SPD
 About Joy Congdon  

  

  Joy’s 30 years of training, teaching, and horsemanship experience began in Joy and Gershwinhigh school when she competed successfully in the Saddleseat Equitation cirucuit in western Massachusetts.  She then became a working student for highly respected  trainers Michael and Sharon Poulin, who introduced her to many aspects of the dressage industry.  Joy’s passion for dressage was ignited while observing Michael coach Lendon Gray during the ’84 Olympic Selection trials, and by the opportunity to ride well-trained school masters under top tutelage.

  Upon graduating from Mount Holyoke College in 1986, Joy went to work for Kathy Connelly, 1989 National Grand Prix Champion, popular USEF “S” judge, and current trainer to many of the country’s top competitors, at Apple Valley Farm in Harvard, Massachusetts. Joy and Kathy formed an extremely successful training partnership that continued at Apple Valley through 2003.  This time with Kathy provided a solid foundation for Joy’s training and teaching knowledge.   

  During her 17 years at Apple Valley, Joy gained a deep understanding of correct, gymnastic training by riding 5 to 7 horses a day under Kathy’s supervision.  She had the opportunity to train a wide variety of horses, ranging from international quality Warmbloods to Thoroughbreds off the tracJoy on Illuinatusk, from confirmed Grand Prix horses to young horses starting under saddle (and everything in between!).  Joy also developed a strong teaching foundation, modeling her style on Kathy’s systematic and clear approach, while adding her own attentive personality into the mix. She honed her eye by observing Kathy train international FEI horses and acting as a groundperson for Kathy at home and at shows, as well as spending many hours watching the lessons of the numerous students and trainers that came to Apple Valley Farm.  Joy attracted a large clientele of her own and both Kathy and Joy benefited from sharing students and exchanging information.  Acting as barn manager of Apple Valley for 10 years, Joy also gained an extensive knowledge of horse care and farm management. 

Joy on Illuminatus, owner Kathy Connelly`
  In “The Complete Training of Horse and Rider, Alois Podhajsky states that “…every rider who strives after successful training must…believe in his teacher unconditionally.  The pupil will only be able to judge the standard after he has followed the teachings.”  Joy was fortunate to find a mentor/trainer in Kathy Connelly, who possessed integrity, extensive classical knowledge, and a gift for clear communication in whom she could “believe unconditionally”.  Though no longer based at the same facility, Joy and Kathy continue to enjoy on ongoing training and business relationship and personal friendship.

 In 2004, Joy moved to Vermont and started her own successful training and teaching business, Still Point Dressage.  She keeps her own education current by continuing to train with Kathy and attending educational symposiums with top quality national and international trainers both as a rider and an auditor. She competes her own horse, Wixen FFH(Welser/Warkant), breeder Eliza Rutherford, Charlotte, Vermont.

 Joy, a talented writer, has also published articles in Dressage Today and the New England Dressage Association’s  journal, The Salute.
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EDUCATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSlengthening                                             Joy on Gershwin

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   About Joy Congdon  

  

  Joy’s 30 years of training, teaching, and horsemanship experience began in Joy and Gershwinhigh school when she competed successfully in the Saddleseat Equitation cirucuit in western Massachusetts.  She then became a working student for highly respected  trainers Michael and Sharon Poulin, who introduced her to many aspects of the dressage industry.  Joy’s passion for dressage was ignited while observing Michael coach Lendon Gray during the ’84 Olympic Selection trials, and by the opportunity to ride well-trained school masters under top tutelage.

  Upon graduating from Mount Holyoke College in 1986, Joy went to work for Kathy Connelly, 1989 National Grand Prix Champion, popular USEF “S” judge, and current trainer to many of the country’s top competitors, at Apple Valley Farm in Harvard, Massachusetts. Joy and Kathy formed an extremely successful training partnership that continued at Apple Valley through 2003.  This time with Kathy provided a solid foundation for Joy’s training and teaching knowledge.   

  During her 17 years at Apple Valley, Joy gained a deep understanding of correct, gymnastic training by riding 5 to 7 horses a day under Kathy’s supervision.  She had the opportunity to train a wide variety of horses, ranging from international quality Warmbloods to Thoroughbreds off the tracJoy on Illuinatusk, from confirmed Grand Prix horses to young horses starting under saddle (and everything inbetween!).  Joy also developed a strong teaching foundation, modeling her style on Kathy’s systematic and clear approach, while adding her own attentive personality into the mix. She honed her eye by observing Kathy train international FEI horses and acting as a groundperson for Kathy at home and at shows, as well as spending many hours watching the lessons of the numerous students and trainers that came to Apple Valley Farm.  Joy attracted a large clientele of her own and both Kathy and Joy benefited from sharing students and exchanging information.  Acting as barn manager of Apple Valley for 10 years, Joy also gained an extensive knowledge of horse care and farm management. 

Joy on Illuminatus, owner Kathy Connelly`
  In “The Complete Training of Horse and Rider, Alois Podhajsky states that “…every rider who strives after successful training must…believe in his teacher unconditionally.  The pupil will only be able to judge the standard after he has followed the teachings.”  Joy was fortunate to find a mentor/trainer in Kathy Connelly, who possessed integrity, extensive classical knowledge, and a gift for clear communication in whom she could “believe unconditionally”.  Though no longer based at the same facility, Joy and Kathy continue to enjoy on ongoing training and business relationship and personal friendship.

 In 2004, Joy moved to Vermont and started her own successful training and teaching business, Still Point Dressage.  She keeps her own education current by continuing to train with Kathy and attending educational symposiums with top quality national and international trainers both as a rider and an auditor. She competes her own horse, Wixen FFH(Welser/Warkant), breeder Eliza Rutherford, Charlotte, Vermont.

 Joy, a talented writer, has also published articles in Dressage Today and the New England Dressage Association’s  journal, The Salute.
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EDUCATIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTSlengthening                                             Joy on Gershwin

  • USDF Graduate “L” Judge
  • USDF Certified Instructor through Fourth Level (the highest level currently offered)
  • USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, all scores earned on horses that Joy trained herself
  • Demonstration rider for the 2000 National Judge’s Forum in Florida with Weltfrieden, owner Joanne Turner
  • Demonstration rider for the 2000 NEDA Fall Symposium with Dr. Josef Knipp with Weltfrieden and Justin, owner Julie Alnwick.
  • Participated as a rider in clinics with Volker Moritz, Frenk Jespers, Lilo Fore, Gerhard Politz, Debbie Bowman, Cindy Sydnor, Anne Gribbons, Jessica Ransehousan, Pam Goodrich, and Lendon Gray.
  • With her long time partner, Gershwin, whom she trained from a four-year-old to Grand Prix, Joy had one remaining score to earn for her USDF Gold Medal before Gershwin was sidelined with a serious suspensory injury. (Eight years later, Joy is happy to say that Gershwin, at the age of 20, is back competing at Prix St. George and just earned his new owner, Gretchen Demone, a student of Joy’s and Kathy’s, her USDF Silver Medal in 2008.


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