As an adult amateur rider with a lifetime of show experience, I thought I had learned a lot about what it takes to get a horse trained. I soon found out with my present horse that what I knew was not what my present horse needed. I was running up against some issues in training that were getting worse with time! I turned to Ashley Jantzer for help. The Modern Dressage methods I was using were exacerbating the problems. My mare was struggling with balance issues, correct muscle development, acceptance of contact in the bit, resistance, and tension in her body.
For the past year we have been training with Ashley using the principles of Classical Dressage and oh what a difference a year has made! Ashley has given us the restart we needed. Groundwork and in saddle instruction have turned things around. We are building trust, appropriate muscle tone, clarity and relaxation in our work! Robin is developing proper muscle strength and proper aids she did not have before. Her mental attitude had changed so that she seeks contact, uses her body to help achieve self carriage and is confident. This is all attributed to Ashley's steady, consistent teaching and a lot of hard work! Ashley has the skills and knowledge necessary to retrain a horse and rider. I am very grateful to Ashley for her help.
I had the opportunity to study with Ashley this fall and her approach to working with individuals really stood out. She focuses on fine-tuning and sharpening foundational horsemanship skills, which truly are the building blocks for everything & appropriate for both unstarted horses or ones going well under saddle.
Dana C.
Frank and I met Ashley at Franks’ first outing. It was not going very well. Frank was extremely overwhelmed and tense. I tried everything in my toolbox but nothing was working for us. I was beginning to loose faith in myself and my ability to make Frank’s first show a positive experience, but Ashley swooped in just in time to save us. She was generous enough to spend time out of her day and help us even though she was showing a horse herself. She reminded me of what was important - having fun with my horse - not the people who were watching Frank have meltdowns, and not the expectations I had coming into this. She also helped Frank take his first deep breaths since arriving at the show grounds. I had not seen him blink or lick and chew the entire time we’d been there, and it was such a relief to me to see him finally relaxing.
After that first breakthrough, everything felt more manageable and Ashley worked with me to continue the improvements throughout the weekend. After accepting that I might not get on him at all, I ended up being able to ride him on the last day. It was the perfect end to a rollercoaster weekend. I kept up lessons with Ashley after that, and we worked on numerous things at home that immensely strengthened the bond between Frank and I. It was such a rewarding experience.
Recently, Frank and I journeyed to his second ever show, and it was a complete night and day difference. He acted like a seasoned pro the entire weekend and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results I’ve had after working with Ashley and it was a fantastic reminder that it’s always a good time to step back and work on your relationship with your horse — it will probably help in more ways than you’d realize.
Amelia S.
I cannot say enough positive things about my experience with Ashley!
From day one, her expertise and dedication to both my horse Hank and I was more than I could have ever expected. She has a unique ability to tailor her training approach to fit the specific needs and goals of each horse and rider. My horse had shown remarkable progress in a short period, thanks to her knowledgeable and patient instruction.
Not only is Ashley a skilled horse trainer, but she is also an excellent communicator, always providing clear guidance and encouragement. Her passion for horses and teaching is truly inspiring. I felt more confident and connected not just with my horse in training but with the other horses I was handling way more than before.
If you're looking for a top-notch trainer who genuinely cares about your success and the well-being of your horse, look no further than Ashley. We Highly recommended her and will continue to be a client of hers for all our future needs.
Amanda A.