Medfield, MA (August 2, 2013)
– “The farm was packed!” described Donna Cameron, owner of Cutler Farm Dressage about their Grand Opening weekend celebration, “People came from many different states to attend the party, and the response was overwhelmingly positive.”
The celebration, which took place during the evening of June 29th in Medfield, Massachusetts, was a momentous occasion for Cutler Farm, and served an important purpose for the New England dressage community and the Greater Boston area in many ways. Cameron couldn’t be happier with the success of the event, and is proud to have been able to give back to the equestrian community she appreciates so much.
“We decided to host the event for several reasons,” Cameron explains, “First of all, I was really excited to introduce Heather Blitz in person to the New England dressage community and to our local neighborhood, and I was also excited to celebrate the beginning of summer and the arrival of show season in New England. But in addition, I felt very strongly about using this opportunity to raise funds for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, especially living here in the Boston area, so we could give back in a small way to this wonderful and supportive community.”
From left to right, Heather Blitz, Cathy Drumm, Donna Cameron, Ruth Walker, Gwyneth Drumm, Miranda Drum, and Bliss Rufo at Cutler Farm Dressage’s Open House. (Photo courtesy of Carol Hill)
The Open House even welcomed a few celebrities, from resident head trainer and Olympic rider Heather Blitz to former NFL player Bill Overton and a number of other professional athletes. “It was really a pleasure to visit such a wonderful facility and hear Heather’s vision along with Donna Cameron’s for her career and Cutler Farm,” said Overton. “I am throwing my hat in the ring to help Cutler Farm in any way that I can within the sports and entertainment community.”
The Grand Opening weekend included a 2-day clinic and an evening extravaganza which provided dressage lovers of all levels the chance to meet and train with Pan American gold medalist and Olympic reserve, Heather Blitz. Blitz was recently named as Cutler Farm Dressage resident head trainer, and Cameron said the clinic was full on both days and also had many auditors in attendance. Several riders came from long distances to sample Blitz’s unique and extremely effective approach to teaching, and many have already come back for more, according to Cameron.
International dressage rider, trainer, and coach Kathy Connelly also attended the Open House as she is based in nearby Concord, Massachusetts for the summer. “I had a wonderful time at Donna Cameron’s beautiful Cutler Farm open house welcoming Heather Blitz to her top notch facility,” said Connelly. “It will be fun to have Heather and her husband in the area. I wish Heather much luck with her competition season.”
Cathy Drumm, an equestrian who was Cameron’s first riding instructor, attended the open house and was thrilled with the farm, enthusiasm of the guests, and what it means for dressage in New England. “I have watched the growth of Cutler Farm from the very beginning,” said Drumm. “Donna has turned Cutler Farm into a state of the art, Oympic level facility where she has now welcomed Heather Blitz to take up residence. It is thrilling to have someone of Heather’s caliber in the area. Not only is she a fantastic rider who transformed the participants’ horses into light-footed, enthusiastic, joy-filled dancing partners but she also explained what she was doing to the rest of us. The changes that she accomplished in just one session for both horses and riders were nothing short of miraculous. A big thank you to Donna and all at Cutler Farm for making this happen.”
One of the more unique things about Cutler is that the farm also houses a fully equipped and staffed pilates studio, and uses yoga, pilates, Feldenkreis Movement and Alexander Technique to help increase flexibility, core strength and over all fitness for the rider. Lisa Carusone, a member of the Cutler Farm team and certified pilates instructor, also attended the open house and believes that melding rider fitness with knowledge of equine biomechanics sets Cutler apart from other dressage facilities. “The open house was a great way to recognize Cutler Farm Dressage’s commitment to education, specifically through fitness and biomechanics,” said Carusone. “We all agree that we need to be stronger, but as riders, we need to know specifically how to create that strength. The Cutler approach, connecting riding to the biomechanical principles that make it happen, is the way to go.”
Heather Blitz commented, “For me, the experience of moving to Cutler Farm and to Massachusetts has exceeded all of my expectations. The facility is top notch and well run and Donna and her staff couldn’t have been any more accommodation or professional. (Assistant trainer) Katie Robicheaux and I look forward to a long and happy association with Cutler Farm and the dressage community in New England.” Indeed, Cameron echoes Blitz’s statements: “It is very exciting for us to have an Olympian in our midst and to be able to watch Heather ride and train Paragon and Ripline on a daily basis. Although she is such a highly celebrated rider, she is very accessible and truly enjoys teaching. I have watched many breakthroughs with riders under Heather’s tutelage and have experienced several of my own already. Having Heather at Cutler is the fulfillment of a long held dream to make Cutler Farm a top educational training facility and center for all lovers of the sport and art of dressage.” Cameron adds, “The ability to offer a trainer and rider of Heather’s caliber at an environmentally ‘green’ farm dedicated to the health and wellness of horse and rider means so much.”
Cutler Farm is dedicated to providing the very highest quality facility with top notch training and instruction, with an eye to including everyone in this educational space. Cutler Farm emphasizes the mind-body connection through yoga, pilates, Feldenkreis Movement and Alexander Technique, and has now expanded to include biomechanics for horse and rider under Heather Blitz’s instruction. During the New England show season, Cutler will host clinics with both Heather Blitz as well as other high caliber riders and trainers, and welcomes riders for both full training and boarding as well as trailer in lessons and clinics.
For more information about Cutler Farm Dressage or Heather Blitz, please contact Donna Cameron at 508-359-2191 or info@cutlerfarmdressage.com
