Next Meeting: March 16, 2021 7:00pm
May 8-9, 2021
Erikka Janson
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!
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
2021 Dates to come!
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!