Lessons and Training

Dona Ruth approaches her teaching and training with a passion, and her horses with respect.  Dona feels that being able to work with the horse as a partner in the training process is a privilege, and she realizes this every time she gets on a horse.  She has been riding for over thirty years, and before specializing in dressage had been involved with hunters, racehorses, western horses and even Paso Finos.  However, dressage is the sport that captured her heart and became her passion.  Over the years Dona has studied with Pat Smeltzer, Karl Mikolka, Gunnar Ostergaard, Scott Hassler, Franz Rochowansky and Barb Strawson, and has participated in clinics with such great teachers as Gabrielle Grillo, Michael Klimke, Hubert Rohrer and George Heiser.

A USDF bronze and silver medallist, Dona has ridden through Grand Prix, trained her own horses through Grand Prix and has competed through Intermediare.  She currently has three of her own horses plus several clients’ horses in abbreviated or full training.  The horses in training with Dona range from training level through Intermediare and on any given day, Dona will ride between 3 and 7 horses.  She approaches every horse as an individual since horses, like people, have different learning curves and styles.  Watching Dona, you realize that she has an incredible amount of empathy and respect for the horses she trains. Dona competes on a regular basis, and in 2006 will be found competing with her own horses Beaucastel (training level), Caymus (3rd level) and Von Inteletto (Intermediare), as well as clients’ horses. Below is Dona showing Caymus in 2004 at the PVDA Menfelt Show. The photo is used here with permission of the photographer, BHS Photography.

A dressage lesson with Dona can be intense, but there is always time for laughter and fun as horse, rider and instructor work together.  Dona has an exceptional ability to watch and understand, from the ground, what both the rider and the horse are feeling.  Through her empathetic approach she is able to help students progress while also being an advocate for the horse, helping him feel confident in his role as well.   When a lesson comes to an end, both rider and horse feel positive about themselves and about their work.

Dona holds a special passion for teaching adult riders who are serious about learning.  Her students range in age from 14 to 70, and in ability from Introductory through fourth level.  Some students have interests outside of dressage, and enjoy jumping, eventing, and foxhunting as well.  Their mounts are as diverse as the students themselves, and include warmbloods, Quarter Horses, Arabs, Thoroughbreds and crossbreds. Many students enjoy competing, although some students have no interest in showing at all but simply are serious about improving their own balance and helping their horses in turn become balance and pleasurable mounts. (Photo below by Barry Patch.)

The majority of Dona’s students either board at Ship’s Quarters Farm, or trailer in for lessons.  Dona does some limited teaching at other facilities in the area, but prefers to concentrate her time and efforts on those clients at the farm.  Since Dona does a lot of showing herself, her students are often able to get coaching help at shows.

Fees:  Individual lessons with Donna are $50 per 45 minutes.

Horses in training with Donna are generally ridden 3-5 days per week dependent on their needs and the owner’s budget.  The training cost is $45 per ride.