June 28, 2015

By Sharon Packer

One of my very favorite people with whom to work in the world of high performance dressage is Chris Hickey.  He is successful, incredibly knowledgably, handsome, has a great sense of humor and is the consummate professional.

How wonderful to catch up with Chris at the NCDCTA June Show at F.E.N.C.E in Tryon, N.C.  Chris was so kind as to share his current ventures:

“I’ve cliniced here at Oak Meadows Farm for Cece Stewart for the past 12 years. Being familiar with the area and the local dressage people helped me relocate here.  I have students from all those years of clinics, and I was able to walk in with a good amount of business to start!

My relationship with Cece goes back 12 years when she bought her Grand Prix schoolmaster from me. This was a horse I bought as a 3 year old and sold to her when he was 12. That’s how we meet. Then I started to come to SC to help her. Since then I’ve trained, shown, and sold, many horses that she’s owned.

She bought Ronaldo (Romanov/Don Shufro) for me to develop 5 years ago when he was 4. He’s qualified for the Developing Championships at the Grand Prix level this August in Chicago. I just love being able to be proud of the FEI horses I’ve developed from the Young horse age!

This past winter she also purchased another horse for me to bring along, a 5 year old mare Zackonik (Zack/Romanov/ Don Shufro). Cece and I both enjoy the journey very much!

Cece has 2 horses that she rides and shows that I help her with as well.

She has a few young ones she’s bred. She currently has a Negro yearling, an Ampere 3 year old and another Negro that is 4. Cece owns the farm from which I trained in Florida for the last 7 years.

I am accepting horses into training In addition to those owned by Cece.

In my program horses get turn out, hacked, do trot Cavalettis, an occasional lunge or long lining as well as in hand work.

I worked for myself for many years before I went to Hilltop 8 years ago where I worked for 7 years. I also worked in Ohio for Betsy Juliano, but I missed teaching too much. So now I’m back working for myself again and am very happy.

My goals are that I want to train/show high quality horses and develop long term relationships both with the horses and the people. I’ve trained many Grand Prix horses and have enjoyed the process very much. Each one is different and all the horses have their own strong points. It’s very important to me that my long-term training horses that I’ve developed are sound, rideable by others and are happy, confident and comfortable in their work. Whether a horse I’ve developed is showing in the Brentina Division or with an AA or another Pro, I’m happy to see the horses continue to succeed after they leave my program!

I also feel that not every horse is destined to be a FEI High Performance Horse. We need to realize our horses’ limitations in a realistic manner.  I believe that is also part of the trainer’s job to discuss fair goals for each horse with owners.

This is why I keep getting help in my own riding. We all need to continue to grow as riders/trainers. We’ve had Morten Thomsen from DK come teach as well as Debbie McDonald.

I love to teach, both Pro’s as well as Adult Amateurs. I’m happy to teach an AA who wants to improve, but he or she needs to “be teachable”. Some people don’t want to hear the truth.  I’m not mean, but I tell the truth and I don’t want to just take people’s money and tell them their riding wonderfully when they are not!

Honesty is critical to the lasting relationship I desire with my students and horse owners.

I’m happy to teach riders on 3 year olds up to FEI. The horses don’t have to be super quality and not every rider is going ride at FEI,  a National championship or CDI level, and that’s fine.  I enjoy working with any student who gives 100% to learning.

We’re planning to be back in Wellington around Thanksgiving and working before Dec 1st.  I really like the Carolinas so far!”

Chris Hickey aboard Rolando in I-1 test

We wish Chris the very best of success in the Carolinas, because we want to keep him here!  We also wish him a hugely successful show season in Wellington.

Many thanks to NCDCTA for providing an extremely well organized and exciting dressage competition.  Many thanks as well to WNC Photography for welcoming media.

(Photo 1, Chris Hickey aboard Contento Sogno.  Photo Credit:Sharon Packer)