Dressage Training Philosophy & CV

Tailoring a dressage training approach that works for each individual horse and rider

My Dressage Training Philosophy:

Our dressage training Philosophy is based on the German training system: rhythm, relaxation, connection, impulsion, straightness and collection. Sharon incorporates these basic building blocks in everyday schooling. In addition to following this basic framework from which Sharon approaches her schooling with each horse, she also includes in her training system, the use of ground work (long lining and in-hand work) as well as riding and schooling out of the arena. Sharon likes to use the hills and varied terrain outside the arena to keep the horses fresh in their minds and eager in their work.

Sharon has been extremely fortunate to have had the ability to get extensive dressage training from top European and US trainers over the years. In 2017 she traveled to Germany to train for a season with Hubertus Schmidt and to compete Grand Prix in Germany. She has ridden with Michael Poulin, Rien Vander Schaft and Henk Van Bergen, Leslie Morse and Pamela Goodrich.

Sharon is passionate about using a classical, systematic approach to training her horses based on the German training scale. She consistently develops balanced, well muscled equine athletes that can excel as they move up the levels. Her dressage training style is positive and focuses on correct rider position and effectiveness of the aids.

My Goal:

To produce confident well rounded riders with good basic skills from which they can progress. And to produce willing, supple, forward thinking mounts that work confidently at their level of training and will provide years of enjoyment for their riders.

Please visit our sponsor, Andrea Palumbo, Custom Saddlery, sales and saddle fitting:

