Welcome to my page, my name is Rylana and I am the face of Quintessential Dressage-Functional Training.
I offer 30 years of experience as an equine professional.
I grew up in Switzerland and was lucky to be educated by some incredible teachers and to receive continuous mentoring since a teen.
Starting as a groom for an international jumping stable, training under well respected dressage trainer and national breed assessor of warmbloods, and taking lessons with other classical coaches, such as Nuno Oliveira’s grandson, Goncalo.
Although I have competed, the competition scene did not interest me, I enjoyed presenting horses in an entertainment setting. And so, my stallion and I went to spend some time touring with the show El caballo Blanco. I’ve also been involved in several movies, Stan series and music videos with my horses.
Evolving through the continuous learnings of internationally renowned teachers, classical horsemanship principles are at the heart of my training. I recently spent a year training under Manolo Mendez, an Australian based international clinician, to refine my work even more.
I believe training should be light and fun for the horse, so they will continue to return to the arena with willingness and express pride in their work.
Preserving the horses good will and generosity, making the horse feel safe, while creating a balanced dance partner is the priority in my training.
Through a combination of in-hand work, riding and bodywork I take a wholistic approach to horse education.
Further more I have experience, knowledge, and skill in the following
o Experience with over 20 different horse breeds including rare breeds such as Akhal Teke , Knabstruppers and gaited horses.
o Stallion Handling, I have worked with many different stallions over many years, from breeding, training and competing performance stallions to circus show horses
o Introducing the undomesticated or unhandled horse or foal to human contact and handling
o Starting horses in a classical traditional way and helping students to start their own horses
o The art of working in hand from introduction through to advanced movements such as piaffe and passage
o The process of ridden training from the green horse up to advanced movements, I have successfully brought on several horses through this process, a journey of many years of progressive training for each horse
o Assessing the horses muscling, conformation and mental wellbeing and creating a training plan for that horse
o Optimizing health and performance with body work, acupuncture and laser/red light
o Using advanced in-hand and lunging techniques for the purposes of rehabilitation
o An understanding of anatomy abnormalities and genetic problems our horses can have
o Rider bio mechanics and Rider posture optimising
o Franklin ball method
o Rider mindset and nervous riders
o European style Vaulting instruction
o Working equitation
o Hoof health and balance, analysis of correct angles for optimum balance and alignment. I am trained and experienced in trimming and shoeing including full support and remedial shoeing with packing and frog support. Although I only offer this service for horses that come and stay with me for training as part of my wholistic training package
o Assessing the basics of saddle fit and balance and making small adjustments
o Liberty training and trick training, bowing, laying down, spanish walk and many more!