Owner
Deborah Bakoledis, Owner/Trainer
Background Information
I have been involved in the horse business since I was 10 years
old. I began competing on the A hunter/jumper show circuit at 11
years of age. At 12, I began training a 2 year old off the race track
with the help of my trainer (Janie Weber) from Stepping Stone
Farm in Ridgefield, CT. I competed with him in the Medal/Maclay
and USET classes while he was just 4 years old. As a 6 year old
(I at 16 years of age), he and I qualified for and competed at the
Maclay Finals in Madison Square Garden and at the Medal Finals
at Harrisburg, PA. This was with the help of my new trainer, Carl
Dena from M.S. Farms, Inc in Patterson, NY. Again in 1988 (my
horse was 8, I was 18) we qualified for the Maclay Finals at MSG,
the Medal Finals in Harrisburg and the USET finals in Gladstone,
NJ. While we never managed to finish in the top 10 at any of
these prestigious finals, we always had a good showing and
continued to improve our skills to finish as one of the top 30
juniors in the country in the very difficult 1980's.
After graduating from the junior ranks, I earned an A.S. in
Travel/Tourism Management from Johnson & Wales University
and a B.S. in Business Management from the University of
Connecticut. Upon graduation from the university, I began
working with my trainer again from my junior years (Carl Dena). I
especially liked bringing along investment horses that needed
retraining from another career or training because they were
young and green. I had success with one horse in particular that I
competed for two years in the A/O hunters and earned Zone 1
Horse of the Year Awards both years. He was later sold as a
children's hunter to a young girl in Florida.
After that horse was sold (my last investment horse), I began
working professionally riding and training and teaching under the
watchful eye of Carl Dena. Together we produced many
successful partnerships with our clients, and many quality
warmbloods that were trained and sold as show horses. These
horses showed with us up and down the east coast from Cape
Cod, MA to Ocala, FL to Saugerties, NY, and I competed with
them in everything from the baby green hunters on up to the Level
7 Jumpers and mini-prix.
In 2004, I decided to stay closer to home and concentrate on
beginning my own business and starting a family. Over the past
few years I have been working with young and green horses that
need to be trained for sale or for their owners to later ride. Most
of these owner/green horse pairings are proving to be successful
match ups with many owners now riding their own horses.
Currently, I have several three year olds that are getting beginning
training and breaking and a couple of green horses and ponies
that are furthering their training.
My lesson students currently range from the beginning child and
adult through the intermediate levels to more advanced riders with
horse showing goals. I look forward to creating a plan of action
for you and your horse in the future! Or, if you don't currently have
a horse I can help you find one if you are looking. I also have
half-leases available for those that want to take lessons and get
some extra riding time in.
Contact me:
Email: dbako@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 860.460.9119
Background Information
I have been involved in the horse business since I was 10 years
old. I began competing on the A hunter/jumper show circuit at 11
years of age. At 12, I began training a 2 year old off the race track
with the help of my trainer (Janie Weber) from Stepping Stone
Farm in Ridgefield, CT. I competed with him in the Medal/Maclay
and USET classes while he was just 4 years old. As a 6 year old
(I at 16 years of age), he and I qualified for and competed at the
Maclay Finals in Madison Square Garden and at the Medal Finals
at Harrisburg, PA. This was with the help of my new trainer, Carl
Dena from M.S. Farms, Inc in Patterson, NY. Again in 1988 (my
horse was 8, I was 18) we qualified for the Maclay Finals at MSG,
the Medal Finals in Harrisburg and the USET finals in Gladstone,
NJ. While we never managed to finish in the top 10 at any of
these prestigious finals, we always had a good showing and
continued to improve our skills to finish as one of the top 30
juniors in the country in the very difficult 1980's.
After graduating from the junior ranks, I earned an A.S. in
Travel/Tourism Management from Johnson & Wales University
and a B.S. in Business Management from the University of
Connecticut. Upon graduation from the university, I began
working with my trainer again from my junior years (Carl Dena). I
especially liked bringing along investment horses that needed
retraining from another career or training because they were
young and green. I had success with one horse in particular that I
competed for two years in the A/O hunters and earned Zone 1
Horse of the Year Awards both years. He was later sold as a
children's hunter to a young girl in Florida.
After that horse was sold (my last investment horse), I began
working professionally riding and training and teaching under the
watchful eye of Carl Dena. Together we produced many
successful partnerships with our clients, and many quality
warmbloods that were trained and sold as show horses. These
horses showed with us up and down the east coast from Cape
Cod, MA to Ocala, FL to Saugerties, NY, and I competed with
them in everything from the baby green hunters on up to the Level
7 Jumpers and mini-prix.
In 2004, I decided to stay closer to home and concentrate on
beginning my own business and starting a family. Over the past
few years I have been working with young and green horses that
need to be trained for sale or for their owners to later ride. Most
of these owner/green horse pairings are proving to be successful
match ups with many owners now riding their own horses.
Currently, I have several three year olds that are getting beginning
training and breaking and a couple of green horses and ponies
that are furthering their training.
My lesson students currently range from the beginning child and
adult through the intermediate levels to more advanced riders with
horse showing goals. I look forward to creating a plan of action
for you and your horse in the future! Or, if you don't currently have
a horse I can help you find one if you are looking. I also have
half-leases available for those that want to take lessons and get
some extra riding time in.
Contact me:
Email: dbako@sbcglobal.net
Phone: 860.460.9119
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