestrian sports, WSC is a facility where relationships with equine partners can blossom.
WSC has a variety of living situations for our equine friends. From barn stalls to private or shared pastures, we can accommodate many horses’ needs. All barns include large stalls with all-weather paddocks, grain bins and automatic waterers. We provide ample tack storage and each barn has its own hot and cold water wash rack.
Covered Arena
Our covered arena features Premier Equestrian HT footing giving the horses a stable, low-impact, long-lasting training surface. Additionally the covered arena boasts a wall of mirrors and lights for night riding.
Dressage Court
Our dressage court is regulation size with competition footing by Premier Equestrian and Olympia Footing. It boasts the best view on the property and provides a wonderful riding experience.
Jump Arena
Our jump arena is a whopping 160’x260’ and features a full course of jumps. The footing is standard arena sand and there are stadium lights for night riding and night jumping.
Round Pen
Our round pen at WSC has been especially designed with horsemanship in mind. It is 70 feet diameter with a 6 foot fence and premium footing by Premier Equestrian and Olympia Footing.” Please add the photo below of the round pen.
Other Amenities
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- RIDING TRACK & EXERCISE HILL: A unique feature that is enjoyable for riders and horses, the back of the property features a maintained riding track with an exercise hill. Whether galloping, trotting or walking the track and hill provide fun variety within the day-to-day riding and training of the horses.
- EUROCISER: Our 6 horse eurociser features multiple speeds and alternates directions. Its covered for all-season use and features rubber/sand footing.
- TURNOUTS: Turnouts in a variety of sizes are available.
Care & Management
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- At WSC our philosophy is to provide exceptional care and oversight of the stabled horses, while providing a peaceful and professional environment. The management style has been developed over the years from both visiting and stabling in some of the world’s best facilities. We have also had the benefit of working with renowned veterinarians and equine nutritionists to ensure our horse’s health and happiness. Our staff are knowledgeable and attentive and communicate frequently with our clients.
- All board situations at WSC include hay fed 3x’s a day, owner provided grain service known as “brunch”, daily stall cleaning, weekly waterer cleaning, night grain if desired, daily morning and night check and complete use of all facilities. In the barns, ample shavings are included with minimal dust. Beyond our included services, we offer turn out, blanketing, eurocising and more.
- Our hay is purchased in an annual quantity to ensure consistency. We feed high quality Orchard Grass hay and Alfalfa hay and we weigh the flakes to ensure that the horses are getting the proper amount they need nutritionally. On average most of our horses do well on 18lbs of hay per day and we test the hay for exact nutritional values.
ABOUT US
Based in Davis, Ca, at Winterhaven Sporthorse Centre, Winterhaven Dressage and Horsemanship is owned and operated by FEI trainer/competitor and 2010 World Equestrian Game US Team Member Susan Treabess. At Winterhaven we pay attention to the details focusing on riders goals while maintaining healthy, happy horses. Although our passion is dressage, we are non-denominational and help a wide variety of riders and horses. We specialize in the development of young horses and offer a program that can take them from weanling to working-class citizen while maintaining classical horsemanship principals. We can care for the most serious competitor or simply help riders improve their relationship and riding experience with their equine partners. We limit the number of horses we accept in training so that we can concentrate on individual programs that meet the individual needs of each horse. And we like to have FUN with our horses and riders!
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SUSAN TREABESS
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 and hosts clinics with both Ellen and David at Somerset Farm. For international and national competition, Susan is coached by and trains with Dennis Callin. Having extensive experience coaching and competing at the international level, and living in Europe for the past 10 years, Dennis also helps direct the Team Winterhaven show program including FEI small and large tour horses, FEI young horses, FEI Para Dressage, and our active Adult Amateur program. This approach has enabled Susan to be active in the show ring while keeping the mental and physical health of the horse priority.
Susan has a long list of accomplishments, which includes her participation in the 2010 Altech World Equestrian Games as a US Team Member for the Para Dressage competition. Susan & Moneypenny placed 10th overall in the WEG and were ranked 5th in the world within their division. In 2012 she qualified for the London Paralympics on Terry Waechter’s PRE stallion Fugitivo XII, but withdrew from selection trials due to the arrival of her first child. Susan is currently competing the young stallion Kamiakin, schooling Prix St. Georges and campaigning for a United Stated Team slot for the World Equestrian Games Team for Normandy in 2014.
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.
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EVA KING – Assistant
Eva has been riding horses all of her life. She grew up as the typical horse crazy girl, riding in pony club, showing and parades. She began riding dressage in college and has been a student of Susan & Ellen Eckstein for the past 10 years. Under the guidance of Dennis Callin, Eva has become very active in the FEI Young Horse program and that’s where her passion lies. Eva has competed through 4th level, has her USDF Bronze Medal and is well on her way to earning her Silver Medal.
Eva directs the young horse program at Winterhaven and acts as the primary selector and rider of the young horses. In 2013, she rode her own young horse, Drake, in the Cal Bred Futurity and took home reserve champion. Eva and Drake are expected to compete in the US FEI 5yo division in 2014. Eva will also be campaigning Winterhaven client Annette Pressas’ 4yo, Fez in 2014.
In addition to assisting with the horses at Winterhaven, Eva & her husband Alejandro own King Farm, a boutique horse facility in Davis, CA.
