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Jill Fairchild |
Early Years Jill's formal riding experience began as a child at Clearbrook Riding Academy and Gold Creek Stables in Washington State. She concentrated in Hunter-Jumper under the tutelage of Jim McCleave, a world-record holding Irish Riding Mater. Every summer, the formalities of Hunter-Jumper were balanced with the ‘western ways’ of the South Dakota prairie on the family farm. There, she enjoyed a varied and rugged horse experience. Breaking and training wild horses, as well as herding sheep and cattle were all part of a day’s work. As her life segued into a professional life in Marine Biology with the Cousteau Society, she always maintained one foot in the riding world. In 1981 she returned to horses, as a full time professional with the foundation of Spring Meadow Ranch.
Professional Experience
- Independent Trainer, 1981-present.
Serving students nationwide I specialize in correcting rider position & balance and the effective, subtle usage of traditional aids. I emphasize clear, consistent cues and a vocabulary, both physical and mental, which reveal a personal and vivid horse-rider interaction. Interaction occurs continuously, both on and off the saddle, as you position and balance yourself in reference to the horse. Many of my students have gone on to be very successful teachers, trainers, and nationally competitive riders. My student, Megan Roberston, participated in the North American Young Rider Team Dressage Championships in 2005, Lexington, KY. Also, retrained ‘soured’ horses in mind, body and spirit. The results allow the horses to become trusting partners and a pleasure to ride.
- Hawaii Sate Dressage Society, Co-founder, 1997.
Scheduled and promoted regular clinics with classical dressage trainers such as Lilo Fore, Sonja Vracko, and Max Gawyler.
- Pacific Sport Horses/Mauka Lani Stables, Head Trainer and Instructor. Hawaii, 1995-1997.
Instructed both horse and rider for pleasure and/or competition. Started and trained young horses.
- Dr. Benson’s Young Rider Championship, Coach. Portland, OR, 1994.
First Place Team.
- US Pony Club, Instructor, Bitterroot Valley, MT, 1993-1994.
- United States Dressage Federation (USDF), Adult Education Coordinator, region 6. 1993-1994.
- Montana State Dressage Society, Adult Camp Instructor. Montana, 1993-1994.
- Montana State Dressage Society, Co-founder. Montana, 1991.
Managed, promoted and scheduled USDF rated shows. Offered clinics with renowned instructors including Axel Steiner, Sonja Vracko, and Linda Tellington-Jones.
- Crystal Brook Ranch, Head Trainer. Montana, 1981-1989.
Instructed both horse and rider for pleasure and/or competition. Started and trained young horses. Competed professionally, consistently placing with many different horses from Training level to Prix St. Georges. Scores ranging in the 60s and 70s.
- Spring Meadow Ranch, Founder, 1981-1989.
Founded horse ranch in Northwest Montana. Breed performance horses and trained both horse and rider at a variety of horsemanship levels. Started 40 horses in disciplines including pleasure, reining, cutting, carriage, Hunter-Jumper and Dressage.
Competition Highlights
- Hawaii State Dressage Society (HSDS), “Aloha Award”, 2000.
- HSDS, Year End Horse Awards & Year End Rider Awards, 1996-1999.
- United States Dressage Federation (USDF), Horse of the Year Award- First Level, 1991.
- USDF, Horse of the Year Award- Fourth Level, 1991.
- USDF, Regional Championships- Fourth Level, Prix St. Georges, 1994.
Educational Experience
- Graduate training course in Bowen Body Therapy taught by Jock Ruddock. The therapy is a mode of equine physical rehabilitation. 2000-2001.
- USDF Instructor’s Workshop with Bill Woods. 1994.
- Trained in ‘T-Touch’ by Linda Tellington-Jones. T-Touch emphasizes a touching methodology which reawakens a horse’s awareness of its own body which may have become dulled through indiscriminate training or underutilization. 1993.
- Studied with breeders and trainers in Austria and Germany. Participated in breeding evaluations and starting young horses. Special care was taken in recognizing the potential of the individual horse and its subsequent specialization. 1984-1985.
- Attended several western clinics taught by Ray Hunt and Pat Parelli in general horse communication and training. 1982-1983.
- Clearbrook Riding Academy, Seattle, Washington. Early Years.
- Gold Creek Stables, Woodinville, Washington. Early Years.
