Jennifer Hoffmann, Bereiter FN
- USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist
- Multiple Horse-of-the-Year Awards
- USET Long Listed Grand Prix Rider
- Trainer to students of all levels
- FEI Young Horse Specialist
 Growing up in California, Jennifer Hoffmann’s roots in horsemanship go back to her childhood. As a young girl, she successfully rode and showed eventing horses. But it wasn’t until the age of 16 did her love of dressage truly blossom. Today, Jennifer and her husband Jürgen, himself an accomplished dressage trainer and judge, as well as Jennifer’s personal coach own a successful breeding, training and sales business, German Dressage, Inc, located in Encinitas, California.
In 1990, Jennifer was invited to go to Germany as a working student. Living and working in Germany through 2001, she had the opportunity to train and show several horses to FEI and Grand Prix level with the guidance of her future husband, Jürgen and
Mr. Jean Bemelanns, Reitmeister FN and the National Dressage Coach for Spain. During her time in Europe, Jennifer proved herself successful at both the national and international level. These successes made it possible for Jennifer to acquire the German Riding License Class 2 (one level below the German Olympic riders, who carry class 1). Because of this achievement, Jennifer was often invited to the DOKR (German Olympic Riding Center) to train with such celebrated clinicians like Mr. Klaus Balkenhol, who was the U.S. Dressage Team Coach and himself a German Olympic Team and Individual Gold Medalist. In 1996, Jennifer received the coveted title of Bereiter (FN) from the German National Federation, and in 1999, garnered the Most Successful Rider Award at the prestigious Luxembourg Dressage Show.
Since returning to the United States in 2001, Jennifer has had a great number of
achievements, including earning her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals,
winning Horse of the Year Awards on multiple horses and qualifying for the 2004
USET Olympic Festival of Champions in San Juan Capistrano at Intermediare-1. In
2006, Jennifer qualified Petit Danseur for the Festival of Champions at
Gladstone, New Jersey at the Grand Prix level. In 2007, she again qualified
Petit Danseur in the Grand Prix Tour for The Festival of Champions where she
placed 8th nationally and was invited to compete at the FEI World Cup
Invitational in Las Vegas earning a 4th place win. 2008 was another exciting
year. Three of her own horses; Rubinio, Farinelli, and Delacroix, finished the
competition season with grand results. With Rubinio, her licensed German
Westfahlen stallion, she qualified and represented the United States at the FEI
World Breeding Championship of Young Horses in Verden, Germany. The pair brought
home a 5th place finish out of 39 horses in the small final with scores of 8.06.
Farinelli, her 9 year old Westfalen gelding that she co-owns with the Walker
family, placed 6th nationally at Intermediare I at the Collecting Gait
Farms/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions held in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. And
Jennifer’s newest horse, Delacroix, the 6 year old Westfalen imported in 2007,
qualified for the 2008 Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships
in Kentucky. The pair qualified in 4th place for the championship.
Along with her own horses, Jennifer trains and coaches Jr/Young riders and Adult Amateurs at all levels
whom have been very successful in reaching their goals. Jennifer is very
proud to have 'the whole crew' out at horse shows together, it creates a
wonderful 'team' feeling which she believes is very important. "We all
help each other and that 's what makes up a very strong team", says Jennifer.
"Whenever I take a lesson with Jennifer, it’s like she’s sitting right behind me in the saddle. She has an amazing ability to explain what needs to be done, at the precise moment it must be done, and most importantly, why", shared client Lisa Blaufuss.
Jennifer continues to prove herself a dedicated horsewoman, rider, trainer,
and coach. With each win, she has become one of the countries top
up-and-coming competitors.
To contact Jennifer call her at 858- 945-6044 or email her at: germandressage@aol.com
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Career Highlights:
2008
Farinelli
Qualified - USEF National Developing Young Horse Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
2008 Collecting Gait Farms/USEF Dressage Festival of Champions at San Juan Capistrano, Ca.
Placed 6th overall at Intermediare I
Champion USDF All Breed Award for the Westfahlen Horse Association in Prix St. George and Intermediare
Mid Winter Dressage CDI***-W Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 3rd place-Prix
St. George
Mid Winter Dressage CDI*-W, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 4th
place-Intermediare I
Festival of the Horse CDI***, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 1st
place-Intermediare I Freestyle
Festival of the Horse CDI***, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 3rd place-Prix St.
