-  15 years as a mounted police officer training both horses and riders

 -  35 years of competition experience at different levels in dressage, jumping, eventing and western.

 -   28 years of giving instructions to students and horses of different levels in Sweden, England, Germany and the United States.

 -   Trained with high profile instructors in Europe including Kyra Kyrklund, Louise Nathhorst and David Hunt.

 -   Arranged and hosted clinics in Sweden and USA

 -   Trained and showed five horses from youngsters to GP. Trained numerous unbroken horses from “scratch” to FEI level.

 -    Gold- Silver- and Bronze medals in the Swedish Championships for team Dressage.

 -    Competed at CDI’s in England, Australia and the US, representing Sweden. Placed in all starts.

 -    GP Reserve Champion 2002, region 7, Burbank, CA.

 -    USDF Gold-Silver-and Bronze medalist

 -    USDF All Breed Award Champion, GP 2002

 -    Currently showing GP, numerous wins in Int II and GP 2009-2011.

 -    Importing and distributing The Racewood Riding Simulators in the US.

 -    Giving lessons on the Dressage Simulator.

PROFESSIONAL EQUESTRIAN EXPERIENCE

Mounted Police officer, 1983-1998, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Swedish Champion for Police Riders in dressage and jumping 14 times.

Barbro  worked as an instructor for the Mounted Police officers and trained young and older police horses. She represented the Mounted Police at civilian dressage competitions up to Grand Prix.

Won the Silver Medal in the European Championships for Police Riders in Germany 1988, placed second to Claus Balkenhol on Goldstern.

Dressage Instructor 1983-2000. Sweden & Germany.

Member of the Swedish Trainers Association.

Trained riders and horses in all levels of dressage.

Gave clinics every month at different locations throughout Sweden.

Taught horsemanship at special schools.

Wrote monthly articles for a Swedish Equestrian magazine, “The Horse Journal”.

Worked in Berlin, Germany for two years at a private facility giving lessons. Competed successfully in Germany at FEI level.

Swedish Equestrian Federation. “Young horse project for talented riders”

1991-1996. Provided with a 5-year old, which I trained and competed to Grand Prix.

Dressage instructor, USA, 2001-currently

Instructed riders and trained horses at various levels of competency.

Legacy Oaks Stables, Morgan Hill, CA, 2001-2002.

Stone Pine Equestrian Center, Carmel Valley, CA 2002-2005.

Chapin Equestrian Stables, Prunedale, CA 2005-2010

Sky View Ranch, Prunedale, CA. 2004-2010

Spirit Equestrian, Somis, CA 2010-currently. Giving lessons on the Dressage Simulator. Clients in training and horses in full training.

VOLUNTEER EQUESTRIAN EXPERIENCE

Swedish Dressage Circle Board Member, 1986-1998. The Swedish dressage Circle worked to improve dressage in the country together with the Swedish Equestrian Federation.

Scribe, Gothenburg Horse Show 1985-1998. Scribed for various judges such as Mr Eric Lette and Ann Gribbons at World Cup Finals.

My objectives as a dressage trainer      

My training is focused on getting the rider and horse coordinated, both with each other as well as independently. I find it of utmost importance that the rider learns to use the aids consciously and effectively. Not giving the horse contradicting aids but instead being very clear. My training is aimed so the rider learns how to train the horse, not just ride it.

As a dressage trainer, I have always wondered what the rider REALLY is doing while riding and what the horse would want to tell me. After giving lessons on the Dressage Simulator for a few years, I am getting the answers I have been looking for.

To teach on a “horse” that has no attitude, is 100% straight, always sensitive to the aids and never gets tired is something I think most horse trainers and riders have dreamt of! The Dressage Simulator meets all these requirements and since I started 5 years ago teaching riders of all levels on a Simulator, I am amazed to learn what most of us do when we ride without knowing it.

When I teach on “Luke”, my Dressage Simulator, I connect it to riding/training a real horse as much as possible. This works since the rider can ride a virtual ride and have to sit, steer and use the aids as he/she is supposed to do on the real horse.

It is very important to me to teach riders to be more quiet when they ride and not asking the horse to do something all the time. Just to ride in collected trot down the long side, sitting still in the saddle, holding both reins evenly with a soft and steady contact, not using the legs is a very difficult task for lots of riders.

This shows of course on the Simulator but a real horse will learn to either ignore all the different aids given or he will try to run away from it. Either way, it can be difficult as a trainer to put the finger on the problem while on the Simulator is it obvious.

Another very important thing I get from teaching on Luke is how the Simulator helps riders with  timing of the aids, half-halts, when to do them and how, exactly when to give the aid for a flying change. Finding out why a rider can’t get straight or clean changes. What to think about when practicing tempi changes and how to approach a pirouette without stopping the horse and maintaining a good, quality canter.

On Luke the rider can of course practice difficult movements over and over until he/she gets it right!

I have the philosophy that we all, as riders, have the responsibility to be more aware of what we are doing when we ride. That we should own our own mistakes and not correct the horse instead of ourselves.

If the rider learns to be more aware of exactly when, where and how much the leg aids are coming on, as well as being totally aware of if they are blocking the hands or have stiff wrists/elbows, the horse will be able to respond by being more supple.

I am continuously working on improving my way of giving instructions. Depending on how I give them, the rider can or can’t comprehend what to do. When something goes wrong, it often goes more wrong very quickly, even on the Simulator. With the Simulator I get a chance to explain to the rider in a very calm environment how a certain movement is done for example. The rider’s own stress when being told several instructions at the same time often shows in rougher riding. This is something I want to avoid, so teaching first on the Simulator helps both the rider, the horse and me!

On the Simulator, the rider gets a chance to work through whatever problem they are having, there is no horse getting upset and adding to the stress. The rider learns how to deal with her own stress and how to solve the problem.

Barbro and her company, Always A Good Ride LLC, imports and distributes the Riding Simulators and is offering long term leasing or purchase. For a complete price list, please contact Barbro. Located in Southern California, she is also giving lessons on the Dressage Simulator in Somis and the L.A. area.