AP Dressage

Alyssa Pagon Pitts is a successful and active FEI trainer and competitor. She is also a USDF L judge program graduate with distinction and USEF "r" judge candidate. Alyssa is trained by Olympian and World Cup champion Steffen Peters. A self-made rider and trainer, Alyssa has gained a reputation for good horsemanship and skillful riding by achieving repeated successes with many different horses. Notably, she has taken some very difficult "problem" horses and turned them into very successful and competitive show horses. Alyssa is also very adept in training and bringing along green horses. Currently, the 4 year old horse, Avery, ridden and trained by Alyssa is ranked in the top ten nationally in the 4 Year Old Division. Alyssa is a serious and dedicated trainer and rider with high aspirations. Horses trained by Alyssa have a high degree of rideability while also being developed to the best of their athletic abilities. Alyssa is also a sought after instructor and clinician with a positive approach to teaching. Her students have been very successful in the show ring as well as in their relationships with their horses. Alyssa has coached several CDS Junior Champions and her students have also been quite successful at the CDS/USDF Championships. Although Alyssa enjoys showing and competing, it is not the be all, end all of her training and her focus. She takes pride in developing horses and riders, regardless of their competitive aspirations. Beginners through advanced riders are welcome, and AP Dressage does offer lessons on school horses for those without horses. Horses of all levels and breeds are welcome as well. Alyssa has been influenced by many trainers and schools of thought; in particular, she would like to give special mention to Randy Leighton. Randy's lessons have been countless and powerful, and they define Alyssa's approach to horses. It is a system that is based on timing and feel and that treats each horse as an individual and partner. She is very lucky to ride with Steffen Peters on a regular basis and also periodically clinics with FEI "O" judge Axel Steiner.