Joan Darnell
Having competed successfully through Grand Prix and coached several other horse and rider pairs through the FEI levels, Joan is a United States Equestrian Federation "S" Dressage Judge and a United States Dressage Federation Gold, Silver & Bronze Medalist.
Joan started riding as a child, and began her dressage career in 1980. A strong foundation was laid by years of instruction with Lilo Fore. Later influences include Janet Brown, Axel Steiner, Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez, Sonja Vracko and Dr. Cesar Parra.
Joan believes in enhancing the natural performance of the horse through exercises designed to supple, balance and strengthen both the horse and rider. She believes in positive feedback. Comments from both her students and competitors that have shown under her support her positive and encouraging attitude.
Joan started riding as a child, and began her dressage career in 1980. A strong foundation was laid by years of instruction with Lilo Fore. Later influences include Janet Brown, Axel Steiner, Debbie Riehl-Rodriguez, Sonja Vracko and Dr. Cesar Parra.
Joan believes in enhancing the natural performance of the horse through exercises designed to supple, balance and strengthen both the horse and rider. She believes in positive feedback. Comments from both her students and competitors that have shown under her support her positive and encouraging attitude.
Claire Darnell
Claire is a United States Dressage Federation Silver and Bronze Medalist, and competed with her horse, Calimar, in the 2011 Pan American Games Selection Trials. Claire has also competed at such prestigious competitions as the North American Young Rider Championships, the United States Equestrian Federation National Young Horse Dressage Championships, and the United States Equestrian Federation Developing Horse Dressage Championships. Claire completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Baylor University, receiving her Bachelor of Business Administration, Marketing, in 2009 and her Master's of Science in Education, Sport Management, in May. Since graduation, Claire has been riding and training full time.
Claire began riding at the age of 2, and was riding dressage movements on her pony, Daisy, at the same time she was learning to read and write. Earning her bronze medal at age 13 and her silver medal at age 15, Claire has successfully competed several horses at the FEI levels.
Joan instructs Claire on a regular basis, although she has also been influenced throughout her dressage career by clinicians such as Jan Brink, David Blake, Jeremy Steinberg, Lars Petersen, Jan Ebeling, Christoph Hess, Linda Zang and Stephen Clarke.
Claire teaches the classical training scale through positive reinforcement, which she learned from her mother and is evident in both the performance and attitude of all her horses and riders in training.
Claire began riding at the age of 2, and was riding dressage movements on her pony, Daisy, at the same time she was learning to read and write. Earning her bronze medal at age 13 and her silver medal at age 15, Claire has successfully competed several horses at the FEI levels.
Joan instructs Claire on a regular basis, although she has also been influenced throughout her dressage career by clinicians such as Jan Brink, David Blake, Jeremy Steinberg, Lars Petersen, Jan Ebeling, Christoph Hess, Linda Zang and Stephen Clarke.
Claire teaches the classical training scale through positive reinforcement, which she learned from her mother and is evident in both the performance and attitude of all her horses and riders in training.