Georges
Festival of the Horse CDI***, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, Reserve
Champion-Intermediare 1
USEF High Performance Qualifier, Dressage Getaway, Indio, Ca, Champion-Prix St.
George
USEF Developing Horse Champion, Dressage Getaway USEF High Performance Qualifier, Indio, Ca
Named to the USET/USEF Developing Horse List
Rubinio
Qualified for the FEI 6 year old division, Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
 Qualified and represented the United States at the FEI World Breeding Championship of Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany. Jennifer and
Rubinio brought placed 5th out of 39 horses in the small Final with a score of 8.06
Delacroix
Qualified for the FEI 6 year old division, Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
USDF Horse of the Year Award- FEI 6 year olds, 4th place overall with Delacroix
Ricci One
Qualified for the FEI 5 year old division, Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
Petit Danseur
Mid Winter Dressage CDI***-W, Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 7th place-Grand
Prix with a 65.292%
Mid Winter Dressage CDI***-W, Los Angeles Equestrian Center,
5th place-Grand Prix Special with a 65.720%
Festival of the Horse CDI*-W, Los Angeles Equestrian
Center, 5th place-Grand Prix
Festival of the Horse CDI*-W Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 3rd place-Grand
Prix Freestyle
2007
Petit Danseur
DG Bar Dressage USET/USEF Qualifier, Reserve Champion-Grand Prix
DG Bar Dressage USET/USEF Qualifier, Champion-Grand Prix Special
Las Vegas FEI World Cup Grand Prix Invitational, 4th place,
2007 Collecting Gait Farms/USEF Dressage Festival of
Champions at Grand Prix, Placed 8th overall nationally
Jennifer and Petit Danseur are named to the USET/USEF Dressage Long List for the third year in row
Farinelli
2007 USEF National Developing Horse Dressage Championships, Lexington, Kentucky,
ranked 4th in the nation/3rd in qualifying
2006
Petit Danseur
CDS/USDF Great American Bankers
Championships, Keen Memorial Trophy awarded for Highest Combined Grand Prix and Grand Prix
Freestyle Average
CDS/USDF Great American Insurance
Group Championships, Champion-Grand Prix Horse of The Year
CDS/USDF Great American Insurance Group Championships,
Reserve Champion-Grand Prix Freestyle
Woodside CDI*** USET Qualifier, Champion-Grand Prix Freestyle
Woodside CDI*** USET Qualifier, Reserve Champion-Grand Prix
Pebble Beach CDI*** USET Qualifier, Champion-Grand Prix Freestyle
Pebble Beach CDI*** USET Qualifier, Champion-Grand Prix
Del Mar CDI*** Grand Prix Sweepstakes, Reserve Champion-Grand Prix,
Dressage at Flintridge USET High Performance Qualifier, 3rd place-Grand Prix,
Dressage at Flintridge USET High Performance Qualifier, Reserve
Champion-Grand Prix Special
2005
Petit Danseur
Dressage Affaire USET Qualifier, 4th place-Grand Prix
Dressage Affaire USET Qualifier,
3rd place-Grand Prix Special
Named to the USET Long List with Petit Danseur
Herzberg
Rancho Murrieta CDI*** USET Qualifier, 5th place-Grand Prix
Rancho Murrieta CDI*** USET Qualifier, 3rd place-Grand Prix Special
Dressage at Flintridge USET Qualifier, 4th place-Grand Prix
G2 RondoUSDF 3rd Level Horse of the Year with an average
score of 72%
2004
Dressage Affaire USET Qualifier, Winner- Most Classical Rider Award
Petit Danseur
Rancho Murrieta CDI*** USET Qualifier, Champion- Intermediare I
Dressage Affaire USET
Qualifier, Champion-PSG, Intermediare I, and Intermediare I Freestyle
Dressage Affaire USET Qualifier, Winner of the prestigious Déjà Vu
Memorial Trophy
USET Festival of Champions and Olympic Selection Trials, San Juan Capistrano,
Ca. 8th-Intermediare I Championship
Pebble Beach CDI***, High Point Champion- Intermediare II
Herzberg
Pebble Beach CDI***USET Qualifier, Champion-Prix St. George
Pebble Beach CDI*** USET Qualifier, Champion-Intermediare I
Pebble Beach CDI*** USET Qualifier , Champion Intermediate I Freestyle
