Coach. Competitor. Trainer. Breeder.

Riding became my passion early in life, and for the past 22 years I have been working with horses specializing in the discipline of dressage.

My horse career started at a very young age in the discipline of jumping. I had been jumping for about 2 ½ years when it was suggested to try dressage as well, in order to enhance my jumping skills. And as much as I liked jumping, I loved dressage, and the rest as they say is history.

The next 12 years were spent training in the Classical Art of dressage under the excellent tutelage of Frank Grelo of Cedar Mills.

Immediately upon graduation from college, I was presented with an opportunity to become a working student for Gary & Jeannie Vander Ploeg. For the next 5 years I worked and trained under the talented and very experienced eye of Gary Vander Ploeg.

Over that 5 year period I was also afforded the opportunity to participate in numerous high-level clinics with world-renowned judges and coaches such as: Wolfgang H. Michaelis, Stephan Clarke, Dieter Schuele, Albrecht Heidemann , Libby McMullen and many more.

I have competed successfully at Grand Prix, Intermediere 1, and Prix St. George levels. In my Grand Prix season I was a member of a Inter-mural team at the Tournament of Champions.

I was High Points Champion at the Medium 3 and Medium 4 Levels at Palgrave.

I have been a Coach and Trainer full-time for the past 8 years, and part-time for a few years prior to that. I do freelance as well as teach at my own 106-acre farm just south of Shelburne.

Along with all the commitments involved in Coaching, Training and Competing I still find time for the other great passion in my life and that is the breeding of horses.

I think my work speaks for itself when taken into consideration that I was the sole trainer of my Lusitano stallion (Brioso) from the time he was a yearling to his retirement at Grand Prix level.

As an accomplished rider and instructor, my instruction methods build upon the classical riding methods acquired in my formative years.  I tend to focus on confirming harmony of horse and rider using a correct seat as an aid to balance in movement.  I feel my unique methods capture the best of horse and rider presenting a unique and new approach in accomplishing harmony with your horse through a correct seat - learning to ride within the rhythm of the horse.  I have a keen eye and the ability to give a rider the right tools needed to maintain the correct seat in achieving balance in movement.

Whether you are looking to better yourself as a rider for the competition ring, want your horse trained in the art of dressage, or simply want to learn how to connect better with your horse, through my many years of experience I am without a doubt competent and ready to assist you in accomplishing all or any of those goals.

For more information regarding lessons, training, coaching, or for information on one of our up and coming foals, please contact me at 519-925-0824 or email me at gelliott@niteswind.com