North Shore Dressage
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Testimonials
What a few Clients say about North Shore Dressage's trainer Alix Szepesi:
Michele Doucette (Massachusetts): Alix is so much more than a professional dressage trainer ... she respects the horse's purpose in life, and truly understands and cares about how its physical health and mental happiness has a positive influence on its training. She identifies the horse's talent and delivers its maximum, whether it be 1st level or Grand Prix. Alix believes that horses should be horses and have plenty of natural turnout with buddies, hacks, and cross-training outside of the ring. She has shown me that Dressage doesn't always have to be about making perfect circles but having fun and connecting with my horse. She has trained all 3 of my horses and adjusted their program for each ones' personality and capabilities. Alix has trained my talented Knabstrupper (Majco Thunders Hattrick) since he was 5 years old and successfully competed him through I-1 to-date. She also stood by and cared for him daily on his year of stall rest. Alix never cuts any corners, and has an outstanding work ethic. She is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of horse care, diet and health.
Hattrick & Alix, 2007 Hattrick & Alix, 2009
FEI test for 6 yr olds at GMHA in VT Int-1 test at NEDA Spring in MA
FEI test for 6 yr olds at GMHA in VT Int-1 test at NEDA Spring in MA
Michele Doucette (Massachusetts): Alix is so much more than a professional dressage trainer ... she respects the horse's purpose in life, and truly understands and cares about how its physical health and mental happiness has a positive influence on its training. She identifies the horse's talent and delivers its maximum, whether it be 1st level or Grand Prix. Alix believes that horses should be horses and have plenty of natural turnout with buddies, hacks, and cross-training outside of the ring. She has shown me that Dressage doesn't always have to be about making perfect circles but having fun and connecting with my horse. She has trained all 3 of my horses and adjusted their program for each ones' personality and capabilities. Alix has trained my talented Knabstrupper (Majco Thunders Hattrick) since he was 5 years old and successfully competed him through I-1 to-date. She also stood by and cared for him daily on his year of stall rest. Alix never cuts any corners, and has an outstanding work ethic. She is extremely knowledgeable in all aspects of horse care, diet and health.
Jody Lynn DeStefanis (Versailles, France): Alix is highly skilled at identifying what the horse and rider
need to accomplish their goals. She is clearly focused on the riding
partnership and has an amazing ability to customize the training
program to maximize the partnership’s potential. Alix has worked with
my horse (Emily) since she was a four-year-old green mare and has
steadily moved her up the levels at a pace comfortable for her and me.
Emily is now a fourth level school master. Thanks to Alix, I earned my
Bronze medal in 2008!
Emily & Alix, 2005 Emily & Jody, 2008
4th Level test at Kasson Ridge, CT Winning 3rd Level AA High Score at Saratoga, NY
Margie S. (Wellington, FL): I have had my horse Alloy in training with Alix
for slightly more than a year. I sent him to her on the recommendation
of my vet, who praised Alix's quiet, compassionate manner of handling
horses. She definitely felt that Alloy would flourish in Alix's
program, and she was definitely right! At 17.3 h, the horse had learned
how to bully his way around people. He intimidated his previous handlers. He was
strong in the bridle as well, and at 5' 3", I felt that riding him was
like trying to hold onto a flying freight train! Things
have certainly turned around. This winter, I was able to ride him out
in a field, collect him, do lateral work with him, and he hacked out on
a loose rein. Alix has turned him into a horse I can actually ride!
He has learned manners, and is very affectionate. He seems to enjoy
his work.
Margie & Alloy, Summer 2010 Margie & William, March 2011
Alix has made quite a difference in my riding. She explains things thoroughly, which has certainly helped me to develop my position and become far more secure in the saddle. She talks of posture and core strength, both of which are paramount in dressage. And she has enabled me to develop a sense of feel for the horse. I live in Canada and the horse was in Hamilton, Mass. with her last summer. I rode him in Florida all winter. While I would love to have him at home in Canada with me, I simply feel that Alix is doing such a good job, the horse is enjoying his dressage training so much and has been making such progress, that I cannot take him away as yet. I shall reap the benefits of all of this this coming year.
I was recently given an extremely well-bred gelding whose jumping career has ended because he will not go over water! I have sent him to Alix as well. He has been in a high tension show barn for the past two years, and now he will be in a quiet, easy atmosphere, with full day turnout, as Alix believes in. The horse is already an elegant mover, but I am excited to see what he will be doing in a year as well. Alix takes her equine charges to the seashore for rides along the beach. For a horse who is afraid of water, this might prove to be interesting!
All in all, I cannot recommend Alix highly enough. People in Florida commented on her training ability to me; they were extremely impressed with the way in which she integrated cross-country riding with dressage training in a ring. I was told how hard working she was, and how patient she was with each horse. I feel lucky that the vet sent me to her!
I was recently given an extremely well-bred gelding whose jumping career has ended because he will not go over water! I have sent him to Alix as well. He has been in a high tension show barn for the past two years, and now he will be in a quiet, easy atmosphere, with full day turnout, as Alix believes in. The horse is already an elegant mover, but I am excited to see what he will be doing in a year as well. Alix takes her equine charges to the seashore for rides along the beach. For a horse who is afraid of water, this might prove to be interesting!
All in all, I cannot recommend Alix highly enough. People in Florida commented on her training ability to me; they were extremely impressed with the way in which she integrated cross-country riding with dressage training in a ring. I was told how hard working she was, and how patient she was with each horse. I feel lucky that the vet sent me to her!