Pebble Beach CDI***, High Point CDI Champion
Pik’s Pride
Pebble Beach CDI***, Winner of the Prix St. Georges Perpetual Trophy
Pebble Beach CDI-W***, High Point winner Prix St. George Open Show with a 72%
Del Mar National Horse Show
CDI-W***, High Point winner Fourth Level Open Division
2003
Petit Danseur
USDF Region 7 HOY Intermediare I Champion
CDS Horse of the Year Intermediare I Reserve Champion
Del Mar National Horse Show CDI***, FEI High Point Award with an overall score
of 73%
Facet
USDF Region 7 HOY Intermediare I Reserve Champion
Herzberg
Rancho Murrieta CDI*** USET Qualifier, Reserve Champion-Prix St. George
Pebble Beach CDI***, Reserve Champion Prix St. George
Pebble Beach CDI***, Champion Intermediare I Freestyle,
Endor
USDF/ABIG Region 7 HOY Championships, Intermediare II Champion
Additional Career Highlights
Pik's Pride, the black Oldenburg Stallion is selected to represent Professionals’ Choice
products in their 2008 national ad campaign
Published articles by Jennifer Hoffmann:
"Dressage—Preserving the Natural Beauty of Our Sport", Ride Magazine, February, 2006
"The Wonderful Walk", Practical Horseman, May 2007
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Jürgen Hoffmann, Reitlehrer FN and Licensed Judge
- Coached multiple riders to success at regional, national, and international competitions
- Trained numerous horses to Grand Prix
- Chef d'Equipe for 2006 Region 7 JR/YR team at NAYRC in Virginia
 Jürgen’s interest in horses was serious from the start. Born in Krefeld, Germany, he started riding at age 14 when he traded a local trainer horse grooming for riding lessons. At age 18, he decided to take his horse experience to the next level and become a professional.
Jürgen Hoffmann has considerable knowledge and expertise which he brings to the
American dressage scene. He is a Reitlehrer FN (Pferdewirtschaftsmeister), a
licensed judge in Germany, and has brought many horses from the lower levels up
to Grand Prix, both as a coach and as a rider. In addition, both he and his wife
Jennifer, whom he also coaches, have been very successful in the show arena.
Jürgen was named "Most Successful Rider" at the July 2000 Luxembourg
International Horse Show on his Hanoverian gelding, Endor, and continued his
successful partnership in the U.S. where Jürgen and Endor were virtually
undefeated in 2001 at I-1, I-2 and Grand Prix , qualifying Jürgen for a USDF
Gold Medal.
Jürgen himself learned from the very best. After training with Reitmeister Jean Bemelmans, former German Champion and current trainer of the Spanish Dressage Team,
Jürgen passed his Bereiter test at Warendorf at the top of his class. Subsequently, he was employed as a Bereiter by Norbert Koof, World Champion Show Jumping Rider
in Dublin in 1982. Under Mr. Koof, Jürgen showed horses in jumping at S level and dressage from First Level to Prix St. Georges.
From there, he moved to Eberwein Stable in Frankfurt where he worked with Reitlehrer Georg Prause, former trainer of the Japanese Dressage Team. It was there that Jürgen trained a sale horse named Nepomuck who went on to win the individual Bronze Medal in Jumping at the Seoul Olympics under rider Karsten Huck.’ But, his heart was still in
Krefeld. He eventually moved back to his roots and took a job at Sieben Linden Dressage Stable in
Krefeld. He acted as Bereiter and Manager for the facility. It was here that Jürgen trained a sale horse named Nepomuck who went on to win the Bronze Medal in the Seoul Olympics under rider Karsten Huck. During the 6 years he spent at Sieben Linden, Jürgen trained with Reitmeister Robert Schmidke, who
also trained Olympic and Grand Prix riders Margit Otto-Crepin and Josef
Neckermann. Together with Mr. Robert Schmidke, Jürgen produced multiple Grand
Prix horses which were sold through the Sieben Linden Stable. In 1987, he became one of the youngest to successfully pass 12 weeks of Reitlehrer testing at the German Riding Schools in Münster and Warendorf.
