Jamie Leuenberger
Meet
Jamie Leuenberger is an experienced competitor in the sports of dressage and eventing. She has competed in eventing through the Preliminary level and has trained and competed at the Grand Prix level of dressage, earning her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals as well as her Silver Freestyle bar. Jamie has also completed part 1 of the L program, a USDF educational training program that teaches judges to evaluate the correct training of dressage horses.
Jamie specializes in the development and starting of young horses and the development of the partnership between horse and rider. Her focus on correct basics and fundamental principles sets horse and rider up to meet their short and long term goals.
Jamie's goal is always to produce well-rounded, confident, and happy athletes who are safe and fun to handle and work with for professionals and amateurs alike.
Jamie established her career with The Black Pearl, "Jack", a Friesian cross purchased for her by her mother when Jamie was 13. Jack came from a field in western Pennsylvania and was purchased by his previous owner at auction.
There is no better representation of the saying that dressage is for every horse than Jack. Through patience and correct consistent work and training, Jamie transformed him over the years from an uneducated farm horse with a four-beat canter into a Grand Prix horse with three correct gaits.
Jamie has trained with a number of FEI professionals, including riding with Tik Maynard in her younger years and advancing through the upper levels under the guidance of Olympian Samantha St. Jacques. Drawing from traditional training principles and a deep understanding of horse behavior, Jamie relies on common-sense horsemanship and an open-minded approach, pulling from multiple disciplines to find what works best for each individual horse. She believes effective training should never rely on force, but instead on harmony, lightness, and clear communication between horse and rider. Central to her work is helping riders understand the root of their horse’s responses and how small, intentional changes in their own riding can lead to meaningful progress and deeper partnership.
Currently Jamie is bringing along two of her own young horses for the future from Lauren Efford's Goldhope Farm. N'Chantress is a 2018 Dutch warmblood mare. Jamie acquired Tess as a yearling and has been her sole trainer. Tess is currently competing at Third Level in dressage and Novice level eventing with great success, including earning one championship and two reserve championships at last year's CBLM Championships for dressage. Jamie is also developing Pandaeia GHF (2020), look for Panda's competitive debut this summer!
