Born in Germany Dilara grew up riding many different horses ranging from ponies, quarter horses, and everything in between to World Cup jumpers. She has earned her small and large bronze medal from the German Riding Federation (FN) and competed in jumper and equitation classes up to 1.20 meters.
“In 2008, Dilara moved to the United States to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Business Administration followed by a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.
In 2011, Dilara’s focus switched to dressage and since then she has trained and competed through Prix St. George earning her the USDF Bronze and Silver medalis.
At the moment her primary focus is the training of the ten year old KWPN x saddlebred cross DeClaire. The temperamental mare was bred by Susan Vine and Joan Blood and is now co-owned together with Dilara.
Lessons with Dilara are available at several locations in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. www.dg-equestrian.com
Cape Equestrian sponsored rider Erin Risso is the resident trainer at Valinor Farm in Plymouth Mass, and a USEA ICP Level II certified instructor. Erin specializes in starting youngsters and restarting off the track Thoroughbreds and has successfully competed a number that she has trained through the USEF National Intermediate and Preliminary Levels, as well as the FEI CIC/CCI*, and CIC/CCI** levels. She teaches and coaches both young riders and adults just starting out through Intermediate and FEI competitors. Erin uses a positive approach and a systematic training program to educate both horse and rider to ensure that riders of all abilities can achieve success.
Erin has worked and trained extensively with her mentors Eric Horgan, Jerry Schurink, and Don Sachey. She has also lessoned and trained with Eventing greats Jan Byyny, Erin Sylvester, Alison Springer, and Bobby Costello.
Erin can be seen actively competing her own and client horses, as well as coaching her Team Valinor riders at many Events across Areas I, II, and III.
For any questions regarding training, coaching, sales, or sponsorship opportunties please contact Erin directly.
erin@valinorfarm.com
617.852.7782
The grass is green, the trees are full of leaves and the blankets are finally off the horses. The 2017 show season is finally here and we are just as excited as the riders.
There are many interesting topics this post could be about such as our upcoming fashion show or that we will be at this years equine affair but, the most important event of 2017 is the sponsorship of our newest rider Rita Brown.
For the few of you who don't know, Rita is a well respected rider and trainer based in Scituate MA and Wellington FL. Her list of accomplishments is amazing and continuing to grow. We are extremely honored having Rita join the Cape Equestrian team and excited for what the future brings.
Here is her bio.
Rita Brown holds her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has been self employed for 26 years as a horse trainer on the South Shore of Massachusetts. The first 10 years of her career were on Cape Cod where she ran the Race Lane Farm in Barnstable, Mass. and then Red Horse Farm in Sandwich, Mass. It was at Race Lane that Rita met her husband Peter and soon discovered that both of their careers were leading them off Cape Cod. For The past 16 years Rita has been running her business out of the Costello's beautiful Longmeadow Farm in Scituate, Mass. where she sublets the facility and offers board and training for competitive dressage horses and riders. There is also a riding school for youngsters to learn correct basics with qualified licensed instructors.
Currently Rita is working with Catherine Haddad Staller and Henk Van Bergen both known as world class riders and trainers. Every year Rita participates in the USEF/USDF Trainers' Conference/Judge's Forum as part of her continuing education.
She attributes her classical education to working with top professional international competitors and trainers from New England like Tom Noone, Christopher Hickey and Pamela Goodrich. She has also had the great opportunity to work in a series of clinics with Volker Moritz, Morten Thomsen, Ulla Salzgeber, and Steffen Peters, among many others.
www.ritabrowndressage.com
As we close out another successful show season, It's now time to think about 2016. 6 months flies by when you have new tests to learn and teach the horses the new required movements for the next level. Fortunately I have had the chance to train consistently with USDF Gold Medalist Rita Brown, Head Trainer at Longmeadow Farm,
www.LongmeadowDressage.com and participate in clinics with Pam Goodrich,
www.fostermeadow.com The emphasis in Goliath's training will be learning the flying changes and half passes which are required for 3rd level. Hannah will be schooling the second level movements.
My clinic and training sessions are open to spectators, contact me via email
nsbequestrian@yahoo.com or find me on Facebook NSB Equestrian if you are interested in coming to watch.
Along with my show horses I still have many other horses in training and students that require my concentration. Although we have been blessed with a beautiful fall we all know winter is right around the corner so we are trying to spend as much time in the saddle as possible before the first snow flakes hit the ground!
