Barbra Reis / Dressage Trainer in Ortonville, Michigan

Barbra is the farm co-owner, manager, trainer and sales horse consultant. She is a United States Dressage Association Bronze and Silver Medalist, and has over 30 years experience in training young horses and teaching novice riders. From an early age, Barb was obsessed with horses. She talked about horses, drew horses, wrote stories about horses and, finally, at the age of five started riding horses! By the time Barb was a teenager she had set three goals for herself: To obtain the best possible education; To own a great farm; And to excel as a rider and trainer at the national level in dressage. Barbra attended Michigan State University ’s Pre-Veterinary program for two years then transferred to Centenary College in New Jersey where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies. She also attended Porlock Vale Equestrian Centre in England and she earned a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor Certificate. Barbra continued her education with jobs in the New York City area at the United States Equestrian Federation (then AHSA), Miller Harness Company, as an instructor at both Claremont Riding Academy in the city and Overpeck Riding Center in New Jersey. She managed Millbrook Farm in upstate New York and spent time grooming on the AA hunter circuit. Barb rode with George Morris, Greg Best, Gunnar Ostergaard, Anne Kursinski, and in clinics with Bert DeNemethy. Upon returning to Michigan , she began competing on the hunter and eventing circuits to continue broadening her education. In 1992 she won the (MCTA/TEAM) Sun Ray Perpetual Trophy for High Point Professional Rider. Dressage finally took over as her primary equine discipline in 1995 and she has shown successfully through Intermediate I winning many local, regional, and national breed association awards with her own horses as well as client owned horses.

To continue her own education Barb currently trains with Teah Bankes and participated in clinics with Janet Foy (May 2014), Jennifer Truett in 2012/2013 and Mary Wanless in 2013. She was also fortunate to ride with Heather Blitz in 2012 and 2015. In June 2010 she spent a week in Canada with riding with well known German Master Walter Zettl. She also rode with Catherine Haddad at BRF in August of 2010, Michael Bragdell (of Hilltop Farms) in March 2011 and Dr. Christian Schacht, DVM in May 2011. She has also cliniced with Gerhard Politz from California, worked with Grand Prix rider and USDF 'S' judge Maryal Barnett and ridden over the last few years with Jochen Hippenstehl . July of 2011 she rode with Debbie McDonald (two time Olympic veteran) and May of 2014 with Janet Foy (International Dressage Judge) gave a clinic at Brilliant Reflection Farm. For 2015 she will be continuing her equestrian training with Teah Bankes and Heather Blitz.

Barb was featured in the Equine Journal (September 2009) in an article about Paint Horses as well as the Paint Horse Journal (September thru November 2008 issues) which had three instructional articles on dressage for the Paint horse which included a full photo spread and step by step exercises.

Barb has started numerous young horses, following the classical dressage training scale to make sure they have the solid foundation necessary to become future dressage stars. Barb has a knack for teaching and training novice horses and riders. Her students have excelled at shows, normally placing in the ribbons with scores above 60% and receiving numerous year end awards. The horses she trains and show (both her own as well as privately owned) mirror her patient method of training. She is extremely patient with young horses, building the foundation for any riding discipline in the future.

In addition to teaching, training, showing and running a boarding facility, Barb is currently a New Vocations Ambassador with her horse What's the Record. In past years she has donated her time to CANTER of Michigan in the retraining of Off The Track Thoroughbreds. She has also held a position on the Midwest Dressage Association board of directors and is currently their webmaster and newsletter editor. She was a TEAM board member when it was the Michigan Combined Training Association. She has attended several USDF Conventions and will be attending in 2015, acting as the GMO representative. She also served as the organizer/event chairperson for the Lisa Wilcox Clinic held April 2006 at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center at Albion College.

Specialties

Acts As Agent In Your Search For Your Next Horse Adult Amateurs & Beginners Welcome Advanced Training for Horse & Rider All Breeds Welcome! B.S. Equine Studies BHSAI Biomechanics Boarding Classical Dressage Clinics Communication Consultation Covered Arena Creates Horses With Good Work Ethic Currently Riding And Competing Dressage Dressage Clinics Dressage Lessons And Training Through Grand Prix Dressage Score Improvements Dressage Show Coaching Equine Management Consulting Exercising FEI Dressage Training First Level Fourth Level Full Grooming Services Full Service Dressage Training Gentle Approach Gifted Teacher & Trainer With A Foundation In Classical Dressage Goal Setting Ground Manners Ground Training Ground Work Haul Ins Welcome Horse Boarding Horse Leases Available Increased Responsiveness Junior Riders Kind Lesson Horses Lots Of Turnout Lunge Lessons Lungeing/Line Driving/Dressage/Combined Training/Lessons & Train Monthly Training Musical Freestyle Natural Horsemanship Novice Horses Novice Riders Nutrition Older Adult Riders Welcome! Parelli Personalized Programs Positive And Upbeat Teaching Style Private Riding Lessons Re-training Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Of Lameness Restarting After Injury Sale Horses Sale Videos Sales School Horses Available Schooling Schoolmaster(s) Available Second Level Showing Stallion Starting Dressage Horse Prospects Suppling Teaching Teaching You How To Train Your Horse Team Atmosphere Third Level Training With The Horse In Mind Upper Level Dressage School Horse Available USDF USDF Bronze And Silver Medalist USDF Bronze Medalist USDF Silver Medalist Warmbloods Weekend Lessons Western Dressage Western Dressage Riders Welcome ! Will Travel to You Young Horse Training