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Looking for lessons.

6K views 26 replies 9 participants last post by  cheval noir 
#1 ·
Hi,
I've been look for lessons in Dressage for a while now, and ere is the closest barn to my farm.
Christina Morris Dressage - CMD Services

She is about and hour from me. Maybe more maybe less. I'd be interested in taking my pony along with me, so we both can get "trained". What do y'all think about this place?

Oh and just for reference, this is the pony i would be trailering. :D

 
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#2 ·
She sounds pretty good, considering all the training she has had, and who she's trained with. I definitely think you should try her. Although her price to me isn't right. Her trailer in lessons are $50 for 45 minutes. To me that isn't really fair. My instructor qualified for the olympics and would have gone if somebody with better political connections hadn't gone. She charges $45 for an hour, using her horse.

Other then that definitely give her a try. Good luck.
 
#4 ·
Although her price to me isn't right. Her trailer in lessons are $50 for 45 minutes. To me that isn't really fair.
Price depends on where you are located in the US - With pro's I have paid upwards of $200/hour on my horse at their barn - which means trailoring at least 1 hour away. My local trainer is $50 per hour and she adds a travel fee on top of that - depending on how far away your place is from her. If you trailer in, since she doesn't own the barn she trains at, it costs an additional $10 to the barn owner to cover insurance, etc.

So the first principal is find the best fit for a trainer for you and your horse. I suggest you "audit" her training someone, specifically at or near your riding level, BEFORE you take a lesson with her. That way you can make sure that you can learn from her and her style of teaching fits your style of learning.
 
#3 ·
i thought her pricing wasnt right either. On top of tailering and hour away, lesson price, i think you have to pay for your own horse to be there, and buting a dressage saddle is going to add up. While im at it ill probably get a bridle too because his is older and a bit small. Aaah its so expensive! lol.

Thank you btw :)
 
#7 ·
There aren't alot of dressage people in our area are there? I know you can go towards woodbridge... What about Tamarack? A friend of mine took lessons there for a while and loved it...

Riding Lessons
 
#9 ·
Hmmm, Farmpony, are you in VA as well? :lol:
 
#11 ·
Just wondering, do you have local horse forums in VA as well (we have 2 in MD)? I found out posting trainer/stores/parks questions at the local ones are extremely helpful...
 
#13 ·
In the horse world and especially with lessons - you get what you pay for. This woman trains with Jan Ebeling (it says so on her website), full training at his place is $2200-2500 US per month (not sure what one lesson is but I would imagine not less than $120/45minutes). Jan is a wonderful coach and you will basically getting his knowledge second hand (along with many other people's knowledge) through this woman for the bargain price of $50! This woman has payed hundreds of thousands of dollars to get where she is and you're thinking $50 is steep?? I think it's very reasonable, personally. You also have to keep in mind that many dressage coaches although they schedule 45 minute lessons will teach over that if they feel they need to.
First thing is first I would go and watch some lessons and see if you like her teaching style and if you learn anything from auditing - you should.

Good luck!
 
#17 ·
LOL.... we are close then.... Not alot of dressage type lesson right in our area though... unless you go to Livingston Manor maybe? They are arab people but she's a pretty good trainer....

Here is their website:
http://www.teamlma.com/
 
#22 ·
once in a while I will show at hazelwild in the winter. I have been showing at EKG (the ODSS series) and Rosemont, the VAHA series and then doing QH shows at Lexington... I think I'm going to do the one at Frying Pan Park this year too... I don't think I've been to Woodpecker, is it nice?
 
#23 ·
People at Hazelwild think its a terrible place, im not sure why. I love it. Its amazing IMO but only 1 outdoor ring and they just got a round pen. I love Beth, she breeds hunter ponies. I absoloutly love a pony she bred, his name is Stewart.

Woodpecker Farm - Caroline County, Virginia <theres their site. :) im taking hunter lessons again... soon.

My old instructors showed at Rosemont but i dont show that much. I like pleasure riding :)
 
#24 ·
I know who she is, that is a nice place... Hazelwild isn't my fave that's for sure.
 
#27 ·
I take lessons from Christina. Her prices are less than most in this area but the quality in many ways is superior. I just sent you a PM but let me say here that I think she's a very, very good teacher. She has a good eye, a talent for communicating, and is a supportive teacher and is sensitive to the needs of the horse and rider. She has given me many "ahaa!" moments.

I am sure she'd be happy to let her audit a lesson. Just auditing, you would probably take away something useful for riding your horse.
 
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