Mike and Kathy Rowse try to offer a very special and individualized boarding and training farm for dressage.
Mike does all the horse care and day to day farm management. A retired USMC Lt. Col., he organizes the barn's activities like he is STILL in the Marine Corps! The horses have the best of care 24 hours a day. We have a small barn of 7 stalls and only accept horses on a training board basis. We offer a lighted all weather arena with mirrors, 12x12 matted stalls with individual paddocks attached, individualized feeding regiments & a hot & cold wash rack with heat lamp. In Jan 2006 we opened our new covered riding arena!
Kathy has been riding and training dressage horses for well over 25 years. She credits the majority of her dressage training to Sharon Schneidman, now of High Prairie Equestrian Center in Parker, Colorado and for the past 14 years to Jim Koford of Raleigh, NC. She has recently been training with Patti Pierucci as well who has added a whole new element to Kathy's riding and training.
She firmly believes that a consistant program is the best way to develop a rider and ensure a systemic & successful progression up the levels. The program at Silverleaf Farm is built on the foundation of correct basics for both horse and rider. We emphasize that the horse must come through his back at all times in order to be correct. The results speak for themselves with happy horses who are working correctly, moving up the levels and scoring well in the show ring. Whether your goals are to show at the FEI levels or just improve your skill in order to enjoy your horse more, we are here to help you meet your goals!
Danielle Rowland, a long time student of Kathy's, is also now available for coaching, teaching and training at Silverleaf Farm. Although only 24 years old, Danielle has already trained 3 horses to PSG, is a USDF Bronze and Silver and Gold Medalist and was a member of the 2005 USDF Region 1 Advanced Young Rider Team. Danielle has been very succesfull riding and showing young horses from Terra Ceia Farm and The Sanctuary.
Over the last 20 years, Kathy has pursued her judging credentials and in 1999 she received her USEF "S" license. Her success in the judge training and testing programs helped develop Kathy as a complete dressage professional. She is proud to be a judge at the highest national level and feels that she helps to influence the sport for the future by rewarding correct training and discouraging the incorrect from the judge's booth.
