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Wednesday, September 09 2020 / Published in Sidelines Feature

Caroline Hoffman: From the Dressage Ring to the Westminster Dog Show

By Tafra Donberger

Photos by Lori Ovanessian

Teaching has always come naturally to Caroline Hoffman, whose innate ability to share her talents in dressage started early — as early as her own developmental years learning how to ride in Sweden, where she was born and raised.

At Säby Riding Academy, 10-year-old Caroline participated in the program with younger riders, which allowed for her to have extra time in the saddle. Her natural love of teaching continued into college, when she came to the United States to attend Averett University as part of their equestrian team. She established Caroline Hoffman Dressage shortly after college and now, at Lionheart Ranch in Agoura Hills, California, she drives a successful program that incorporates the love of animals with fundamental basics and a special body awareness program to train students to be the best they can be.

Developing Her Program

Caroline’s journey started with an early love of horses. She was only 4 when she first climbed aboard a pony at Skansen, an open-air museum and zoo in Stockholm, Sweden. At 5, she was taking lessons at Säby, where the love for horses was developed alongside the responsibility of caring for and working with the horses.

Her first pony, Little C, was known for being difficult at the sale barn where she had been working, but Caroline felt a connection with him. When the pony came up for sale, she worked to purchase him. “He was quite difficult,” Caroline recalled. “I learned responsibility and a lot of feel for the horse. You had to be very tactful with him.” Her earliest coach, Karin Öhman, introduced Caroline to dressage with Little C, and as she approached college, she knew she wanted to continue in equine sports.

She found what she needed at Avarett — a combination of an equestrian and business program so she could double major. “In the program, you learned everything from nutrition to anatomy. To graduate, you had to ride a certain level in three-day eventing,” Caroline said. The school also allowed its students to participate in starting and training the young horses, and while there, she began teaching private lessons. 

“Teaching comes naturally to me,” Caroline said. “Sharing knowledge and educating my students and horses in dressage is what gives me purpose and makes me happy!”

Even as a well-established teacher, she never quit pursuing more knowledge for herself, training with Volker Brommann, Morten Thompson, Christine Traurig and Sabine Schut-Kery, who is a close friend and mentor.

“She’s so kind,” Sabine said. “She is incredible that way. She’s very positive and she looks at everything in a positive way. It’s her personality that makes her such a good teacher, combined with her knowledge.”

Dressage Goals

Besides her love of teaching, Caroline is a competitive person. Her first pet, a guinea pig, led her to owning rabbits and participating in competitive rabbit jumping (“It’s big in Sweden!” she said). That later led to showing both horses and dogs competitively, though the canines fell away after college as she pursued her dressage goals.

One of her most memorable early mounts was Markant, with whom she attained her USDF gold medal and showed at the Grand Prix level. “He’s like a white unicorn,” Caroline said with a laugh. “He wasn’t the easiest, but he was a horse that impacted my life.”

After Markant came Distinguido Trujillo, a PRE stallion owned by Marcelino del Real, whom Caroline calls her “heart horse.” “Distinguido has a charismatic, regal presence,” she explained. “You have to earn his trust and respect. Once you have that, he’ll do anything for you! He’s schooling at the Prix St. Georges level, and I believe he will be a very competitive FEI horse.” Also in her barn is Maximus ARM, another PRE stallion owned by Raul Armendariz. Once the show schedules return to normal, Caroline plans to begin competing with him.

Caroline recently revived her interest in showing dogs, returning successfully to the show ring with her Toy Fox Terrier GCH CH Ultra Quest Walk On Top, who took Best of Breed at Westminster in 2017. King Louie, as Caroline calls him, has earned many titles with Caroline at the leash. 

Though vastly different creatures, Caroline finds that showing dogs is similar to showing horses in that it rests in the ability to perform together, using your skills in communication to adjust to what happens in the ring. 

“To do that successfully, you have to have a great bond and working relationship,” she said. “Obviously showing horses is much more physical and tiring, and in many ways harder than showing dogs. The reward of doing well at a show is amazing, but the day-to-day riding and training brings so much happiness!”

Mind and Body

In addition to her skills in the saddle and in a dog’s show pen, Caroline is also a certified Gyrotonic® instructor. “Practicing the Gyrotonic® Method taught me how to connect with my body in a way where I can articulate each body part and move it without resistance,” she explained. “Learning to move this way has been invaluable in my riding.”

With a basis in the principles of yoga, dance, tai chi and swimming, the Gyrotonic® method increases freedom of movement and agility, and Caroline has experienced its benefits for herself and her students. “My clients that practice Gyrotonic® are often able to improve their riding faster, since they aren’t spending as much time fixing a problem they have with their seat or applying an aid,” she said. “Using the breath, the work teaches you how to connect your body, mind and spirit through very specific movements. The goal is to connect all parts of you, and in doing so, a very natural and deep form of focus occurs.”

Loving Iberian Breeds

Caroline has found a niche in taking the Iberian breeds like Andalusians, Lusitano and PRE to the higher levels in dressage, though she accepts all breeds into her program. But as many of the horses she’s been successful with — as in multiple Andalusian World Cup overall dressage championships — are Iberian breeds, you could say she has a fondness for them.

“I really feel a connection with them,” Caroline said. “They’re really special horses, really smart and sensitive. They learn fast, they’re mostly level-headed. They invite that connection with them, are athletic and comfortable to ride. And they’re gorgeous on top of it!”

While most dressage arenas are dominated with warmbloods, Caroline enjoys bringing the Iberian breeds into the open dressage arenas, with the goal to take her mounts into the CDI rings. 

“Horses are my number one passion,” Caroline said. “I’ve been lucky to have been able to develop that passion into my career!” 

For more information, visit www.carolinehoffmandressage.com/ and @carolinehoffmandressage

Photos by Lori Ovanessian, simpleefocused.com, @simplee.focused

Photo shoot at Patigoniaproperties
patigoniaproperties.com and Steve Vai’s Recording studio, the Harmony Hut.

Makeup by Victor Castillo, @makeittoglow and hair by Frank Diaz, @frankd322

Caroline Hoffman is sponsored by Dressage Extensions, dressageextensions.com and N2 saddlery, N2saddlery.com

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: Caroline Hoffman, dog show, dressage, westminster

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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