Risa and “Titan” who came to Wilson as a Fourth Level Dressage horse. “Titan” has a lot of movement being 17.1 hands and must be ridden correctly from behind as Risa is doing. He has a very soft mouth and Risa is very careful to preserve that soft connection.
This photo shows the soft connection that Risa has with Titan’s mouth while asking him to move well from behind.
This is “Sierra,” who came to Wilson in 2010. Risa has her working correctly from behind into a soft hand. She is a Percheron cross mare that is good on the flat and over fences. The photos show correct engagement of the hindquarters and development of the topline. The horse is not behind the bit as is so commonly seen today in many cases.
Sierra and Risa over warm-up fences. Horses that come into our program develop their toplines and confidence with quiet riding that our students and staff provide on the flat and over fences.
Above is “Matt” and Megan Dennis. Matt came to Wilson in 2000. He is used in Intermediate classes and will do good First Level work. While not a big horse, he is a steady campaigner and the students compete on getting to ride him. Megan also rides “Matt” correctly from behind into a light contact. “Matt” is using his hindquarter well in a round canter. Matt is also a good jumper.
Above is Megan Dennis on “Kaptain” an 18 year old Holsteiner Warmblood. Kaptain is used in our upper intermediate and advanced classes. He is excellent in dressage with lengthenings and lateral work. In show jumping, he easily clears 3’9”. Kaptain came to Wilson in 2006.
Above is Megan Dennis, a 2011 Wilson graduate. Megan is an H-A Pony Clubber and is working on her “A” rating. She majored in Chemistry and was a recipient of the Glencairn Bolwby Equestrian Award for 2011. She has been helping to school our school horses over the summer to keep them fit and sharp for the next fall. Megan is jumping “Fortune” a Dutch Warmblood that was donated to Wilson College in 2005.
Megan is a very strong rider in Dressage, Cross Country and Show Jumping. She is a consummate horsewoman. Fortune is good in dressage and show jumping. He is very bold cross country. Megan rides very correctly with classical equitation and great feel for on a wide variety of horses. Like Risa, Megan is strong in dressage and over fences and gives Fortune freedom over his fences.
Risa Saar Hurst riding Eleanor during warm-up. Eleanor is a Percheron Cross Mare School horse this is used for upper intermediate and advanced classes. Risa is a 2010 Wilson graduate, is a staff member and adjunct instructor at Wilson. Risa always rides her horses forward from behind into a very light soft hand. She has jumped her own horse “April” over 4’3” this past summer 2011. Risa never forces her horses into a frame and correctly works them from behind and getting them to engage and use their backs. This is just a warm-up photo.
Risa has a very deep ankle and follows all her horses well over any fence. She is folded correctly and is looking ahead to her next fence. Eleanor has room to stretch and use her neck over the fence. Eleanor came to Wilson in the spring of 2008. Risa was the recipient of the Glencairn Bowlby Equestrian Award in 2010 and has gone on to be an excellent adjunct instructor.
Recipient of the Glencairn Bowlby Equestrienne Award at Wilson College.