DressageArena.org

That barn looks really high-end, and the trainer is very well known. I don’t know whether it would be a good choice for you or not, since I don’t know how serious you are about dressage and what your price range is. Plus I don’t know the character of that particular barn.

High end dressage barns can sometimes be kind of snooty. I should know since I’ve managed a couple! Some barns like this will look down their nose at your if you don’t have an expensive fancy Warmblood. Case in point: my friend Melissa had a TB that she used for dressage. She wanted to take some lessons with a well-known dressage trainer at his farm. He told her that he would agree to teach her if she trailered the horse in, but in public (like at shows) he would not be seen with her. Basically he’d take her $ for lessons so long as nobody knew that he’d lowered himself to training a TB! Too bad I wasn’t there- I’d have given him a piece of my mind!

At the very least, you should go check the place out and talk to the people there. If that barn is not what you are looking for, perhaps they could suggest another trainer in the area who might be better.

Here’s a couple other farms I found:

Full Cry Farm, trainer Debbie Lane
http://www.fullcryfarm.com

Trainer Allison Faso
http://www.dressageconnections.net/html/resume.html

High Point Dressage:
http://www.highpointfarm.org/

Krowchuk dressage:
http://www.krowchukdressage.com/

Actually, the more I look the more I want to move to Atlanta! It seems like a dressage mecca!

wo congrats!!! i do dressage. +++ love it! and jumping. i like that farm btw! it really looks high end and very nice! good care, good people, no low lifes!

That looks like a very nice place. I say go for it! Good luck

I say go to the farm and visit. Call and ask if you can stop by and sit in on a lesson that way you can see how the trainer teaches, how the horses are treated, if the farm actually looks like the pictures.

Seeing is the best way to decide if you like the barn and I don’t think it would be a great idea if you just decided to ride and board there based on what you saw on the internet

I like the looks of this farm too, but that’s not my biggest concern at the moment, nor should it be yours. You’ve said your parents are willing to get you a horse- but can they AFFORD the price and upkeep of such an animal, not to mention all the costs associated with your showing? Dressage is one of the most EXPENSIVE sports in existence, and the enormous costs involved in it are part of the reason why the sport has such an image problem in this country. It’s perceived as being a sport for the elitist, white snobs of the horse world, instead of as the system of training that it was originally intended to be- a system which ALL horses and riders can benefit from, no matter what their sport or walk of life. In Europe, where dressage is a way of life, the situation is different. With that said, I think you need to check out other places besides just this farm, and also have a serious discussion about costs with your parents, sweetie. It’s wonderful that you are able to work at the barn where you currently ride, and I encourage you to keep that up- and by all means, save as much of your earnings as you can, for both your horse expenses and for college, which is right around the corner. But at the same time, you need to be realistic about costs when it comes to getting a horse, and mature enough to recognize that your parents are under no obligation to do this. If they want to do it, that’s one thing, but if they tell you no because they can’t afford it, then you need to look elsewhere for funding, and not whine or moan about it. There are ways to gain sponsorships, and you need to look into this too. One thing I would definitely do before you commit to this farm you’re looking at (or any other farm, for that matter) is call and ask if you can visit and take a look at the place. When you do, come prepared with a list of questions, such as those about lesson rates and fees, board rates and fees, board policies, arena use policies, showing policies ( find out in advance whether or not the facility sponsors shows, and if so, whether or not you’ll be allowed to enter and compete in them- a lot of dressage barns do this, so it pays to check this out) clinic policies, and the like. Ask about summer programs and whether or not the pro at the barn accepts working students. Sign up for a trial lesson or two, so you can see whether or not you and the professional trainer at the barn are a good match in terms of personality, and whether or not you like and can accept his or her teaching style. Be aware that almost every trainer in the sport of dressage usually has a pretty set way of looking at and doing things- and there are some which are prejudiced against different breeds of horses, like the trainer which one of the other writers mentioned. Dressage is a very subjective sport, and most of the people who pursue it are perfectionists- and they have a very low tolerance for mistakes.

You should ALSO check with your SCHOOL’S guidance counselor and find out if you can get academic credits for working at the barn or for taking lessons- some schools will allow students involved in sports like this to get credits in PE or related courses because they take lessons. All of these things may help your parents to feel as though they are making a worthwhile investment in your future- one which will pay big dividends down the road when you go on to college and beyond. This in turn may make them more willing to help pay the costs. At 15 years of age, you are only 3 years away from the time when you could potentially qualify for the Olympic team if you are good enough and have enough talent, which is something else you can point out to your parents. Barring the Olympics, there’s also the Young Riders’ championships, and a wide variety of other top level competitions which you could compete in starting when you are 18. The Atlanta area alone is home to a lot of these shows- I know that because I used to live there. I remember when the Georgia Horse Park in Conyers opened, in fact, and it’s the home of lots of horse events, including some top level dressage shows. So I think you are on the right track, but take your time and look at other barns before you make any kind of committment. You’ll be glad you did- it takes time to find the right situation.