Next Meeting: November 16, 2021 Kathy Praegitzer's Home
October 16-17, 2021
Sandy Savage
Sandy is a USDF - Bronze, Silver and Gold medalist who is certified by the Swedish National Riding School through an extensive three year program. After her studies in Sweden she spent a year apprenticing with Olympic Gold Medalist Gabriella Grillo in Germany. She has cliniced with notable trainers including Charlotte Dujardin, Steffen Peters, Arthur Kottas, Conrad Schumacher, Anders Lindgren, Heike Kemmer, Mette Rozencrantz, Volker Brommann, and she continues to ride regularly for Volker Brommann and others. Sandy’s education has been consistently guided by classical European masters.
Sandy began riding at the age of eight in the Los Angeles area with Swedish trainer Lilian Van Dahn. Her love for horses led her to become an instructor at the Traditional Equitation School located at the LA Equestrian Center, and she later transitioned to an assistant trainer in the dressage barn after she returned home from Sweden.
Sandy’s studies at Strömsholm included theory classes on technique for teaching riding, running a riding school, anatomy, feeding, finances, and other skills. Her practical education covered young horse development, jumping, free jumping, cross country, long lining, driving a carriage, and of course, dressage. This well rounded education gives Sandy a unique approach to producing a happy, sound, and willing athlete.
Sandy feels that Gabriella Grillo has had the greatest influence on her riding and teaching. Grillo taught her that every horse has a talent, you just have to find the way to bring it out. She was always compassionate to each horse and extremely detail oriented with regards to rider position. Sandy has adopted this philosophy and is also very thorough and empathetic in her teaching. She believes that you need to have a good position as well as a correct understanding of the aids in order to ride your horse tactfully. If you can do that, then the movements come easily. Her goal is to teach her students to ride and to get along better with their horses through clearer communication.
Since returning to the US in 2000, Sandy has brought several horses to the Grand Prix level but also enjoys working with young horses. Since having to prematurely retire her competition mare Relevé in 2016, Sandy was inspired to begin a small breeding program with the help of Erika Pilimai. Her experiences training youngsters enables her to have first hand knowledge of which bloodlines are known for producing talented and rideable offspring. Sandy has also helped over 15 riders achieve their USDF medals at all levels, including a number of Gold medals. Sandy is also available to help you find your next dressage partner, she prides herself on matching the right horse to the right rider.
Whatever your goals, Sandy can help you achieve them.
Contact Melinda Van Sweden at (530) 347-9637 for more information!
Fall 2021
Silke Rembacz
Silke grew up near Bremen, Germany where her parents introduced horses to her over thirty years ago. In 1986, she came to the United States as an exchange student, working for Disney World and although she planned on studying the field of industrial geology, her love of horses and innate talent in their training made her career decision for her. It was while working as Head Trainer and “Princess” at Medieval Times that she met Lendon Gray, who became an early mentor to Silke. In addition to contributing to Silke’s development as a rider/competitor, Lendon also offered her guidance in her development of Silke Rembacz Dressage. In 1999 she became a U.S. citizen, and that same year she qualified and competed in the USET Intermediare I Championships in Gladstone, NJ, with Susan Decker Bibbo’s The Summit, winning the Prix St.Georges and placing second in the Intermediare I. Silke, an active FEI competitor, has been ranked in the top 12 at Intermediare I nationally since 1994. Silke is well respected by her peers within the equine community and has earned a reputation, not only as a formidable competitor, but also as a source for the high-quality horses she imports regularly from Europe, ranging from 3-year-olds through Grand Prix School Masters.
As a coach Silke is totally focused and devoted to her students. In fact many of her long time students frequently comment how Silke appears to be riding every movement of the test along with them from her spot on the sideline! Silke’s tireless dedication has helped her riders achieve their goals of earning their USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals, qualifying, placing and winning in the The USDF Regional Championships, Dressage at Devon, NEDA Dressage Festival, and CDI’s throughout the United States.
Silke has a rare talent for working with young horses, laying down a solid foundation of trust and work ethic which ultimately transforms them into successful competitors as well as happy, healthy horses. Silke’s approach is comprehensive, overseeing the total development and wellness of each individual horse through the creation of a customized program which includes nutrition, health management and training. This proven method enhances the horse’s natural athletic ability and willingness to perform, thereby maximizing its potential as a riding horse.
