If you are interested in Dressage Training that follows the time-honored system of Classical Theory, welcome! Please feel free to contact me at: rachel@rachelames.com. I look forward to talking with you! --Rachel
History:
Rachel has been riding and training horses for over 26 years. She began riding at the age of 6 and continued until she was 14. After a 12 year break (to go to school), she took up riding again in 1991. As an adult she has started and trained 3 horses in dressage and jumping.
Dressage:
Rachel began her formal Dressage training in 1993. Rachel has trained extensively with Sarah and Clayton Martin BlancaDressage.com and has ridden in many clinics with Karl Mikolka.
She is committed to the principles Classical Dressage. This systematic method is kind to the horse, allows the horse to grow both mentally and physically and challenges the rider to develop his or her own equitation.
When the rider uses patience, fairness and clarity with the horse, learning becomes a natural progression and new skills are learned with relative ease.
Finally, the relationship between horse and rider is trusting, respectful and harmonious.
Rachel is a sensitive and observant teacher and rider. She incorporates simple exercises that allow the horse and rider to obtain a feel and/or visualization the desired outcome so that learning becomes directed.
In addition to loads of reading, Rachel has taken lessons with Rachel Saavedra, Siegfried Winkler, Carol Lavell, Hilda Gurney, Linda Zang, Julie Lyons and Kathy Connelly.
Here are some of her accomplishments.
Jumping and In-hand training:
Rachel likes using jumping/gymnastics to school the young dressage horse. She is also skilled at using natural horsemanship techniques to train young horses. She is good at determining the motivations of horse and how the handler can work with the horse to gain respect and attention.
Piper:
Piper is Rachel's horse. He is an 8 year old Oldenburg Gelding. Rachel began training him when he was 3 years old
and he is now working at 3rd level. Here are some pictures of Rachel and Piper playing around on a beautiful fall
day in October 2008. All pictures taken by Lyssa O'Riley.
Here are some pictures of him by Carol Walker.
2007 Piper in the snow.
You can see earlier pictures at Piper at 3 years old.
Family:
Rachel lives in Boulder with her husband, Andy, and their dogs, Midnight, Summer and Tiva. On the left is a picture of her family in August 2006 including Andy, their late dog, Dewey, Midnight and Piper. On the right are their 3 dogs Midnight, Tiva and Summer in the winter of 2008.
Previous Horses:
Here are pictures of Rachel showing Bailey (aka "Lift UP") at Training Level in 1998 and jumping Electra (aka "Fallon") in 1995.
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