Dawn Jensen
Education
Graduate Balimo Instructor
Director of Cirriculum, EES/Balimo
Trainer B Liscence (German Riding Instructor /Trainer certification, dressage and jumping)
September 1997 with refreshers in 1999, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2009
Hannoveranner Reit- und FahrSchule, Verden Germany
B.Sce., Equine Studies, May 1996
St. Mary's-of-the-Woods College
Terre Haute, Indiana
Medals
USDF Silver and Bronze Medals
Silbernes Reitabzeichen (Silver Riding Medal, Germany, Dressage and Jumping)
Grosses Bronzenes Reitabzeichen (Large Bronze Riding Medal, Germany, Dressage and Jumping)
Kleines Bronzenes Reitabzeichen (Small Bronze Riding Medal, Germany, Dressage and Jumping)
Experience
June 02 - Present Columbia, South Carolina
After returning to the United States, I have been working as a free-lance instructor and trainer, presently based out of Emerald Spring Equestrian Center in Chapin, South Carolina. I have a wide variety of horses and students, helping them to success in their respective disciplines. In a short time, I’ve been able to qualify several horses for regional and national championships and compete with success in dressage, hunters, jumpers, and eventing. I also give clinics throughout the local area for dressage, jumping, and in-hand work. I regularly continue my own education by clinicing with Hannes Mueller (head of the German Riding School in Warendorf), Eckhart Meyners (PhD Kinesiologist, developer of Balimo), JJ Tate, Gerd Zuther, Walter Zettl and Linda Zang, as well as traveling to Germany to ride with Hannes Mueller and keep my certifications current. I am a Graduate Instructor and Director of the Cirriculum for the Balimo program.
Sept 01 - May 02 Rehagen Reitstall, Hamburg Germany
Rehagen is a riding club that caters to show jumpers and competitive dressage riders. I assisted the Horsemaster, Antje Busch-Petersen, with the training and exercising of the horses she has in her care and continued my development as a rider under her careful eye. I also gave private lessons at various barns, had horses in training, and marketed horses for sale in the states. I also helped clients find horses at the Hanoverian auction and in the Northern Germany area.
Sept 99 - Sept 01 Reiterverein am Bredenbecker Teich, Hoisbuettel Germany
The RVBT is a riding club that provides instructors and school horses as well as boarding facilities for its members. There I taught group and private lessons, trained/corrected school horses, participated in small shows and taught theory and safe horsemanship. I also had the opportunity to take a few horses into training and bring them along through 3rd level. During this time I was able to ride with Herr Koblitz, a trainer who also works with some of the German Three Day Event team members, and absorb as much knowledge from him as possible. I tested for and won my Silver Riding Medal during this time at the Hannoveranner Reit- und Fahrschule, helped the lower level riders prepare for their exam as well, and refreshed my Instructor Certification. I also rode the young mares there in training for their performance exam and took lessons with the resident Horsemaster Herr Weist.
Oct 97 - Mar 99 Iron Spring Farm, Coatesville, Pennsylvania
Iron Spring Farm is a large scale sport horse breeding farm that specializes in Dutch Warmbloods. Besides the breeding and foaling, ISF also trains its young stock for sale, shows, Kuerings and breed competitions. Working as a trainer there, I was responsible for the starting of the young horses, presentation for sales, training and showing competition horses (both in Dressage and Jumping), and representing the farm at local competitions. I was also responsible for the training, both in hand and under saddle, of the young stallions and mares for their Kuerings and competition at such breed shows as Dressage at Devon. Emphasis during the training process was ridability as well as turning out competitive show horses. Non-riding responsibilities included assisting with the handling of customers and sales arrangements as well as helping with the organization and design of the Kuerings. I also gave lessons to a variety of students in both jumping and dressage on my own time.
Jan 97 - Jun 97 Verband hannoveranischer Warmbluetzuechter, e.V., Verden Germany
The Verband is the controlling body of the Hannoverian breed. Its responsibilities include keeping track of the bloodlines, licensing stallions, rating broodmares, and holding breed auctions. During my time there, I not only rode many of the young horses being presented for auction, I was also able to participate in the auction selection trials, stallion licensing, jumping and dressage prospect selections, and gained valuable insight into the German horse industry. I tested for and received both Bronze Riding Medals and my Instructor Certification, all with highest scores. During the testing process, of variable length between 2 and 4 weeks, I also assisted the instructors with the less advanced students. My free time was spent helping at the Hannoveranner Reit- und Fahrschule (where I made my exams). There I rode privately owned horses, helped train the three year old mares for their testing, and received further instruction from the resident Horsemaster, Herr Weist.
Jul 95 - Jan 97 Flying Dutchman Farm, Barrington Hills, Illinois
Flying Dutchman Farm specializes in the importing, training, and selling of young warmbloods from Europe. The operation is managed by a German Horsemaster, and although the main emphasis is dressage, jumping is part of the program as well. As his assistant, I was responsible for the full care of the horses, especially during his buying trips to Europe. I trained the young horses under his supervision and assisted with the ground work that the older horses received. I learned the practical applications of the classical training method, as well as how to put together professional sales videos and selling techniques. In my free time, I did some eventing in the local area and served as a volunteer instructor for the local Pony Club.
May 95 - Jul 95 The National Specialized Equestrian Training Centre, Bray, Ireland
The SETC provides training for young people who have been considered for various reasons by the Irish government to be unemployable. This three to four year program teaches the students basic horse husbandry skills, daily management, safety, and equipment use/care. The more advanced students also learn training and teaching principles. Though there only a short time, I was able to assist the instructors, train some of the new school horses, and ride cross-country to my heart’s content.
Jan 95 - May 95 Fryslan Farm, McHenry, Illinois
Fryslan Farm is a private breeding barn that specializes in Friesian horses. There I was able to do my Internship for college, acting as a foaling attendant, starting the young horses under saddle, and general barn management. I learned the basics of driving and competed in local dressage competitions. I was also able to help teach (and learn) Vaulting with the local Pony Club.