This starts from the ground, evaluating their ability to process information calmly and to respond to our aiding without confusion or fear.  It is important that all three components are evaluated, so we know as the handler if our horse is simply confused or in pain. Honestly, dressage is simply for most horses a form of physical therapy, creating a more balanced and symmetric athlete and most importantly a trusted partner.

In her younger years, she loved to compete in Eventing, Hunter, and Dressage shows.  She also loved Gymnastics and Vaulting, and feels these helped her later gain the physical control Dressage requires.  Her love for Dressage became the strongest as a young adult, and it was at this time that she decided to put her focus here.  She found it to be interesting, loved the physical aspect as well as the discipline it takes to get to the top of her sport.  Erin Brinkman is a head trainer of Valhalla Farm in Wellborn, Florida, which has been on the top of the USDF breeding charts for over 25 years.

Erin has trained with many top professionals.  She trained with Betsy Steiner for 3 months in Wellington in 2004.  She has worked with Herwig Radnetter since 2000.  Herwig is the head trainer at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria.  She trained with Walter Zettl  for 4 years, and was used in his video, "A Matter of Trust," as well as in his books. She has also worked with Conrad Schumacher, Karl Milkolka, and Martin Schaudt.  Erin has trained in the US and in Germany.

• Certified in Linda Tellington-Jones TTouch

• Parelli Natural Horsemanship

• Peggy Fleming Holistic Horse care, acupuncture and homeopathics

• Gene Ovnicek Natural Balance horse shoeing

• USDF "L" Program, "Distinction"

Herwig rode for the Spanish Riding School in Vienna for over 40 years. Herwig is a mentor of true Classical Dressage. He teaches from the principles of "the Pyramid", relaxation, rhythm and tempo always come first. From this foundation the horse moves with improved looseness and brilliance.

Herwig is very positive in his teaching style. He has taught me that it is more relaxing for horse and rider when the instructor says "good," even when a moment is not perfect. Just this simple attitude prevents the rider and horse from tensing when it may not be perfect, allowing the team more “space” do it more simply the next try.

2004 through present,

USDF symposium 1994, 2005, 2007.
Betsy has been role model for exemplary rider postion, since I was a teenager. Betsy was my coach for the 2004 USET qualifiers with "Limbo King." This was definitely a confidence building experience, Limbo and I never placed lower than fourth in these competitions. And we earned scores in the 70s from several Judges. Limbo King with Betsy brought my FEI scores over 70%.

Walter was a true “Dressage Master”, and my all time favorite mentor.

Walter was one of the kindest trainers I have ever known. He always trained from a "horse first" basis. He taught me how to ride with a very lovely light quality, while still getting the most out of every horse.

His term "open the door," was a crucial element in understanding how often we get in the horse's way. This gave me a much truer feel for self-carriage. Another comment, “the horses mouth is as soft as a babies bottom”. It took many years to understand how to ride this softly. The lightness he brought to my riding has proven to be the most enlightening.

“At each stage of work the horse must be taken to his limit but not over it”. Walter Zettl

Walter passed June 7, 2018

(Clinics in Santa Fe, NM (2004-2005)
He is a very intense coach! However, he took what I knew about deep riding and then took away the hand and leg component, which forced me to ride even more with my seat. Prior, I thought I had a pretty good idea of deep riding. Conrad improved my seat and improved my ability to ride a horse deep with very light aids.

Natural Horsemanship.

I have become an advocate of this thought provoking ground work. I have integrated these techniques with all my horses, this has improved every horses' trust, manners, confidence, and rideability.

My training is still evolving... BEST COMMENT from Pat: “Training Level dressage is like college for the horse, what about the horse's pre-college training?" Pat taught me there is another world of pre-dressage education and this has greatly enhanced my rapport with all of my horses!

Essentially it has helped me “to think like a horse”.

