A professional trainer, Christine takes in select outside horses for full training. Long and short term training options are available. She provides the following training solutions: starting horses under saddle, training and preparation for breed shows and breed inspections, in-hand training and showing, teaching trailer loading (first time and problem horses), and finishing and showing performance horses. Programs are customized to meet the owners’ goals with an aim of to helping everyone, regardless of breed or discipline of riding.
Christine began riding at the age of 5, from a family of equestrian enthusiasts, progressing from basic training to competition level in her mid teens. She was fortunate to have started her riding career under the tutelage of a Classical Dressage Instructor. She showed dressage through her teens until moving to an area where dressage had limited options. This allowed Christine to expand her riding skills to include the many Western disciplines, such as Western Riding and Western Pleasure.
After graduating from college, Christine returned to her true passion – Dressage. As an adult she has had the opportunity to train under some of the nation’s top dressage riders and trainers including Michelle Gibson (Olympic bronze medalist), Charles de Kunffy (internationally renowned throughout the world as an author, lecturer, coach and judge), Deiter Riedinger (international rider and professional trainer), Jane Savoie (Alternate 1992 Olympic Dressage Team, author, coach and trainer), Leslie Webb (Pan-American team and individual silver medalist) and Kelly Ann Kinney (long-listed for the Olympics).
The summer of 2007, Christine had the rare opportunity to ride in Germany at State College. While in Germany she received several performance medals in Dressage and Stadium Jumping. Here students have benefited from the training she received in Germany, a country known for having some of the best riders in the world. The training and teaching methods are woven into all of the schooling at Cadence Ranch.
Christine has one of the most varied backgrounds with horses, making her a well rounded instructor and trainer in multiple disciplines. She has been riding and training for over 30 years. She has shown successfully in local and national circuits in a number of disciplines including: Dressage, Western Riding, Halter, Showmanship, Horsemanship, Western Pleasure, Trail, Hunter Under Saddle, Equitation, and Hunter Hack. She continues to improve her knowledge and expertise by broadening her education through participation in seminars and clinics, as well as maintaining relationships with some of her strongest training mentors.
Christine’s training philosophy is one of compassion and understanding for the horse. Riding successfully is about creating a partnership with your horse. She using classical training methods to develop strong basic skills and strengths in each horse, whether just starting under saddle or retraining. Horses learn basic principles that will enhance their skill for any discipline. Systematic training develops increased athletic ability in a horse which translates into a horse who physically can do its job, thereby leading to success. There are no “quick fixes”, but there are many simple and practical solutions for different problems using effective communication and development. A good trainer must be able to adjust to each individual horse and rider, and implement the appropriate methods to achieve the desired results. She uses her broad base of knowledge and experience to produce excellence in both horse and rider, which leads to success at all levels.
Christine’s Goal: “My goal is to teach you to teach your own horse.” This involves teaching you, the owner, how to communicate with your horse, to create a relationship through understanding, knowledge, trust and respect for one another. It is important to remember that every time you handle your horse you are communicating and teaching them something – either positive or negative. My goal is to teach you how to work with your horse in a manner that will always be training them to be better while also improving your partnership with them.