Finesse Dressage

The Finesse Dressage Story…

A life-long rider, Jaralyn was fortunate to learn from some of the best, who put horse welfare first and taught the highest standards of horsemanship. Jaralyn has developed her training approaches over 40 years of effort, education, competition and practice.

The Eye of a Judge: The USEF Dressage Judge license apprenticing, testing and seminars serve as ‘higher education’ in dressage, and helps make better riders, trainers and horse advocates. Jaralyn earned her USDF L with distinction in 2008, her USEF ‘r’ in 2018 and her USEF ‘R’ 2024.

“Learning to Sweep” Jaralyn started to focus on dressage as a working student with US Team rider Arlene “Tuny” Page for two stints in 1994 and 1996 in Hamilton, Massachusetts. Jaralyn has had the privilege of being coached by many talented trainers thereafter; William Warren FEI*** judge (2004-present), Conrad Schumacher (2005-present) and Scott Hassler (2010-present). Jaralyn also participates in clinics and lessons with others including George Williams, Allie Brock, Jeremy Steinberg, Christoph Hess, Luenis Van Lierens, Willy Arts, Anne Gribbons, Axel Steiner and others.

Jaralyn’s teachers as a young person in eventing, equitation and dressage include Lainey Johnson (for whom she cleaned stalls to earn rides on school horses at beloved Mainstone Stable in Wayland Mass and who is today her best friend and mentor) and the exceptional coaching staff at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY from 1991 to 1995 where Jaralyn was a member of the National Champion Varsity Equitation Team. Cindy Ford, Sara Hufsteder, Jeff Garen and Ginny Scholomiti all helped develop Jaralyn’s horse knowledge and experience. Jaralyn’s very earliest lessons were with Heidi Walker-McPhee (Woodside Stables, Sudbury, MA) and Lisa Travis and Elizabeth Carls, teachers at the Mainstone Stables Summer Camps and to this day are friends and equestrian professionals.

Competitive Mileage… and then some… Jaralyn has earned all USDF Medals with Distinction. Gold (2011), Silver (2007) Bronze (2005) and the Gold Freestyle Bar (2012). As of 2025, she has piloted 37 horses through 759 dressage tests. This includes 78 Grand Prix, 39 Intermediare II and 125 ‘small tour’ tests on 12 FEI horses. She has earned 108 scores over 70% in every level of dressage; her current personal best is 78% at Intermediare I with Sanford in 2016.

The Pivotal Partnerships… Among her many self-trained horses, two reached the international (CDI) competitions. Sanford (2005 Hanoverian by Stedinger) showed at CDI0 Dressage at Devon in 2018 and 2019 at Grand Prix, and in 2009 Darius showed the CDI small tour at NEDA Fall, Centerline Events at HITS, and Dressage at Devon.

• Darius With Darius (1993 Oldenburg by Don Primero), Jaralyn was 5th overall in the country in 2010 in the Intermediare 1 MFS; Champion at Intermediare 1 and Reserve Champion at Intermediare 2 at CBLM Finals; Champion at Intermediare 1 MFS and Reserve Champion Intermediare 2 at Regional Championships USDF Region 1. Darius was ‘gifted’ to Jaralyn as a 14yo 3rd level horse by Alexandra Dane. It was such a joy and privilege to develop a partnership with this little 16.1hh superstar.

• Sanford. With Sanford (2005 Hanoverian by Stedinger) Jaralyn qualified for US Dressage Finals at 3rd level MFS in 2013, at Prix St. Georges in 2015 and Grand Prix in 2021. A stanchion of bravery and willingness, an original Warhorse, Sanford achieved national rankings 8 of the 12 years the pair were together, 2017 they were 36th in the country in the Intermediare 2 and 40th at 3rd level in 2013. Sanford aka “Steny” was Jaralyn’s most incredible partner, with whom she completed more than 45 rides at Grand Prix across 8 years competing at that level. Steny came to Jaralyn from friend and talented trainer Erin Sweeney, who sold him to Jaralyn to ensure his quirks would be tolerated and his talents developed.

• The Teachers. Steny, along with Darius and Fabrice S (1997 Hanoverian by Fabriano, gifted to Jaralyn by client Cindy Hutter Cavell when he was 15) were Jaralyn’s most prolific and wonderful teachers. Darius retired from FEI at 20, and went on to give lessons and Bronze medals until 24, and passed at Jaralyn’s farm in 2020. Fabrice is still retired with Jaralyn at 29 years old, and Steny passed away 3 months after his last Grand Prix at 20years old in July 2025, too young and with much grief.

Helping riders love their horses better, with better riding. Jaralyn has helped more than 80 clients since starting her full time training business in 2007, with many long term, invested relationships. Jaralyn finds great joy helping students earn their USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals, and setting annual goals from learning to sit the trot to qualifying for Regional Championships.

Helping to make Horse People. While the bulk of her clients have been horse-loving adult amateurs and professionals, Jaralyn is particularly proud of her work with young riders and her many working students. Like student from age 8, Claire Hodges, who started with up-downs on ponies but ended up part of the Region 1 NAYC Junior Bronze medal team in 2017, showed in the PSG, I- 1 and Young Riders through college at Brown University. Or Cricket Clayton who started out with a tricky Appendix mare in high school and ended up as Jaralyn’s bestest right hand after college, earning her Bronze and much of her Silver medal, taking 2014-2016 to work for Finesse and now has her Masters and does fancy professional science things. Or Hannah Temple, who worked for Finesse part-time in college, and then full time managed the Finesse circus for two years, riding the horses, keeping everyone so happy and now has a family of her own and works for the USEA. Or Allie Conti, who earned her Bronze and Silver medals from 2016-2019 on Jaralyn’s horses, ran Finesse Dressage, and coped with a boss with a new baby, and now is a full-time horse professional for one of our US Team riders. Or current Assistant Trainer Eliza Windsor, who took a risk in 2021 moving Florida to work for a trainer she didn’t know, on a recommendation from a friend, and has spent four years quietly developing her talent and skill with her most lovely Lusitano “Donkey” showing successfully up to Intermediare 1 and helping train the Finesse in-house horses while finishing college. These are just some of the journeys Jaralyn is proud to have been party to.

Real-Life Jobs in the Before Times. Prior to being a full-time trainer, Jaralyn had two rewarding careers and during both she trained and competed horses for clients. Using her BA in Government from Skidmore, Jaralyn worked for NOW-NYS, Inc. as Director of Governmental Affairs, helping to manage and lobby for the 30,000 member women’s rights organization from 1997 to 2000. Jaralyn intended to pursue law school, with acceptances to multiple institutions, but was recruited by the founders of SmartPak Equine, LLC in 2000 and joined them as the fourth employee as Marketing Manager. After 6 amazing years growing this start-up, Jaralyn resigned as the Vice President of New Business Development and launched her full time training business, Finesse Dressage LLC, based in Poolesville, MD in 2007.

Family and Farm. Finesse Dressage has evolved into a boutique training stable, with a farm in Loxahatchee, FL at White Fences for the winter and southern Virginia in the summers. Jaralyn and her life-partner (and farrier!) Joseph Hubschman have an amazing son William and family time has become an important aspect of everyday life with the horses since William’s arrival in 2018.