About 

Dona Ruth

 Dona approaches  her teaching ad training with passion, and her horses with respect.  She feels that being able to work with the horse as a partner during the training process is a privilege, something she realizes every time she gets on a horse.  Dona has been riding for over 30 years, and before specializing in dressage, she was involved with hunters, racehorses, western and even Paso Finos.  Dressage is the sport that captured her heart and became her clear passion.  

The horses in training with Dona range from training level through FEI.  On any given day she will ride between 3 to 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.

In order to offer a fresh perspective for her clients, Dona stays current with her own training as well.  To compliment her riding program, she regularly attends national seminars with USDF and other national conventions.  Since all aspects of management impact a horse and rider's training and success, she participates in conferences and lectures on nutrition as well as latest in equine health care.

A USDF bronze and silver medalist, Dona has had the opportunity to study with Pat Smeltzer, Karl Mikolka, Gunnar Ostergaard, Scott Hassler, Franz Rochowansky, Sharon and Grant Schneidman, Barb Strawson.   She has also ridden in clinics with Gabrielle Grillo, Michael Klimke, Hubert Rohrer, George Heiser, Nicole Uphoff and George Williams.  She has ridden and competed through Intermediare 2, and trained her own horses through Intermediare 1.  Dona currently has some of her own horses as well as several client's horses in full or abbreviated training.