In 1991, Jürgen and his wife Jennifer, also a very accomplished rider, opened their own dressage stable in Krefeld called
Dressurstall TopsHof. There, along with their regular training and sales business, he and Jennifer prepared young stallions for 100-Day Testing and
Keurings, they trained, showed and managed stallions for other stud farms, they stood their own stallions, and bred outstanding crops of foals. The Hoffmann’s "premium" success continued in the United States with Pik’s Pride’s 2002 foal crop all receiving Gold Medal Premiums from the Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar Pferdezuchterverband. Their Trakhener stallion Herzberg had "premium success" too, with his 2004 foal crop receiving Premiums from both the German Oldenburg and the Rheinland-Pfalz-Saar Verbands .
At home, Jürgen actively works together with Jennifer in riding and training. Together, they have advanced a large number of their own horses, as well as those of their clients, to the FEI levels. Jürgen is a highly sought after clinician and coach for some of the top dressage riders in throughout the United States.
His students have been successful in state, regional, and international
competitions.
To contact Jürgen, call him at 858- 945-6022 or email him at:
germandressage@aol.com
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Career Highlights:
2008
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann on Farinelli to a 6th place finish at the National I-1 Championships and Olympic Selection Trials in San Juan Capistrano, California
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann and Farinelli for the USEF National Developing Young Horse Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann and Delacroix for the FEI 6 Year Old Division, Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann and Rubinio at the FEI World Championships for Young
Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany where the pair finished 5th in the 5 year old
Small Final.
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann and Ricci One for the FEI 5 Year Old Division, Markel/USEF National Young Horse Dressage Championships held in Lexington, Kentucky
2007
Coached Leslie Morse on Tip Top at the 2007 FEI World Cup in Las Vegas
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann on Petit Danseur to a 4th place finish at the FEI World Cup Invitational (Grand Prix) in Las Vegas
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann on Petit Danseur to an 8th place finish at the Grand Prix National Championships in Gladstone, NJ
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann on Farinelli to a 4th place finish at the USEF National Developing Young Horse Championships held in Lexington, KY.
2006
Coached Jennifer Schrader-Williams on HS Wistar to a 3rd place finish at
Intermediare I at the USET Festival of Champions-Brentina Cup Championship held
in Gladstone, NJ
Coached Leslie Morse on Tip Top to a 3rd place finish at the USET Festival of Champions, held in Gladstone, NJ. This achievement qualified her for the World Equestrian Games in Aachen Germany where she won the team bronze medal.
Chef d’Equipe for Region 7 Jr/Young Rider Team at NAYRC in Virginia
Coached Susan Walker on Kalibre to a 4th place finish in the FEI Junior Individual Test and a 5th place finish in the FEI Junior Freestyle at the NAYRC Championships
in Virginia
2005
Coached Jennifer Schrader-Williams on HS Wistar to a 5th place finish at USET Festival of Champions I-1 held in Gladstone, NJ
Coached Jennifer Schrader-Williams on Phirst Solo to a 10th place finish at USET Festival of Champions Grand Prix
Championship held in Gladstone, NJ
Coached Susan Walker on Endor to a FEI Jr/YR Champion on the CDS-San Diego Circuit
Coached Susan Walker on Kalibre to a 6th place finish for 2005 USDF Jr/YR at Third Level, a 2nd place finish for NAWPN Jr/YR at Third Level, and CDS San Diego Circuit Champion at Second Level and Reserve Champion at Third Level
2004
Coached Jennifer Hoffmann on Petit Danseur to an 8th place finish at the National I-1 Championships and Olympic Selection Trials held in San Juan Capistrano, Ca.
Coached Susan Walker to her gold team medal and individual bronze on Facet at the JR Championships at Pebble Beach
CDI***Coached Susan Walker on Facet to a 13th place finish for USDF HOY Open Division at Third Level, 4th place finish in the USDF HOY Jr/YR Division at Third Level, 7th place finish in the USDF HOY Jr/YR Divison, Fourth Level.
