National hunter/jumper trainer, Ron Danta, presented a workshop for English equestrian students on Sunday and Monday, October 14 and 15, at the James L. Child, Jr. Equestrian Complex. As chair of the High Performance Hunter Committee for the United States Hunter Jumper Association, (USHJA) Danta has devoted countless hours to the planning and organization of the USHJA International Hunter Derby series.
All levels of UF riders and horses were put through two-hour working sessions on both days.
“My horse was so much better on Monday than he was on Sunday,” said Moira Rosenbaum, a sophomore who is focusing on the hunter/jumper discipline. “He was just a lot softer the second day. We both really learned a lot from the workshop.”
Other students echoed Rosenbaum’s praise for Danta’s teaching ability.
“We worked a lot on flexibility and bending,” added Katie Pohlman, also a hunter/jumper rider. “With my horse softening and being calm, I was able to focus on my upper body over the jumps.”
Students Cassie Clark and Kate Kunhardt agreed, saying they saw a huge difference in the behavior of their horses even after the first two-hour session.
The University of Findlay offers several learning opportunities with nationally recognized riders and trainers to its equestrian students. Because the UF equestrian faculty remains active in training and showing, they can draw on contacts they have made in the horse industry as learning resources for students.