Meet the Team ...

• Choosing a stable and an instructor/trainer is an important and difficult decision.  It requires placing your trust in another person for the care and development of your very precious friend and partner (and of yourself!).  It is important to know your trainer, both as a professional and as a human being, before making this decision.  I will be as candid as possible about who I am, what I believe in and how I approach horse care and training (go to my philosophy).

  Twenty years ago I created Solstice Farms out of my love and respect for horses, and my passion for the sport of dressage.  It is a living, breathing work in progress.  It has been a struggle and a joy, but today my original vision is stronger than ever:  excellent horse care, with a calm and supportive environment for classical training.

  Working toward this vision, I have reached personal milestones as a rider, trainer and teacher:

  • USDF Certified Instructor - There are only a handful of us in this region who have taken active steps to improve our teaching and training through the USDF Workshops and Testing.  We put ourselves on the line because we care about the future of the sport.  For more information on the USDF Instructor Program to go:    http://www.usdf.org/Programs/InstructorCertification/index.asp

  Certification is voluntary.  Most of us had flourishing businesses already with a strong following of students and horses in training.  But we wanted to get better, especially in the area of teaching.  Of course there are fine trainers who are not USDF Certified, but my choice was to follow this path.

  • USDF Region 9 Instructor/Trainer Council Chairperson (retired in 2005) - Our sport is dependent on volunteers locally, regionally and nationally.  Because of my belief in the Instructor program I have chosen to help the region in this role.  Encouraging and educating instructors is one of the best ways to grow the sport.  The Instructors page on this site is devoted to providing timely information to instructors in the region, and to Certified Instructors throughout the country.
  • Active FEI trainer, competitor and coach - Through the years I have trained several horses through the levels.  Right now I am competing my horse at Prix St. George and seriously schooling the Grand Prix movements.  I also have students who have successfully shown from lead-line through FEI to becoming members of the Century Club.   I have created Freestyles for both myself and students and quite enjoy this creative side of the sport.
  • Charlotte Raisbeck Memorial Award for Exemplary Sportsmanship - In 1998 I was honored with this award (given annually by the Houston Dressage Society).  It is also the most precious award I could ever receive.  I was deeply moved that our dressage community saw in me the virtue I most cherish.
  • “L” Graduate in the USDF Learner Judges Program - I completed the testing in October, 2004.  This training has given me an additional and insightful perspective on competition.
  • Yogi – I no longer teach the “Yoga for Riders” workshop but will suggest poses for students who are interested.  Yoga has helped me stay sound and sane through years of riding.  It has also given me a well rounded insight into body and breath control so important to riders.  Solid grounding in yogic principles allows me to remain authentic and true to my philosophies of riding and life, so that horses and students alike get the best I have to offer, each and every day.

   

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Marie's Philosophy

Solstice Farms . . . where did the name come from?  Many people ask me that!

I began my adult life teaching Junior High School Science for a living, while riding horses as often as I could.  I have always loved teaching but felt a yearning to be with the horses all day long.  During the Christmas and summer breaks (winter and summer Solstice) I did just that; totally immersed myself in riding and just spending time with the horses and nature.

As time went on, everything in my life blended together in a harmonious way.   Teaching school evolved into teaching riding.  Caring for one or two horses became forty.

As a science teacher, I was enthralled by the movements of the stars and planets and how their movements marked change.  Both the Solstice and the Equinox are turning points that we recognize each year.  They are “hitching posts” of time where we can mark our own movements through life and our relationships with our horses and riding.

Finally, the sun is a powerful metaphor for energy, light and enlightenment that I believe will symbolize this journey. 

From this comes the first statement of my philosophy:

~ I believe in the endless possibilities inherent in all horses and riders ~

Through my teaching and training styles, I strive to empower riders and horses.  I want to create proud, self-confident horses and thinking riders.  Each horse and rider also has something to teach their trainer.  It’s a win/win situation.

Which leads to the next statement of my philosophy, and the farm motto:

~ Serious riding in a friendly and supportive environment ~

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