Linda Christie

Linda Christie started riding as a horse crazy girl at the age of ten and she hasn't stopped since then. She was an active 4-H member and a very successful competitor on the local show circuit. Realizing that riding was her passion and she wanted to make a career of it, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Equestrian Studies at Salem College in West Virginia. In1981 after finishing her studies, she managed a riding stable in Grafton, Massachusetts but still wanted more education. She attended Newberry College in Boston and obtained an Associates degree in Animal Technology graduating with honors. Later, she enjoyed the experience of working at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in their large animal clinic that broadened her knowledge of equine health and biomechanics.

In 1985, while working for a small animal veterinary clinic just outside of Washington, D.C., Linda had found that small animal veterinary medicine was just not her thing! It was then that she purchased Pepperland, a promising young Swedish Warmblood, who brought her back into the horse business.

While attending Westmoreland Davis Equestrian Institute in Leesburg, Virginia, Linda met and trained with Olympic Gold Medalist Tad Coffin. Upon completing the program, Tad offered her the position of Farm Manager at his base of operations, LinAnn Farms in Haymarket, Virginia.

She continued her riding education under Tad's guidance for the next four years while managing his large, competitive training facility. In the early 90's, Linda started working with a well-known local German Bereiter. It was there that she was introduced to the German System of riding, a systematic educational method of training horses and riders.

From 1992-1995, while working as an assistant trainer, she continued to show Pepperland as well as clients' horses. Linda earned her USDF Bronze medal and several USDF year-end awards. During this period of time, Linda also began working as a freelance dressage instructor. As a result of her success and these experiences, Linda decided to make the move to Germany to continue studying the German training system. In June of 1995, Linda headed to southern Germany to train with Waldimar Ress at his Pferdehof in Hessenau. Linda became fluent in German and found herself quite at home in the German culture. After spending a year in the U.S., Linda returned to Germany in the fall of 2000 to accept the position of Barn Manager at the soon to be opened International Academy for Equestrian Studies in Warendorf where she remained employed until it closed in fall of 2003. When the school reopened under new management and the new name of International Equestrian Academy, Linda stayed on as Operations Manager until spring of 2005. During her time in Germany, Linda has continued her dressage education on her beloved schoolmasters April, Karlchen, and Ecuador. She has trained with Bimbo Peilica, Eckart Meyners, Uwe Struss and in clinics with Angelika Froemming.

In spring of 2005, Linda decided that it was time to become more directly involved with the horses again both as a teacher and rider. Linda left the Academy and launched her own business - International Equestrian Connections - to promote equestrian sport in North America and to facilitate connections between North Americans and the German horse culture. Linda has also recently completed the newly developed BalimoTM Equestrian Training Program as one of its core instructors and is eager to start sharing this valuable information with other riders throughout North America. (More information about the BalimoTM Equestrian Training Program can be found at www.equestrianeducation.org)