A Tradition with Warmbloods

“Not to say I am an anti-Warmblood person,” Chrissa is quick to point out. “Actually Warmbloods are all I have ever personally owned. My job is fun, because each day I ride 7-8 horses, training from Warmbloods, to Saddlebreds and Morgans.” Chrissa believes she has become a much better rider, and a more sensitive trainer as a result of working with this variation of breeds.

In 1997 she and Barbara imported Chiral, as a five-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Amiral x Challot x Ceylon) and Chrissa has developed him from Training Level to Grand Prix. Since the death of her trainer and mentor Barbara Silverman in 2000, Chrissa has basically been doing most of her own training, aside from a stint in training with Robert Dover and Tina Konyot, and clinics.

“The only help I got was an occasional clinic here and there, ” commented Chrissa. “This was very hard for me, because I was so used to having Barbara's instruction and help on a regular basis. Since her death, I have had to learn my own style of riding and technique, and how to problem solve on my own.”

Photo credit: Ruth Dehmel Photography- Diana Hadsall Photo