Downeast Dressage Client Testimonials

“When I moved to Brooksville in 2008 I was resigned to limiting my riding to the trails. Then I found Downeast Dressage and life began again. Dressage in the Blue Hill Peninsula?!  Michelle is a true teacher who loves to teach, loves her horses, and has given me more in 6 months than I’ve found in years of riding lessons. Each lesson is fun, individualized, and builds on the previous ones.  And for the first time I can feel the horse and I as one.  What more can I ask for?”

-Ellen Harford, Brooksville, ME

Michelle is an inspiring instructor. Her communication skills are excellent–she uses effective images to get her points across and is tremendously encouraging throughout the lesson. I love the way she relates to her horses and to her students–with kindness and clarity!”

–Alice Lichtenstein. Oneonta, NY

“Michelle helped me to understand the importance of my seat and how it affected my ability to get the horse in front of my leg and to understand the concept of opening my hip so that the horse has a place to go.  These things also influenced my discovery that I could move the horse laterally with my seat.  Michelle also helped me with the “feel” I needed to move with the horse in sitting trot.  My horse is moving so much more freely and happily now.  Thank you, Michelle!”

-Marilyn Donahue, Blairsville, GA

 “As a senior rider and student I find Michelle to be articulate and patient. Through her, I have learned how to communicate more effectively with my horse”

-Susan Macnair, Penobscot, ME

“I come from a professional horse background and can strongly recommend Michelle’s teaching. It had been several years since I had ridden, and getting back into the saddle at age 73 was no easy feat, but I felt very safe on her well-schooled horses. As a former hunt seat rider with little dressage experience, Michelle has a real ability to help me comprehend and understand the differences, and the reasons for these differences, between hunt seat and dressage seat. I felt real progress in all my lessons, her ability to analyze and explain what I was doing, made these lessons a real pleasure.”

– Marilyn Schroer, Deer Isle, ME  

“You don’t have to be a dressage student to benefit from the techniques Michelle Coad uses building you a balanced seat – the foundation for any riding discipline.  She is a great teacher, with talented horses, and you will enjoy every minute!”

-Mary Jane Callinan, Brighton, MA