“Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away”.
Shaana Risley, is a dressage trainer who bases her WATCHMAN PRE Performance Horses and TROPICAL REITPONIES from her farm just outside of Wellington in Loxahatchee, Florida. She specializes in “Pura Raza Española” (Andalusian) horses suitable for dressage, and in the last two years, along with a partner, has added German Riding Ponies to develop!
Shaana was a Founding Member of the United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Freestyle Committee, as well as having been on the Board of Directors of Friesian Breed Registry as their “Performance Director”.
She is also an award winning photographer, as well as having had the privilege to have worked with Steve Klein of Vogue Magazine, and high fashion photographer Mani Zarrin.
Shaana has competed at FEI levels, and has produced many critically acclaimed pas de deux and National Quadrille Exhibitions (such as her Quadrille endeavors with her Frieze Frame Friesians, that have been seen at The National Horse Show 2002, 2003, and 2004, The National Freestyle Championships 2003 in Miami, Dressage @ Devon Sept. 2003, The Virginia Equine Extravaganza 2004, The Florida Celebration of the Horse, 2004, the Michigan State International Stallion Showcase, 2005, and at numerous Equine Affair Expos. She continues to train her own personal horses and coach riders of all levels both locally as well as in her out of state clinics. Her teaching style and writing style is filled with positivity and humor!
Her early equestrian coaching came from her mother, a very classical dressage rider and trainer (with a Spanish Riding School emphasis), who was also a horse whisperer before the phrase was even coined! Her mother taught her about herd instincts, and much about alternative modalities and homeopathic remedies. This was a great education for when she became part owner of Windspirit Wholistic Healing Center in Wellington, Fl with her dear (now deceased) friend Lee Windham who had her degrees in Biology & Homeopathy.
Shaana rode in many clinics with renowned clinicians, as well as trained with some top riders and trainers. Some of those notables in which she was able to learn different techniques from Dressage to Working Equitation, were Linda Oliver, Catherine Morelli, Sabine Schut-Kery, Patrick Burssens, Cesar Torrente, Jorge de Sousa, Felicitas von Neuman-Cosel, and Carol Grant-Oldford.
Shaana trains with an educated eye, full of compassion for horse and rider, utilizing her horse whisperer nature, and a great sense of humor. She has an extensive background in long-lining and also with in-hand work.
The goal for Shaana has been to teach all riders in all disciplines how to once again enjoy riding, and to enjoy their horses by utilizing many teachings of Walter Zettl. She also loves to incorporate music in her lessons. She teaches riders how they too can create beautiful music together with their equine dance partner just by staying calm, straight, and forward. Shaana works with all breeds, not just PRE horse owners! She truly believes it is “About the love of a horse”, and not the politics of the day. She states that each horse and rider has their own unique character and abilities, and through patience, kindness, a sense of humor, and having a wonderful system of training, that has a solid foundation and follows a distinct training pyramid, then “two”, can become “one”.
Shaana believes that it is very important to be a well rounded versatile rider/trainer, and has trained many halter horse winners, prepped horses for their keuring/inspections, as well as taught stallion handling. Before specializing in dressage at 18, she had won the state of Pennsylvania’s Stock Seat Equitation medal, and has trained many reining and cutting horses in the earlier years. She also enjoys doing some trick training for her own personal fun with her horses, and her clients horses. She has traveled throughout the country teaching clinics from Florida to Alaska!