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California Riding Magazine • August, 2009 The Kids Are Alright |
David and Alisa Wilson’s W Farms is well known as a hub for high-end dressage horses and highly competitive professional and amateur dressage riders. It’s likely that will be the case for many years to come as the Chino Hills training endeavor recently added a youth program and it is already flourishing. Begun last fall, W Farms’ youth program currently includes seven riders, ages 8 to 17, several of whom have or will likely attain their first big goal: riding in the CDS Southern California Junior Championships, which will be held during the Cool August Nights show in Burbank, Aug. 21-23.
Sarah Lockman and Makenna Spencer with Prince Albert. “I’ve always felt the children are the future of our sport,” says veteran trainer and competitor David Wilson. “Europe has a very strong young rider base in dressage, and lately I’ve been a little worried that our junior base in the U.S. was dwindling. We’ve made our program very inviting and we plan to grow it as much as we can in the future.” W Farms’ stable manager and assistant trainer Sarah Lockman was perfectly suited to take over the reins of the youth program. Before joining the Wilsons’ team five years ago, Lockman had built up a riding and coaching resume that included successful outreach to young riders at every possible opportunity. “Wherever I worked, I always took kids under my wing,” explains the “B” U.S. Pony Club graduate and former eventer and Pony Club instructor.
Michelle Waggner and Jazzmine. Young students typically receive 45 minutes of private instruction every day, then spend several more hours at the barn. The high level of training is the most obvious asset in W Farms’ young riders program, but its appeal goes beyond what happens in the ring. Family atmosphere and team spirit create an environment in which learning to ride correctly and the hard work of horsemanship are equally important and enjoyable. Weekend beach trips and supporting each other before and at shows are part of the program, too. “Every student has their own agenda, and we are very good at helping them meet their riding goals,” Lockman notes. Those goals range from simply getting comfortable and confident in the saddle to moving up to a higher level in dressage competition. Although not everybody is ready to qualify for the Junior Championships, those who are not competing are ready to help those who are.
Morgan Spencer and Makin Magic. Inspiring Environment “It’s like a big family here,” says 13-year-old Makenna Spencer. “Everybody is really encouraging and you don’t have to worry if you do something wrong. Even when we are cleaning bridles or something that would seem like work, it’s really fun because everybody is so nice.” Spencer arrived at W Farms with a less-than-ideal equine partner and, as a result, was timid and low on confidence. All that’s changed under Lockman and the Wilsons’ guidance. She and her new mount, Prince Albert, aka “Beau,” are headed for Cool August Nights, where they’ll compete in Training Level. It’s her first big show and, appropriately, Spencer admits to being a bit nervous. “But mostly it’s really exiting,” she says of this month’s Junior Championships. “At W Farms, they teach us how to go outside of our comfort zone without scaring us.”
Haley Fuchs and her father, Howard Fuchs, at her first horse show. Although it’s been a while, David Wilson is no stranger to fostering young talent. His illustrious career includes serving as chef d’equipe for the USDF Region 7 North American Young Riders Championship teams in 1993, 1994 and 1996. Two of his students were part of gold medal winning NAYRC teams in 1994 and 1996. The successful start to W Farms’ young riders program is the latest in a long list of accomplishments for Wilson. His work ethic and many achievements have earned him a reputation as one of the finest riders and trainers in North America. As a young rider himself, Wilson’s abilities earned him the opportunity to train with such classical dressage masters as Herbert Rehbein, Harry Boldt and Reiner Klimke, to name a few. Today, Wilson has trained over 30 horses to Grand Prix. In addition to training top flight dressage horses, including his wife Alisa’s up and coming star Weltclassiker, Wilson manages an active sales and importing business. His partner in importing German horses to the States is Ulrich Kasselmann. At presstime, Wilson was heading to Germany, where he will scout horses for clients, including one of W Farms’ young riders. In addition, he hopes to get input and support for the youth program. In the long run, he’d love to build European equestrian adventures into the experience. Given what Wilson and his team have accomplished thus far, it only seems a matter of time until that vision becomes a reality.
For more information on W Farms and its youth program, visit www.wfarms.net or call 909-973-2329. |
