Dressage Training and Sales in Poolesville, Maryland
About Jaralyn
Jaralyn has been teaching and training since 1993. Jaralyn has earned her USDF Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and is a USDF "L" judging graduate with distinction. Jaralyn takes a systematic, patient approach to developing horses and riders, based on the classical training scale of dressage. Her clients include adults and juniors riding at Training level to FEI. She is a trainer at Wyndham Oaks in Boyds, MD and also runs her own small, private training facility with her husband, Kevin, Shepherds Run Farm, in Poolesville, MD.
An avid competitor, Jaralyn has qualified horses for Regional Championships throughout the levels in USDF Region 1 and USDF Region 8. Jaralyn is also proud to have helped several riders earn their USDF Bronze and Silver medals.
Of recent note, in 2010, Jaralyn and Alexandra Dane's Darius were USDF Region 1 Champions for the Intermediare Freestyle and were ranked 5th overall in the country with a median score of 73%. They were also USDF Region 1 Reserve Champions in the Intermediare II, and were the 2010 BLM Intermediare 1 Champions. To learn more about Jaralyn's success showing, visit her Competition Horses page.
Early Riding Background As a junior, Jaralyn learned the basics and did novice level eventing with Lainey Johnson in Wayland, Massachusetts. In college, Jaralyn was a member of the Skidmore Equestrian Team, working with coach Cindy Ford for four years, competing in equitation. Also at Skidmore, Jaralyn was able to further her education with Sara Hufsteader, Jeff Garen and Virginia Scholomiti. Throughout the summers, Jaralyn was a riding instructor for several programs, including Crystal Lake Camps, Mainstone Stables, and the Skidmore Community Riding Program.
In 1993 -1994 Jaralyn took a year off from school to further her dressage knowledge as a working student for Arlene Page. This was Jaralyn's introduction to the upper levels of dressage and included the opportunity to ride FEI schoolmasters and advanced horses.
Professional Experience Upon graduating from Skidmore College, Jaralyn took a position with Lainey Johnson as an assistant instructor and barn manager, running a busy lesson program and competing in eventing. She gained experience training with Lainey, Arlene Page, Paul Valliere and Beth Jenkins. In 1996 Jaralyn went to work full time with Arlene Page as an assistant, traveling to Florida with Stillpoint Farm for the winter season 1996-1997.
From 1997-2000 Jaralyn rode and trained part-time while pursuing a "normal" career as a lobbyist in New York State for three years, working on social policy issues like health care, drug regulations and domestic violence. While in New York she trained several dressage and event horses for their owners.
Then followed six years at SmartPak Equine where she served first as Marketing Manager and was the fourth employee of the new start-up company. Her last three years at SmartPak she was the Vice President of New Business Development responsible for customer management, athlete sponsorship, direct marketing and advertising.
Upon joining SmartPak and moving back to Boston, Jaralyn reconnected with Lainey Johnson and continued training and competing part-time in dressage and eventing, eventually shifting her focus exclusively to dressage. While at SmartPak, Jaralyn began training with Bill Warren, with whom she still trains when possible.
Life in Maryland Married in 2005, Jaralyn resigned from SmartPak in August 2006 and returned to the horses full-time. She now lives in Poolesville, Maryland with her husband Kevin, their Australian Shepherd "Cayman". She and Kevin own Shepherds Run Farm, a small private training facility with 14 acres, eight stalls and indoor arena that they built in 2007-2008.
Jaralyn started her Maryland-based dressage training business, Finesse Dressage, in the winter of 2007, freelancing and traveling to clients in the Maryland/Virginia area. In the fall of 2007, Lori Larson, the owner of Wyndham Oaks, invited Jaralyn to become one of the official trainers at the farm, and since then Jaralyn has called Wyndham Oaks her home base. She keeps her own and a few sale and training horses at Shepherd's Run Farm, but the majority of her clients board at Wyndham Oaks.
Continuing Training Jaralyn strongly believes that success in dressage is dependent on continuing education. Since 2006 Jaralyn has been priviledged to work with top German trainer Conrad Schumacher, hosting clinics three times/year at Shepherds Run Farm and Wyndham Oaks. In addition, Jaralyn began training with USEF Young Dressage Horse Coach Scott Hassler both at home and at shows in late 2009, and works with him at every available opportunity. Jaralyn also trains with "S" judge and FEI competitor William Warren, who travels to Shepherds Run and Wyndham Oaks for clinics whenever possible.
Judge Training Jaralyn participated in the USDF "L" program in 2007-2008, graduating with distinction and hopes to pursue her USEF 'r' judges license in the near future.