Providing elite training and sales in the Pacific Northwest.
About Michelle
Michell Haefer is a USDF Gold Medal dressage professional training horses and riders from beginner to Grand Prix.
Born in La Grande, Oregon she began riding horses at 9 years old and by 16 years old had developed a skill for working with horses through behavior problems and starting young horses under saddle.
Throughout her career she has honed her skills in both high-performance dressage and natural horsemanship, including them into her training program to develop well-rounded horses for amateurs and professionals.
In the pursuit of her love of dressage, Michelle trained under Grand Prix rider Carole Novitske at age sixteen and later moved to New Jersey in 2012 to work under international competitor and two-time World Cup rider Catherine Haddad Staller.
As an assistant trainer and stable manager, Michelle managed a large operation with clients and horses of all levels. She started young sport horses under saddle and brought many horses up through the levels as well as competing and training sales and clientele horses. Michelle was at this time able to earn both her USDF Silver and Gold medals in Wellington, Florida.
Michelle has worked in the FEI circuit in New Jersey, Florida and Europe, traveling extensively to manage FEI horses at an elite level and has trained with other renowned riders and clinicians. In 2020, she returned to Oregon to start her own dressage business in her home state and has developed a thriving professional training program based in West Linn, Oregon.
Accomplishments
2018 Champion at the White Fences Championship Series for the Intermediate II Open
2019 Iron Spring Farm Developing Horse Prix St George Open Champion
2021 Regional Champion for Prix St George Open
