Crystal offers dressage lessons and training in Livermore, California and thoughout the East Bay.  Crystal is skilled in bringing along the beginner student as well as taking riders and horses with more experience successfully into the show ring or simply improving their partnership and equitation. 

Crystal’s background in ballet gives her a good understanding of how the body works and an eye for making corrections to the rider’s seat.  While showing is encouraged, it is not required.  Dressage is a way to improve equitation and communication with your horse for pleasure riding and makes a great compliment to riders who train in other disciplines. 

Crystal has trained horses from their first ride under saddle and taken them to show arena and moved them through the levels.  While it is always ideal to select a horse for dressage that has the breeding and conformation for the sport, Crystal has a great deal of experience working with non-traditional breeds, training them and showing them in dressage.  Crystal uses her eye for confirmation of the horse to create a comprehensive plan for creating an athletic horse that will perform to the best of his ability at home or in the show ring.  Most notably Crystal has worked with Friesians, Arabians, Quarter Horses, draft crosses and ponies, in particular the Welsh cob.   Crystal believes that dressage is for every horse and can be used to improve the horse as an athelete creating a sounder, stronger equine partner.

 Crystal has earned her USDF silver and bronze medal on self-trained horses and is working towards her gold medal.  She also has participated in the USDF/USEF Young Rider Graduate program.   Crystal has participated in the USDF instructor certification program.  Crystal’s education also includes a bachelor’s degree in History from Cal State East Bay.