Brenna Harken Dressage

09/23/2024

A few more photos from the clinic with Pamfou Dressage courtesy of Randi Slaughter. Love this little mare!

09/17/2024

It is not everyday that a trainer from Helena, MT has the opportunity to clinic with an olympian. But thanks to Heart Mountain Dressage Club, this weekend I got to.

Corentin Pottier (“Coco” who represented France in the Paris Olympics) offered precise, consistent, encouraging and incredibly helpful insights this weekend. With his help Flora and I began piecing together canter half passes, canter pirouettes, flying changes and introduced the beginnings of piaffe and passage. It was two days full of world class instruction, and I am immensely grateful that I had the opportunity to attend and receive some of the best instruction of my career. By the end Coco encouraged us to fix our eyes on Prix St. George.

Saying I’m proud of this mare is an understatement. Flora has only been in training for a year, having come in and out of rehab many times over the last 5 years. Her sensitivity yet sensibility made the progress this weekend possible, while often putting a smile on my face. There are so many to thank for getting us even this far!

-Diana Corzine, Flora’s incredible owner. She is a client and horse owner every trainer dreams of having in their program. Her kindness, commitment, and belief in Flora is tangible and inspiring!
- Envy Saddles for our beautiful saddle that supports both Flora and myself while we step up to the next level of training.
-Charlene Blundell for making sure that our Envy Aurora is correctly fit to Flora, making sure our saddle supports our training, never hindering it.
-Dr. Jamie LeAnn Clark with Montana Equine Medical and Surgical Center for your dedication to fighting for Flora’s soundness.
-Elkhorn Farrier Service LLC for your consistent and specialized shoeing.
-On Course Equine Nutrition for providing a specialized nutrition program to make sure Flora is getting all she needs, without anything unnecessary.

Here’s to a winter of being disciplined in our training, but keeping a smile on our face in the process!

09/01/2024

Miss Flora had her second level debut today and stepped up to the plate, scoring a 67%. So excited for our future!

Thankful for our saddle from Envy Saddles, helping Flora to feel comfortable and confident as we continue raising the bar!

08/30/2024

Wishing BHD client Jamie Clark and her gelding Hooli the best of luck at the American Eventing Championships this weekend! I have met few eventing clients with such a commitment to understand and correctly employ dressage as part of their training- and man it’s paying off! Have fun and good luck!

08/26/2024

Do you know your horse’s current body condition score? Do you know their ideal weight? Do you know how much (in pounds) they need to consume to achieve this weight? Do you know the risks of maintaining an obese state for your horse?

I am so thankful for the information that Natalie publishes that makes these questions easy for every horse owner to answer. Unfortunately I have seen alarming rates of Montana horse owners justify obesity in their horses. Many would likely look at the horse below and classify her as at an ideal weight!

Friends and clients, as we have seen circulating the horse world recently: we are our horse’s biggest advocates. That includes providing a diet to support proper body condition. If you’re waiting for you vet to mention something, don’t count on it! Unfortunately I have seen too many vets overlook nutrition deficits/excess many times over. Natalie has incredible resources publicly and through private 1:1 consultations!

Follow Wilma's Weight Loss Journey over the course of the next 6 months!

08/13/2024

Super excited about this one! 4 yo Donahue (by De Niro Gold) owned by Jill Hamilton has entered back into training this summer to start putting his talent into practice. Although this 17.2h gelding has some maturing to do, we can’t wait to see where he goes!

08/05/2024

Brenna Harken Dressage is excited to announce a partnership with Envy Saddles!

Envy Saddles offer everything that I personally seek out in a saddle, as well as what I recommend that clients seek out in a saddle: wool flocking, quality leather and adjustable panels, all at a friendly price point. Proper saddle fit as well as regular readjustments are paramount for horse and rider success. Envy saddles allow this customization!

Myself as well as all the horses in our program are lucky to have Charlene Blundell as our saddle fitter. Her extensive knowledge of horse shape and saddle fit allow our horses and riders to be best set up for success. Charlene offers saddle fitting and sales across Montana and surrounding states. If you have a saddle fitting need, or are in the market for a new saddle, please contact Charlene and ask her to share about Envy Saddles.

We are excited to continue to enjoy their saddles and share of their quality products!

Pictured here is the Envy Aurora aboard Flora.

07/04/2024

Thank you Juniper Hill Stables for the fabulous dressage show and mini event last weekend!

Brenna Harken Dressage had many student and horse pairs participate, with much success across the board!

Both Gianna with Bentley, and Becca with Clover, took their young horses down centerline for the first time. Bentley and Clover were both backed in 2023 in my program and it brings me much joy to see them confidently begin their careers in the show ring.

Diana strutted down centerline for the first time in 34 years, this time aboard her mare Flora. Having once given up the hope of riding again, watching Diana’s passion for it rekindle has been immensely rewarding and inspiring!

Other notable mentions were Julia and Athena who continue to refine their first level test, putting out a fabulous ride. Agen and Quinn are getting more and more consistency and throughness during their rides, helping them both in the dressage ring and out on the cross-country field! Jamie and Hooli had a fabulous first event together with an impressive dressage turn-out! It has been so fun to watch and assist Jamie in making the transition from barrel-racing to the dressage/eventing world this last year.

And I can’t forget Miss Wish! During our third level ride, she gave me one of the most fluid, calm, and clean flying changes to date! If you were watching, the grin on my face and well-deserved pat on her neck may have made it evident that not all our changes look quite like that one.

What an honor it is to get to equip and train these horses to be confident at their jobs, and then to teach their riders on how to be the best riders they can to then continue their horses development.

Thank you Elizabeth Burns for the photos!

06/15/2024

I am pleased to share that Flora and I were selected to ride with French FEI riders Camille Judet-Cheret and Corentin Pottier of Pamfou Dressage this fall at a clinic hosted by McCarty Ranch. I am so grateful for an opportunity to learn from them with such a talented and fun mare.

Photo credit to Olivia Chapeski.

06/02/2024

What an incredible weekend spent at Rebecca Farms to kick off show season.

I had the privilege of presenting Diana Corzine’s mare Flora at her second show ever. She put on a flashy, fun handful of tests finishing with 68+% at 1-3. Flora was convinced however, we were supposed to do a musical freestyle to which I forgot the music, so she made up her own with an orchestra of whinnies all weekend. I am certainly excited about this mare’s future!

Wish was on her A game, putting out two very respectable rides at 3-3, with the latter earning us first place with a 65+%! She continues to amaze me with her willingness to do it all: teach me the ropes of jumping, happily pack around a toddler, and win dressage classes!

Finally, Julia Pattin and Athena caught the eyes of many as they presented three incredible First level tests, securing her first set of scores towards her bronze medal. It was a great joy getting to celebrate her 68+% ride booting Flora out of first place. I am incredibly proud of the two of them and their commitment to consistent hard work, and it has paid off! Cannot wait to see what their future holds.

Immeasurable thanks to my husband, Carson for being the best groom, chauffeur, father and encourager this weekend. And to Caleb Pattin of Elk Mountain Photo for these beautiful shots.