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ABOUT MS. VERENA SONSTENES |
Ms. Verena Sonstenes was born in Stuttgart,
Germany. She started vaulting when she was 5 years
old, on a very gentle palomino who taught her the
importance of balance. "I know I wasn't the least
bit scared, but I remember seeing my parents
standing at the side of the arena, in awe as I stood
on his back while he was in canter; how thrilling I
thought"!
At age thirteen, Ms. Sonstenes moved to Vancouver,
BC, where she became a working student For Mrs.
Wendy Christoff. It was there that she sat on a
Dutch Warmblood for the first time. Mrs. Christoff
had purchased them in Holland from Olympic
trainer/rider, Bert Rutten. Having ridden
thoroughbreds and quarter horses her whole
life.....Ms. Sonstenes felt something unexplainable.
During Mr. Rutten’s Vancouver Symposium in April
2002, Ms. Sonstenes asked Mr. Rutten about working
student opportunities in Europe. As fate would have,
there was an opening at his stable Two weeks later
she had quit her job, sold her horse and relocated
to Stal Rutten in the Netherlands.
After mastering all operational aspects of the
stable and making excellent progress in her riding
ability, Ms. Sonstenes was contracted by Mr. Rutten
to be his full-time stall manager and first rider.
Ms. Sonstenes quickly learned all aspects of the
trade, including:
Developing marketing plans and strategies to market
the stable and sell its services to potential
clients
Marketing the stable to horse owners and to local
and international riders
Breaking and training young horses
Training horses for clients
Assisting with breeding stallions
Competing at national competitions and at stallion
selection trials
Ms. Sonstenes trained and studied with Mr. Rutten
for over a four year period, and credits him greatly
for developing her feel and natural ability to
train. She continues to demonstrate her commitment
to and talent in the sport.
"To truly absorb and learn the classical
techniques,
you have to immerse yourself in it everyday. Live
it, Breath it, and Experience it. I had the honor
of working for and learning from one of the worlds
most renowned dressage riders. I sat in the menege
day in and day out, even when I was too exhausted to
sit... and absorbed every last morsel of
information. You learn a lot from watching!....I
learned the language so that I could really
understand the dialogue between a true master and
his pupil. It was incredible! I was given the
opportunity of a lifetime by Mr. Rutten because he
gave me a chance."
Ms. Sonstenes is a gifted clinician who demonstrates
her correct background in training classical
dressage.
"it is vital that young horses be ridden by good
riders. The most crucial time, like children, is in
the first five years of life. Therefore if a good
basic and classical approach is taken and the time
is spent on teaching the necessary foundation, then
the end result is a happy and well trained athlete.
Good communication is the key!"
Ms. Sonstenes has a kind and gentle way of teaching,
so that you only get the best out of your partner.
She relocated to Southern Ca, where she is training
and competing for VS Dressage
Ms. Sonstenes can be reached at 909-499-3687 |
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