I am ALWAYS, always always always, happy to hear advice from other experienced people. I might not agree with every point, but I've found that there's so much I DON'T know that it would be truly idiotic to get all egotistical about accepting good advice. And worse, it'd be bad for my horse, which I just can't stand.

We're in Morgan Country here in the Northeast...one of the huge national breed shows is ten minutes from my house. So I'd have no trouble finding someone who's experienced in saddleseat. The trick is to find someone who knows saddleseat AND dressage, or at least who understands the principles of SS. I actually know a trainer who trains both SS and dressage, has won just about everything at the regional level and rides and shows at the Intermediare level with her own warmblood and her morgan. She actually works primarily with morgans, and is one of the best horsewomen I have ever known in my entire life. She's also got a waitlist of about two years to get into her training barn, go figure. Sigh. I actually may have found a really nice dressage trainer who will come to me, and I like her way with horses and her riding style, so I"m going to give her a try.

Justin anticipates like a mofo, gets himself all worked up, and then we have to spend some time walking, calming down, talking, relaxing, before going back to work. It's going to take some time, but heck, I'm not in any rush. (also, I'm about a 7 hour drive from DC, which would be kind of a long haul for a training session, though I am so grateful for the offer. I lived there for a while years and years ago, for work, first in Silver Spring and then in Arlington, VA. If I never see the Beltway again, it'll be too darn soon...)

Last Edited By: JDKdressage Mar 17 08 8:45 AM. Edited 1 times.