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David Ventura has been a dressage enthusiast since childhood when he groomed and trained at Tempel Farms Lipizzans. As an adult, Mr. Ventura has been breeding warmbloods for twenty years and has received his USDF bronze and silver medals. For five years in a row, he has ranked for USDF Horse of the Year and twice Oldenburg Horse of the Year on horses he has bred and trained.
Mr. Ventura also is a driving enthusiast and holds an "R" judge's card in carriage dressage. He has judged CDI's to choose the U.S. Driving Team.
Currently, Mr. Ventura is competing his Oldenburg stallion, Pointmaker, at Prix St. George. He and Pointmaker were 2006 Vintage Cup Champions at Prix St. George. Mr. Ventura also competes at 3rd Level on the Lipizzan stallion, Neapolitano Savona, and on an Oldenburg gelding he bred at his farm.
Mr. Ventura's teaching style truly embodies classical dressage. He trains riders in the use of good equitation as a means of sympathetic communication between rider and horse. Although dressage is a sport that requires balance, self-discipline and physical ability, Mr. Ventura believes it should also be an enjoyable experience for both partners. Mr. Ventura's clinics have helped many riders realize more gratification as well as improvement in their own dressage work.
The following articles originally appeared in the American Driving Society magazine The Whip.