Reese says that the conductors gave excellent guidance
as to when to push, back off or be happy with the young horses. “They also gave advice on what avenues to ask our young horses to go down whether it was the Young Horse showing route, national shows or just keeping them home for training. There are so many training tips I have now after ten years of YDHTS.” She, too, spoke about the many friends she gained with whom she continues to stay in touch. “Being away from the pressures of our own businesses during the symposiums gave us the freedom to learn more and develop a keener eye. Without it, I certainly wouldn’t have the resources and friend- ships that have helped my dressage career. One example is Philip Parkes. For over three years he and I have been doing the Dressage Radio Show on the Horse Radio Network. We’ve covered several events such as the USDF Trainers Confer- ences and the recent World Cup in Vegas.” Reese has already utilized the training grant. “This past
winter I was so fortunate to work with Michael Klimke for three months in Wellington. It was an amazing experi- ence to apply his training method with my own horses. We focused on how to present my six-year-old in the Young Horse classes. I’ve never done that before and Michael was vital to our success,” she says. “Owning and maintaining a farm and horses, I haven’t really been able to financially take the time to train for many years. I’m so thankful to the Malo- nes, the Hasslers and Michael for the wonderful opportunity. Honestly, this program [YDHTS] has been hands down the most educational and helpful for my whole career.”
Benjamin Pfabe “I attended my first YDHTS in 2009, and I can’t even begin to express how much of an impact this program has made on my life,” says Benjamin Pfabe of Wild Oaks Ranch in Paradise, Texas. “I had just started working on my own as a trainer. Besides the incredible training tools, the instruction, the demo riders, horses and the interac- tive feedback the YDHTS events have provided, they also gave me one priceless piece to my riding career— friendships and support. Training horses can be a very lonely sport and it was through those sympo- siums that I found lifelong friends and respected colleagues who I can exchange ideas with, ask for advice or commis- erate with when
36 November/December 2015
“… just because a five-year-old isn’t doing the five-year-old test doesn’t mean he’s not a good horse.”
things don’t go as planned and make a change for the better. The network that the YDHTS has created is truly an amazing gift and I am honored to be a part of this amazing group.” Benjamin says that one of the standouts he learned was
that horses don’t have a schedule. “By that I mean that they don’t all follow the requirements of what a four, five or six- year-old should or shouldn’t be doing, nor is it necessarily in their best interest to push them towards those goals,” he explains. “This discussion comes up nearly every year during YDHTS as we always watch these groups, as well as horses schooling the developing Prix St. Georges. Of course, we would all love to compete in the Markel Young Horse cham- pionships and, of course, we need to push and train our horses to develop towards those levels, but as trainers we need to ask ourselves if that path is most beneficial for each horse, given the physical and mental demands. Pushing them too soon for that big trot, the collection or the changes might backfire in the long run. So when I say ’horses don’t have a schedule,’ I’m reminding myself that just because a five-year- old isn’t doing the five-year-old test doesn’t mean he’s not a good horse. He might shine in the six-year-old test or do really well at the PSG when he’s ten. Less is more sometimes and we can’t make our horses abide to a schedule.” “The biggest things I took away from the YDHTS are the
connections and the friendships that I made. As for my busi- ness, I firmly believe that it’s important to be an honest and hardworking horseman. Even though we’re spread far apart over the states, the horse world is very small and at the end of the day we’re all trying to do the same thing, hopefully for the same reason, and that is to train horses because we love them and are passionate about their correct training and ethical treatment. It’s been immensely comforting to know at least a dozen other trainers (whom I’ve met at YDHTS) that I might call for advice, whether it is a certain training issue I have run into or a decision I need to make about my busi- ness. It’s scary to go out on your own as a trainer, but I really do believe that good things come to good people and I’m running my business after that model. Honesty and transpar- ency are key!”
Ashley Nauta “Each year, I left with a renewed excitement for the uniquely rewarding and challenging job we do as young dressage horse trainers. YDHTS has inspired me to be better,” says Ashley Nauta from Blacksburg, Virginia, a seven- year veteran of the program. She feels that the YDHTS makes the large and competi-
Benjamin competing Ruidoso Wor at the Global Dressage Festival. He is a 6-year- old Hanoverian by Rousseau, bred and owned by Jackie Nixon-Fulton.
tive U.S. dressage scene appear less overwhelming. “Besides making us want to help each other with our businesses, it has united us at horse shows where we’ll cheer each other on. Now, instead of going into a big show worrying about the
SusanJStickle.com
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