28 SIDELINES FEBRUARY 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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My Story
Windy, Wild, Wonderful Weekend With Jane!
By Nicole Watts
Last April, Jane Savoie began accepting applications and videos
for her Art Of Teaching Program; which would certify dressage
instructors to teach using the same techniques that have been so
successful for the three-time Olympic coach. I was elated when I
found out I had been accepted to the program! There were only 17
participating instructors and I was the only one from the Southeast
Region.
Between the tuition, airfare, rental car, hotel and meals, it was
going to cost around $5,000 to go. Since I don’t have that kind of
money just lying around, I set off on a journey to raise the funds.
The wonderful students at my farm helped me with bake sales,
used tack sales and hosting clinics. Family, friends and even
strangers gave donations. My husband and I stretched our credit
cards to cover the rest and I was on my way!
The program was held at the USET Headquarters in Gladstone,
New Jersey, which is a beautiful facility with lots of history. It was
so exciting to sit at C in an arena where so many champion riders
have trained!
The program was intense and amazing. Over the course of four
days, Jane pretty much covered everything from basic walk/trot to
Prix St Georges. We learned new exercises and school fgures
we could implement into our own teaching and training routines.
We practiced identifying and trouble-shooting problems that may
arise with the horse or the rider. We had a wonderful group of
riders and horses that were willing to demonstrate for us. Jane
kept the curriculum interactive and fun, giving us a chance to
really absorb the information.
Unfortunately, there was another element of my trip that added
to the great adventure. On the third day of the program, New
Jersey and surrounding states were battered by Hurricane Sandy.
The hotel lost power, along with many of the surrounding areas.
On the way to the fnal day of the program, myself and the other
instructors had to pull over several times to remove fallen trees
from the road, just to make our way to the headquarters. Despite
the fact that I couldn’t shower that morning and had gotten
dressed in the dark, even a hurricane wasn’t going to keep me
from soaking up every ounce of the education that Jane had to
offer!
Since I have been home, I have been able to implement so
much of what I learned into my lesson program. My students are
seeing a difference, making faster progress and loving every
minute of it. I will always be thankful to Jane Savoie for the gift of
education she has given me.
About the writer: Nicole Watts is a NHEEC Certifed Riding Instructor and
Jane Savoie Certifed Dressage Instructor. She owns Brown Bear Farm in
Flat Rock, North Carolina, where she stands two stallions, a Warmblood
and a Sport Pony, and offers lessons in dressage and eventing. Visit her
website at www.brownbearfarm.biz
Nicole Watts (right) with Jane Savoie at the Art Of Teaching
Program. Jane is well known in the world of competitive
dressage. She is a three-time Olympic coach, a three-time
Olympic qualifer and a USDF Gold Medalist.
Photos courtesy of Nicole Watts
Nicole and the other instructors had to move fallen trees from
Hurricane Sandy in order to make it to the USET Headquarters
in Gladstone, New Jersey, where the program was held.
“My Story” is a frst person account of life in the equestrian world. Would you like to write your story for
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During the program Jane Savoie helps demo rider Janice Turner
and her horse Stilton, an American Warmblood gelding.