About Collette
Collette has more than 20 years experience riding and training horses with emphasis in classical dressage. She has studied under USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalists Erin Brinkman, Iris Eppinger, Jodie Kelly, and Megan McIsaac. She has received personal coaching from Herwig Radnetter (head trainer of the Spanish riding school), Olympian Christine Traurig, judge Brian MacMahon, and O-judge Axel Steiner. Her skill and passion is to bring horses and riders along with an emphasis on correct basics.
At age 30, she left a dead-end office job to pursue horses full time. In a few short years by working hard and riding every horse she had the chance to, she quickly worked her way up from a working student, to assistant trainer with her own string of horses, to running a private stable where she was soley in charge of the care and training of the owners horses. She eventually opened her own barn, which was full with a waiting list in Milton, Fl. After doing that for a few years, she went back to Valhalla to continue her education and earn her USDF Silver Medal on the Trakehner stallion Stiletto Pg*E.
She has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of horses over the years, from green to FEI, and has much experience working with stallions; all of which have taught her valuable lessons. She is particularly skilled at bringing along young horses, and working with "tricky" horses. She also enjoys showing and preparing horses for the show ring. Her experience working with professional equine photographer, Shannon Brinkman; along with her knowledge of web design, marketing and social media give Collette a strong ability to market and promote sale horses!
She is passionate about dressage, as she feels it makes the horse more beautiful and develops the horse as a true athlete. She believes that basic dressage work improves every horse, and transcends all disciplines. She firmly believes that a stable, balanced seat and correct use of the aids allows the rider to be successful in any discipline. She has the ability to break down lessons into small steps that build on each other, and communicate effectively. She loves working with students of all levels on the lunge line, and believes it is the best way for students to learn how to communicate with the horse through their seat, thus allowing for quieter leg and rein aids.
Contact Collette for information on lessons and training!
Training and Education
USDF Bronze and Silver medalist
Bachelors degree in business
Assistant trainer to USDF Gold medalist Iris Eppinger
Working Student under USDF gold medalist Megan McIsaac
Working student at Valhalla farm under USDF gold medalists Erin Brinkman, Jean Brinkman, and Iris Eppinger
Assistant trainer to USDF gold medalist Jodie Kelly
Assistant trainer to USDF silver medalist Kathy Daly
Assistant trainer to USDF silver medalist, Briana Atwell
Assistant trainer to eventer Andrew Palmer