Chante

 

Chante at The Homestedt

Over the past four months, I have entrusted my three year old Hanoverian mare to Elly Schobel to be backed and started for dressage. I purchased this mare as a yearling with no idea that I would end up shipping her all the way to South Carolina from Texas for this aspect of her training. As her third year was approaching, I realized the initial plan for her training, in this incredibly important phase of her dressage career, was no longer an option. Thus I started my search for a new trainer. The few options that were more geographically impressive had hopeless waiting lists and also are two month programs suited for the trainers schedule and not a young horse’s schedule. I knew this would be an obstacle with my mare as she was being true to her bloodlines and developing late physically. Elly Schobel’s name crossed my desk. After speaking with Elly and many of her current and previous clients, I seriously started debating sending my mare her direction. This was not an easy decision with all the financial, physical and emotional issues a horse owner faces with sending off a horse so many miles away. My head became convinced Elly’s training program and my horse would be an excellent combination, however my heart was not until I placed a cold call to Elly’s International Trainer and Judge, Anne Gribbons. Ms. Gribbons, confirmed Elly’s professionalism and expertise in the saddle, but then did make the comment that Elly treats her horses and clients horses as family members. My heart now became convinced.

Even though it has been difficult to not be able to witness the transformation that my mare has experienced at Elly’s the past months in person, I have been made to still feel apart of the process by telephone calls, emails, photos and video. This has eased the separation anxiety, on my part, and builds my confidence in her care and training. Elly has taken the approach to my mares’ training schedule to be on target on my mare’s physical and mental development. I feel this is such a crucial part in my horses training . I did not want her pushed through a program on a busy trainers schedule looking more toward stall availability for the next client rather than having a young horse well prepared to return home to her amateur dressage client with a developing partnership in mind. Elly and her staff have turned my young mare into a confident, well behaved and eager to please mare in and out of the ring. My mare has not had one issue with any of the backing and starting process that Elly and her staff have introduced when the timing has been right for my mare. It all has literally been taken in stride and my mare equivocates her training sessions to purpose and success in her mind and not confusion and failure. Elly’s daily professional supervision and personal involvement in the care of my mare has become apparent. It is obvious that my horse’s health from grooming to nutritional needs is never compromised. It is truly breath taking the difference of the physical appearance of my horse from when she first arrived to now. This difference is evidence to the attention, love and immeasurable care that my horse experiences at The Homestead.

The basic foundation that Elly has started the under saddle training of mare is a dream come true. I look forward to the partnership and success I will have with my mare knowing so much of it will be owed to my horses training beginnings at The Homestead.

Kelly Bernard
Austin, TX