TTouch Certification
T-Touch is a wonderful methodology that is of the utmost kindness to the horse. This left the ever mindful impression, foremost we must know where WE are at every second emotionally. This has left a constant tracking system in place to this day. If I am not emotionally fit, then better to go do something else that day!

Linda and I have over the years become friends, we have traded help with each other. I help her with Dressage, and she helps me with my Natural Horsemanship. She is one of the most patient people I know. Her motto;” 3 minutes, 3 months, 3 years”. It doesn’t matter what issue or teaching she is working on with a horse. It takes as long as it takes with this horse. Patience is key.

(Clinics at Valhalla, 1997. 1998, trainer for 6 months in Germany)
Martin is very disciplined in his approach. He is out on his mountain in Germany in all weather, and it does get cold! Martin is quite skilled in his preparation for the show ring.

DVM (1993-present, 2007 Acupuncture School)
Peggy owns and operates the Florida Equine Acupuncture Center, in Dade, Florida. She is an Acupuncturist, Chinese herbalist, Homeopathic and Chiropractor. She is gifted in her ability to bring homeostasis to the horse, combining all of the above mentioned modalities. She has been instrumental to my success with my horses. She has helped me balance dangerous, fragile, and misaligned horses. I deeply value Eastern Medicine, It is a very inside to outside approach to healing, I know I would not be where I am without it!

Iris Eppinger and I attended her Acupuncture courses throughout 2007, and attended the annual Acupuncture Convention in Germany. In 2017, I went to Iceland with Peggy to attend a week long lectures with Peggy’s mentor, Are Thoresen.

Valhalla Farm-

I credit Shea with improving the elasticity/following in my hands/arms.

Karl had a vast repertoire of exercises. Brilliant in his application, he would not compromise proper training for force.

Ulrich was very involved in Trakehners in Germany, he prepared many of these horses for auction, because of this, he is knowledgable about Trakehner bloodlines. He came to Valhalla Farm in 1976,and taught my Mom, Jean Brinkman about the more ridable and talented Trakehener bloodlines.

Ulrich was my first Dressage trainer, he gave me a proper dressage beginning. Ulrich was my Young Rider coach several times, the first year I was 4th in the team test and earned the Bronze Team Medal.
Ulrich coached me on my very first Trakehner mare, "Wogena." We evented some, but our love together our love was dressage. With Ulrich's coaching, we went on to two Young Rider competitions, many regional finals wins, and to compete through FEI Dressage by the time I was 17. I didn't really know then that this was quite good! Wogena went on to become an "honor roll mare," and to have ten wonderful foals! Wogena died on Christmas day, 2005, at the age of 31. She was my first “BIG” horse love.

Luis rode in the 1996 and 2000 Olympics for Spain. He is an advocate of Natural Horsemanship, and a very heart invested teacher. He is focused on the “giving” hand. This requires the rider to be more seat based, and release more often.

I really loved his lecture series, one of my favorite teachings concerned contact throughout the ride. In his model, he shows an example of the ratios between the passive hand-30% of the ride, (the hand that maintains optimal contact), the giving hand-50% of the ride-(releasing) and the taking hand-20% of the ride(holding or half-halting). When I brought these ratios to my daily riding, I realized there was not enough releasing time. When I added this ratio I felt a new level of softness. With a more extended release time my horses had more time to process and therefore relax. Improving my release time was very important for my horse, Fenomenal JW. She is not a horse that gets softer with contact, in fact, she tends to get tighter with contact. She will only lower and soften her neck when the hand releases.

Renate survived World War 2. Renates family were Trakehner breeders in East Prussia. Her entire family was forced to flee from the advancing Soviet Army. To escape, Renate’s parents gave her an unbroken 3 year old mare. Renate told me this young mare is the only reason she survived. She told me within days of traveling, “this mare would nuzzle her awake at night if someone was approaching.” This story struck deep, and has been my compass for the depth of love and protection possible between humans and horses.