International dressage trainer, Oded Shimoni, takes short breaks from his training schedule at Stillpoint Farm in Wellington, FL, to teach clinics throughout the U.S. Last month he was at Amanda Person’s farm in Atlanta teaching Amanda, Jason Canton, and others. This month Shimoni is heading to Pennsylvania to coach three-day eventer Bruce “Buck” Davidson, Jr., in preparation for the 2008 Olympics Hong Kong.
Last year U.S. Three-Day Eventing Coach and Chef d’Equipe, Captain Mark Phillips, recommended Shimoni to Davidson to coach him in dressage. During the summer of 2007, Shimoni worked with Davidson to perfect the dressage movements required for his Olympic performance.
“Buck trained with me regularly last summer,” said Shimoni. “He is very ‘coachable’ and a professional student.” When Davidson and his nine-year-old Irish thoroughbred, Ballynoe Castle RM, were short listed for the 2008 United States Equestrian Team, Davidson again called on Shimoni to help him prepare for the Summer Olympics. “I look forward to this clinic and to seeing the progress Buck has made with his horses,” Shimoni remarked.
When he is not holding clinics, Shimoni is training and teaching at Arlene “Tuny” Page’s world-class facility, Stillpoint Farm in Wellington. He has trained an impressive number of his clients up to the ranks of FEI competition and coaches some of the most successful trainers and riders in the business today.
While Shimoni tended to his active June training and clinic schedule, Stillpoint Farm owner, Page and Wild One went to North Carolina to compete at the Capitol Dressage Classic CDI-W Raleigh. Page and Wild One earned an impressive score of 70.88% to win the open Grand Prix. Page felt Wild One had made huge improvements since the winter season ended. They set out to test his progress at Raleigh and were pleased with the results.
Along with his full summer schedule at Stillpoint Farm, Shimoni also plans to travel to a few additional clinics and buying trips to Europe. He looks forward to the challenges ahead. In Shimoni’s life, hard work and dedication are the passwords that take his horses and riders to the top. For more information, visit www.odedshimonidressage.com.