Stone Creek Dressage Training
German National Certified Trainer and British Horse Society Certified Trainer!
Erin O'
O'steen began riding at nine years of age in a junior lesson program in her native Orange County, California. Her natural riding abilities and innate understanding of horses led her to competitions in Three-Day Eventing, Pony Hunters, and her true passion, Dressage. She qualified for the Arabian Horse Association’s national competition at second level and placed in the top five at regionals, competing against trainers and adult amateurs before her 15th birthday.
Erin began her professional riding and training career following her return from a year long program at the Talland School of Equitation in England. In addition to dressage and jumping training, she received formal education of equine anatomy, physiology, first aid, and barn management. She graduated at the top of her class and was awarded the designation of Certified Trainer by the British Horse Society. In her early years as an assistant trainer, she utilized her education from Talland to start young horses while competing through third level and training junior and adult riders. She often participated in clinics taught by United States Olympic Dressage Team members and studied natural horsemanship, which she effectively incorporates into her training methods to this day.
She continued her formal education at the International Academy for Equestrian Studies in Warendorf, Germany where she earned her National Trainer certification issued by the German Equestrian Federation that qualifies her to train and teach beginners to FEI (Federation Equestre Internationale governs international equestrian competitions from Prix St. Georges through Grand Prix levels). This program required classroom training as well as riding instruction in dressage and jumping (called dressage over fences in Germany) and starting young sport horses. During her education in Germany, she interned at Hengststation Pape, which is world renowned for starting international quality horses and breeding programs with famous stallions such as San Remo, Weltissimo, Davingon, Del Piero, Florianus, and Riverman among others. Erin received offers of employment to remain in Germany to work, but chose to return to California to share her expanded knowledge.
Erin has returned to Germany several times for additional training and continues to do so. While at her previous home training facility in San Juan Capistrano, California, she continued to clinic with German training masters Stephan Kiesewetter and Peter Borggreve, as well as U.S. “O” (Olympic level) judge Axel Steiner, and FEI competitor and trainer, David Wightman. During visits to Germany, she trained with Leo Glatz, former Reitmaster of the Landgestuet Marbach, a German government sponsored training and breeding facility. Glatz and his dressage trainer wife, Eva, now run a private facility near Albstadt, Germany.
Erin’s natural talents of working with horses and people are above reproach. Her integrity, sensitivity, patience, and concern for horses’ well being assure quality care and training. She has brought along many California Dressage Society (CDS) junior champions and is active in the Orange County Interscholastic Equestrian League (OCIEL) program with her students where she twice earned the honor of Trainer of the Year. As a dressage trainer at Tar Farms, she offers specialized training programs specifically suited to each horse and rider, with a focus on young riders, adult amateurs and starting young horses. Erin strives to enhance her riding and training abilities and to share the knowledge with her students, both human and equine.
Type: Dressage
Availability:
ID: 4420