Heather Bender has designed our curriculum to provide a safe and creative environment in which overall horsemanship skills and a proper foundation is the key to our program. Our trainers instill an understanding of correct aids and a balanced seat so that our students can achieve their equestrian dreams in an encouraging, nurturing environment. Our approach is classical using dressage basics with
an emphasis for the love of the horse.
-Private and semi-private lesson geared to the young rider or adult.
-TCEA Horsemanship Certification offered through the year in a classroom and hands on learning experience.
-Sympathetic instructors and horses that help to rebuild a riders confidence.
-We use dressage techniques to give you a skill set that will make your journey into your chosen discipline easier.
-Regular classes offered ranging from nutrition and fitness to biomechanics.
-Our goal is to help riders refine their communications with their horse by developing their seats and effective aids.
-To develop the confidence, correct basics and knowledge to achieve you equestrian dreams. Heather Bender's Bio
Accomplished Grand Prix rider/trainer/coach, Heather Bender has been riding and competing for more than 50 years. Her unusual background of experience includes; Barrel racing, Professional Trick Rider, Went on to show jumping and equation, riding up to small Grand Prix level in jumping, competed to the advanced prelim level in eventing. Heather found that Dressage was the key to a lot of her success in many disciplines. She worked hard to develop her dressage knowledge and by 19 yrs. moved to Europe to get a stronger education in Dressage with Mr. George Theodorerescu. She spent 3 years working in Germany and England. She accepted a job assistant trainer at Soley Farm working for Sandy Pfleuger in England to improve her knowledge. Heather showed her first Grand Prix dressage test by the age of 21 yrs., on her own horse, which she started from un-broke and has followed that accomplishment with multiple horses and still competing in the Grand Prix today. She is the recipient of the USDF bronze, silver and gold medals and has won numerous USEF and USET national awards and scholarships, including two Can/Am team gold medals, and an Olympic Festival team gold medal. She was also selected to represent the U.S. in the Young Horse World Championships in Arnhem, Holland. Heather is 5-Star trainer, 4th level Certified USDF instructor, she retired after 25 years of USEF judging, Heather decided that she wanted to focus on her riding, training, and teaching. She felt the time it required to continue to FEI judging at a top level would not allow her the time to focus on her business Treasure Coast Dressage. Heather loves to teach and write. She has published author/contributor with over 40 Dressage articles on training in equestrian publications. She was awarded by Florida’s Gold Coast Dressage Association, Grand Prix rider and trainer of the year. Heather contributes her success to so many great trainers, teachers and horses that have helped her on her riding journey. Sadly, too many to name everyone, but she wants to give a special thanks to all those who have inspired, helped, influenced and most of all cared. She offers a special thank you to some of the most influential: Jud Bender, Jug Reynolds, Wally Ross, Glen & Corky Randel, Larry Journey, Foxfield, Hilda Gurney, Jimmy Williams, George Theodorerescu, Sandy Pfleuger, Harry Bolt, Reiner Klimke, Michael Poulin, Carol Lavell, Shelly Francis, Rodrigo Matos. She sends an extra Thank you to her mother Kathy Trichel, who took her to endless horse shows, rodeos, and parades, driving a motor home, pulling the horses. Heather says it certainly Heather Bender
takes a village. The hundreds of horses that Heather has ridden has been one of the greatest assets to her knowledge, along with the village of support! Heather has taught all over the USA and the world to include Brazil, New Zealand, and Europe. She moved from California to Florida to be close to Wellington’s Winter Festival and High-Performance Competition for her own riding, training and teaching. Heather loves to use her vast cross discipline knowledge to help not only dressage riders but jumpers too. After starting in Wellington and deciding to make Florida her final home, she moved 45 minutes North to Martin County and started her business Treasure Coast Dressage, She and her husband Kaz built a home on 10 acres in Palm City. Kaz’s business is raising parrots. They have 350 parrots, 4 dogs, 2 cats at home (and 3 at the barn) and 12 large rescued African spur tortoises. If you can not find Heather at her barn teaching or riding or at her personal zoo, at her house, then look to the Atlantic Ocean, out on a ledge probably 80 feet down spear fishing, scuba diving, her other passion! Heather is the owner and director of training for Treasure Coast Dressage. Her philosophy is to provide the environment, education, and support for her riders/owners to reach their dreams. She seeks clients who love their horses and put their horse’s wellbeing first. She feels her riders and horses are not expendable. She knows her job is to provide the support, education, and proper environment to reach their goals, while thriving in the journey! She believes in a journey built on correct basics that can lead to Grand Prix dressage or Grand Prix jumping. She is gifted at working with different breeds, disciplines, and the clients own riding skills adapting their needs into a program with short term goals and long-term goals. Heather is completely dedicated to the process of teaching and training along with seeking a non-drama environment! Heather is available for a few clinics a year. Heather Bender’s home is Treasure Coast Dressage, located in Palm City, Florida, USA. 561 596 1519
