Carol Eques: Dressage In The European Tradition Encourages her students to achieve the highest goals possible by Nancy Brannon Carol Eques is the new trainer at Buchanan Stables in Tupelo, Mississippi. Her whole approach to training horses and instructing students in dressage, show jumping, and eventing is “in the European tradition. I use the European, meaning German, system of progressive training and I don’t deviate from it,” she said. The purpose of this system is to “get the horse calm, forward, and straight; on the bit and between the aids; submissive and supple. You can’t do lateral work without it,” she said, meaning the horse going straight, forward, and on the aids. She believes the relationship between horse and rider should be one of “equal respect; it is a partnership.” Carol encourages her students to achieve the highest goals possible: “All my students who want USDF medals can achieve them.” Her immediate goals are: “to get my students actively competing. I want my students to progress, to have complete understanding of the aids. We must teach students in the correct way or the discipline [dressage] will fall away,” she said. She has about nine students now and two horses in training, with plans to continue showing with her students through September and August and to expand her work. Later she will “get my sales horses going well, plus a horse or two of my own.” Notably lacking a southern accent, Eques said her family background is German. Her father “immigrated to the U.S. in the 1940s. He did all facets of the discipline.” She was born in Wisconsin, but “I went to Europe on my own dollar to get an education.” Eques recounted in great detail her European education and accumulated riding experiences that she brings to Tupelo. “I have ridden with Mary D’ Arcy, Chef de Equippe of the Irish Olympic team; with Colonel Tony Cox; with Jane Kennedy Bloomer, who was third at Punchestown International Championships; with Eddie Mackin. We are all from the same riding schools n Isis Kellott and Brennanstown Riding School. I have worked with approved Friesian stallions in both the U.S. and in Holland n the Friesch Paarden-Stamboek. I was in the Dallas/ Ft. Worth area as co-owner and Instructor at Talland II International School of Equitation, which is modeled after the Cirencester School in England.” She said she has previously helped students prepare for their BHS (British Horse Society) exams and is BHS certified herself. Formerly Carol Buettner, she and her ex-husband Thomas Buettner taught dressage and jumping at their stable in Somis, California. In 1996 he was the assistant Olympic coach for the German team. Pleased to be at the facility in Tupelo, she spoke highly of the students and horses she is working with. “I have fantastic people and horses! I am continuing the art of the European style of correct riding and developing the horse.” Eques said she accepts all levels of students for dressage, show jumping, and event instruction, from pre-novice to CCI*** levels. For more information call Carol Eques at (662) 419-8808. for information about Buchanan Stables, call stable manager Laura Honeycutt at (662) 401-0431.