Lynx and Sharon competing Prix St. George

2024	Monrad makes Intermediate 1 debut on Florida circuit. Is undefeated in FL with scores to 68.895 at start of season. Summer 2024 Monrad wins Intermediate 1 at Mount Holyoke College with 70.4%. Begins training for the Intermediate 2 test.
2023	Monrad makes FEI debut at Global at Prix St George winning Developing horse PSG test. Monrad wins Prix St. George throughout New England with scores over 71% and is NEDA Year End High Score Champion for 2023 at Prix St. George.
2022	Don Marino sold. Monrad shown Third level with scores to 72.5. Competed 8 yo mare Zoe at Fourth level winning GMHA with 70.8.
2021	New 5 year old horses Don Marino and Monrad shown First level. Both winning with scores up to 75%. Ashley Cauvel and Wrigley compete at Grand Prix. Winning at GMHA with score if 70.8. They finished season winning Region 8 Young Rider GP Regional Championships.
2020	Ashley rides 4th level at Global Dressage to win. Moves up to Prix St George at GMHA to win and is Region 8 YR Champion at Prix St George. Diaman sold to Amateur rider.
2017-2019	Diaman trained and campaigned through 4th level, PSG and Intermediare 1 with scores over 70%. Young rider Ashley Cauvel begins training with me and starts training on Wrigley.
2018	January – Travel to Aiken, SC with 5 horses for winter training. February – Christoball sold to Lynda Cameron in CO. Diaman competes in Aiken in first two Prix St George and wins both ouutings.
2017	February – Travel to Hubertus Schmidt stable Fleyenhof in Germany with Wrigley. Full training with Hubertus Schmidt to prepare for Grand Prix competitions with Wrigley. March – Compete with Wrigley at Zierow, Germany in Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. Finish fourth with scores over 68%. My two new young horses arrive in Germany from Denmark for training. Diaman , 7 year old Oldenburg and Christoball 6 year old Hanoverian. April – Training continues with Hubertus Schmidt at Fleyenhof. Wrigley competes in Grand Prix at Riesenbeck Germany against Ingrid Klimke and Helen Langelangenburg. Lessons with Diaman and Christoball with Hubertus. Travel to watch competition at hagen, Germany. Hubertus competes at Hagen in Horses and Dreams and finishes fourth in Grand Prix. May – Return to New England. Wrigley begins new career with his new owner. Jul – Oct – Compete with Diaman at Third and Fourth level. At GMHA Diaman, competing at Fourth level, is high score of show with 72%. Carl Hester Symposium two days auditing at Pineland Farms, ME.
2016	February – Compete in Grand Prix CDI Olympic qualifiers at the Adequan/Global dressage festival. Finish top 8 in Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special with Wrigley. March – USEF Long listed rider training sessions with Robert Dover, Wellington, FL May – Wrigley sold to Paula Bokesch July – Win high score FEI at Green Mountain Horse Association summer show with Wrigley 73.1 % Win Third level high score with Paula Bokesch’s horse Spotlight W 69%. September – Win Region 8 Grand Prix Championship with Wrigley. November – Compete with Wrigley in and finish 3rd in the US at the USDF National Grand Prix Championships, Lexington, Kentucky. December – Finalize plans for using US Dressage Foundation Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage grant for trip to Germany to train with Hubertus Schmidt for late Winter/Spring 2017. NEDA Banquet. Winner 2016 NEDA Year End Grand Prix Res. Champion with Wrigley 72.4%
2015	Winner all National Grand Prix classes scores over 70% including Global Dressage Festival, GMHA June and July Global Dressage Festival Second in Grand Prix Special 69.3% fifth in Grand Prix 68.6. USEF Elite training sessions with Robert Dover Achieved a 5 star rider/trainer rating rider by Centerline Scores
2014	Global Dressage Festival Grand Prix 3rd place USEF Training sessions with Debbie McDonald Qualified and competed in USEF National Championships and World Equestrian Games selection trials Gladstone, NJ 12 place
2013	Winner Grand Prix ESDCTA CDI Allentown, NJ Qualified and competed in Grand Prix National Championships, Lexington KY 7th overall NEDA Fall Festival CDI Grand Prix Freestyle 71%
2012	2012 Wrigley undefeated for the year in Developing Horse Grand Prix classes and Intermediare II Qualified for USEF Developing Horse Grand Prix Championships Winner USDF Region 8 Championships at Intermediare II Wrigley added to USEF Elite training list and participates in training sessions with USEF Coaches Debbie McDonald and Stephan Peters.
2011	Juli Sherif sold to Catherine Malone, Iron Spring Farm. Wrigley added to USEF Developing Horse list. Sharon and Wrigley participate in training sessions with Hubertus Schmidt, Steffan Peters and Debbie McDonald. Wrigley winner Palm Beach Derby Developing Horse Test 72.3% Wrigley high score winner Prix St George at King Oak Farm 70%, GMHA 71.8% , and NEDA Fall 70.1%. Winner NEDA CDI Prix St George 70.1%, Saugerties, NY Developing Horse Championships Chicago, IL Third place overall with 69.3% USDF Horse of the Year Prix St George 11th overall Kyra Kirklund Symposium Demo rider
2010	Long listed for World Equestrian Games with Juli Sherif. Winner CDI at NEDA FALL Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle with Juli Sherif. High Score 4th level with Wrigley at Westbrook Hunt 76.5%, GMHA 70% and NEDA 72%.
2009	Winner Grand Prix Gold Coast Opener with Juli Sherif. 2nd place GP Special Wellington classic. 4th CDI Grand Prix Wellington Equestrian Festival. 3rd CDI GP Special Wellington Equestrian Festival.
2008	USDF Intermedaire II Horse of the Year 3rd overall Juli Sherif. NEDA Year end Champions Intermediare II. USDF Region 8 Champions Intermediare II.
2007	Reacquired Juli Sherif.
2006	Klaus Balkenhol/NEDA symposium with Weltheir. USET developing horse list.
2005	Several wins on New England circuit at Prix St George with Weltheir. USDF Horse of the year award PSG 18th overall Weltheir.
2004	Winner CDI small tour at OX Ridge, and NEDA Fall with Maestro. NEDA Year End champion at Intermediare 1.
2000-3	Groundbreaking on new facility at Souhegan Farm. United States Dressage Federation Grand Prix Ranking 6th in the Nation. NEDA Year-End Award Grand Prix. Champion Purchase sale horses from Europe.
2000:	Winner Grand Prix five times in top New England competitions.
1999	USET National Grand Prix Championship Top 10. USET Grand Prix Long List for International Competitions. USDF New England Grand Prix Champion.
1997	USDF Silver Medalist.
1996 – 2000	National FEI Competitor with top placings at the Palm Beach Derby, Orlando Dressage, Devon Dressage, NEDA, Washington National Show, etc.
1995	USDF Bronze Medalist.
1989 – Present:	Owns and operates Souhegan Farm, a Dressage training facility in Ashby, Massachusetts.
1984	Graduated University of Delaware – Cum Laude in Philosophy.
Early 1980’s:	National 3-Day Event Competitor, finishing in the top placings at Ledyard, Chesterland, Flying Horse, Radnor, Huntington and Monmouth Hunt.
1980	North American Young Riders Championships, 6th Overall.