Contact Nina Felsenthal at 530-515-8986 to reserve your spot.
June 6, 2021
Kathy Pavlich
Clinic with the perspective of a Top Trainer and Judge!
Based in Reno, NV, Kathy Pavlich is a USEF 'R' licensed Dressage judge, and is currently completing her education through the 'S' program.
"I enjoy traveling and judging but my first passion is training. I enjoy watching the horses improve as my clients develop their skills as riders!
I have competed several horses through Grand Prix and am a USDF bronze, silver, and gold medalist. I have enabled two clients to attain their bronze medals and five others their silver medals on horses I owned and trained, along with many more achieving medals on their own mounts. I have numerous California and USDF Region 7 championship and reserve championship titles from 3rd level through Grand Prix, and have placed in the top five nationally many times. I also competed at the USEF Dressage Festival of Champions in Gladstone during a Pan American Games selection year."
Shasta Chapter member Ashlyn Grant recently attended the Jr. Amateur clinic with Kathy Pavlich at Pacific Equestrian Center. Ashlyn reported that "she was an amazing clinician and super patient with each rider." There were 10 riders and horses ranging from beginners to Grand Prix.
Space is Limited!
Contact Nina Felsenthal at 530-515-8986 to reserve your spot.
May 8-9, 2021
Erika Jansson
Dubbed the Cavaletti Lady, Erika Jansson brings 30+ years of exceptional knowledge and career accomplishments from her native Sweden as well as Germany, New Zealand, and California. Her unsurpassed equine education took off with Team Eriksson’s 120 trot horses in training. This position was followed up by two years of Horse College in Skara, Sweden. The program included horse science, shoeing, nutrition and studies on breeds and bloodlines. Erika will be teaching her cavaletti clinics all four days of the Western States Horse Expo- Sacramento! This is a great clinic for horse riders from all disciplines to watch and learn from. Don't miss it!
CONTACT: Cindy Madden for signs-ups at 530-515-1456
2021 Dates to come!
Lehua Custer
Lehua Custer was born and raised in the beautiful state of Hawaii. Her love affair with horses began at an early age with her first horse, a frisky Appaloosa named Thunder. She would spend every free moment galloping bareback through the local town.
After completing high school, Lehua received a scholarship to attend college at Pepperdine University in Malibu where she received her BA in Psychology. As a graduation gift her mother paid for riding lessons with the two-time Olympian and founder of Dressage on the West Coast, Hilda Gurney. After Lehua’s very first lesson, Hilda offered her a job at Keenridge Farms as her Assistant Trainer…..and Lehua was hooked! She spent the following 9 1⁄2 years working, training and learning from Hilda.
Lehua has started countless young horses under saddle that went on to become outstanding dressage mounts and had the rewarding pleasure of training some of those young horses from training level all the way to Grand Prix. Lehua has also presented horses at the Oldenburg and Dutch Warmblood keurings each season.
In 2010, after developing expert skill, as well as the ever elusive “feel”, equipped with comprehensive training and experience from working with Hilda, Lehua completed and graduated from the USDF “L” Program with distinction, while earning her USDF Gold Medal. Lehua was ready to venture out on her own and hence Lehua Custer Dressage (LCD) was created!
Over the past 5 years Lehua has built a solid, loyal client base, as well as a stellar reputation in Southern California, based at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center. She is proud to have a string of wonderful horses and enthusiastic riders participating and winning regional and national championships at all levels.
Some of her more recent accomplishments include:
- Earning USDF gold, silver and bronze medals
- Completing the USDF “L” judges program with distinction
- Serving as a Board member for DASC
- Serving as a Board member for the CDS LA Chapter
- Winning USDF High point champion with FJ Ramses / First Level
- Being selected as a dressage judge at the Special Olympic World Games in LA, 2015
- Participating in the FEI Young Horse Program with several horses
- Becoming a USDF certified instructor through 2nd level
- Being selected as a demo rider for the young horse observation clinic with Scott Hassler 2014
- Being selected as a demo rider for the 2015 CDS annual meeting and Symposium
- Coaching young rider, Bryce Quinto, to a 7th place finish at the USEF National Equitation finals 2013