Until next time,
Cheers
The show we've been waiting for all season.....the CRAA -IFSHA Region 1 Championships. The horses arrived late morning, Thursday August 27th, and are settled into their new surroundings. I arrive later in the day after riding 3 other horses in training at home. Goliath and I had a rocky start to our schooling session but after 45 minutes of determination and persuasion I finally receive relaxation! Hannah was her cool calm collective self!
Friday August 28th....show day #1, both horses warm up perfectly giving me the confidence needed for the show ring. Hannah went first and was consistent and obedient in first level test 1. We are starting to get to know each other and I'm learning how much I can ask as this is only my second time competing her. Goliath put in two solid rides in second level test 1 and 3....he's a big chicken under saddle and relies on me being his confident leader! The day finished with three wins! Unfortunately the judge was tough and the scores were considerably low across the board.
Saturday August 29th....second and final day of showing. A new day and a different judge, we had nothing to loose! Hannah was competed by her owner and won training level test 2 with a rewarding 67.5%.
Goliath warmed up great, supple and focused but feeling a little fatigued. He put in his most respectable ride of the season in second level test 1, then we both rallied in second level test 3 to put in a decent test considering how hot and tired we both were. We had a win with a 66.9% in 2nd 3 and a win in 2nd 1 with a 70.1% which gave us our highest score to date in second level and rewarded us with high score of the show. We had many highlights and I beat my personal best with an 8.5 out of 10 for my position.
All in all a great weekend, great horses, great owners and supporters.
No time for slacking....next show for these horses is Sunday September 6th!
Hello everyone and welcome to Cape Equestrian. Before I start, I would like to say that Reene and I feel extremely blessed to finally launch our clothing line “Cape Equestrian” . With Natalie Bennett’s acceptance of our sponsorship our hope is that we can develop a community of equestrian lovers young and old who accept nothing less than the best quality and most comfortable clothing.
Now here is Natalie.
Born and raised in the rural village of Galleywood, in the county of Essex, England. 30 miles east of London.
I didn't come from a "horsey" family, but grew a love for horses when I took my first riding lesson at the age of 10. From that point on I owned my first horse at the age of 12 and took up a passion for show jumping. I competed 3 times a week from that time onward until late in my teens! By the age of 15 I sold my first horse and imported my future star from Ireland.
At age 16 I became an International groom for two show jumpers on the British Young Rider Team. I got to travel all over England and Europe, such an amazing experience at such a young age. By age 18 I obtained my BHSAI, British Horse Society Assistant Instructor certification. Without this you are not taken seriously nor hireable as an instructor in England.
Having moved to the USA at age 20 I wanted to improve my skills. I became an instructor at a dressage barn in Connecticut and continued to pursue my education with the British Horse Society. That year I returned to England and obtained my BHSII, British Horse Society Intermediate Instructor certification, something very desirable and not so easy to achieve!
Having been introduced to my now husband of 15 years, I moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts in 1998. I carried on doing what I loved and managed and taught out of a number of barns. In that time I purchased a young horse to resell (Just so happened to be grand daughter to legendary Seattle Slew!). I showed her in the hunter ring and then later sold her to a teenage student of mine.
2007 was a pivotal year for me. I had acquired an apprenticeship with a USDF (United States Dressage Federation) gold medalist. I was given the opportunity to show amazing German imported warmbloods along with local clients horses to train and show too!
I am very competitive by nature so to have a variety of horses, all different breeds, different ages and different levels to show was a dream come true. In 2010 I achieved my USDF Bronze medal. I was starting to make a name for myself and for the horses I was riding. From that year on I achieved many NEDA (New England Dressage Association) year end awards and the highlight of 2014 was receiving FHANA (Friesian Horse Association of North America) Reserve Champion in the Country at First level on a very difficult horse that I have now had in training for 3 years. We are currently holding strong for champion at Second Level 2015!
2015 is a very exciting year, with 3 horses to compete and being chosen to be the sponsored rider for Cape Equestrian, I'm ready for the next chapter.
A quote from my most admired equestrian, Olympic team gold medalist, Carl Hester....
"Some people want it, some wish it would happen, go and make it happen"
Born in Germany Dilara grew up riding many different horses ranging from ponies, quarter horses, and everything in between to World Cup jumpers. She has earned her small and large bronze medal from the German Riding Federation (FN) and competed in jumper and equitation classes up to 1.20 meters. 