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Birthe Laufer, Bereiter FN and Assistant Trainer
- Trainer to riders of all abilities up to FEI
- Expertise in young horse development
- Successful FEI competitor
 German born Birthe Laufer is an FEI Rider and the Assistant Trainer for German Dressage. Her background in horsemanship is grounded in the German classical principles of riding. Throughout her career, she has had the benefit of working with and learning from highly accomplished professionals in Germany. This knowledge she effectively uses on any horse she rides whether it be a talented sporthorse or a backyard companion, horses under her care simply shine.
As a young adult, she competed with her horses in her regional dressage circuit.
She was Champion of the Brandenburg Dressage Circuit in 1998 and 2000. In 2000,
she was selected to become a member of the German D-Kader, an organization that
selects talented young riders and grooms them for higher level competitions
through sponsored clinics with the German National Coach and other talented
trainers.
From 2001 to 2003, she interned with several highly accomplished German trainers furthering her riding knowledge and skills. She worked with Riding Master Franz-Josef Dahmen, an international Grand Prix Dressage competitor at his training and competition barn in Aachen. Next, she worked with Reitlehrer Ralph Michael Rash, the former head trainer of the German Riding School in Warendorf. And, finally, she worked with Reitlehrer Wieger de Boer, an international Grand Prix Dressage competitor located in Hamburg.
In 2003 Birthe started her apprenticeship for her Bereiter’s license, a two year commitment. From 2003-2005, she worked at Reitlehrer Josef Freese’s show and sales barn in Vechta, Germany. At his barn, she started and prepared young horses for Keurings and Licensing. She showed many horses in hand, handled young stallions and trained them in free jumping.
A career highlight during her time at Mr. Freese's stable was when she started and prepared on her own, five young mares for their licensing. She presented these mares under saddle and in free jumping at the German Oldenburg Verband’s center in Vechta. Three of these mares received the desirable State’s Premium award and two were awarded the Elite Mare status, a respected accomplishment since Elite Mare status is only given to the top 15 Oldenburg mares in Germany yearly.
At Mr. Freese’s facility, Birthe often presented sale horses to prospective clients and regularly prepared horses for the well-reputed Vechta Auctions, the central marketplace for German Oldenburg Sporthorses. Her education included horse health, nutrition, and facility management.
In the summer of 2005, Birthe traveled to Warendorf, Germany where she took and passed the comprehensive and demanding
two week exam for her Bereiters license.
Desiring to travel abroad before starting her Veterinarian studies, in the fall of 2005, Birthe traveled to the US. At the recommendation of the head of the Oldenburg Verband, she stayed for a couple of months with Debbie Smith in Vermont. Ms. Smith is a former long-listed Eventer and Dressage Rider. Later, she traveled to California to train with Jürgen and Jennifer Hoffmann at German Dressage. In 2007, she was offered and accepted a full time position to work for them.
Today, as Assistant Trainer for German Dressage, she works with clients helping them achieve their riding and showing goals. She also continues to start young horses and prepare them for Materiale Classes, Keurings, and licensing. Currently, Birthe is showing the 5 year old Swedish stallion Alazon to fulfill the licensing criteria. She also rides and competes on Gay Walker’s Grand Prix horse Endor at Prix St. George and is bringing Lisa Blanchard’s Hanoverian gelding, Mr. Bean up the levels where the pair is currently showing at 3rd level. Throughout all her equestrian endeavors, she applies the classic principles of the German Training
Pyramid. To her, the result of a well-trained, harmonious horse is solid
training foundation, it’s always about the basics.
In her free time, Birthe is working on also becoming a personal trainer, having won the 8 Week Challenge at San Diego Premier Training. With this new knowledge, she
further helps clients learn more about fitness, health, and its positive impact on their riding.
Career Highlights:
2008
First Place finish with Endor in Prix St. Georges at the Del Mar Classic CDI
Top 5 finishes in mid to high 60's with Private Dancer at Fourth Level
Placed 5th at fourth level Open Division for the CDS San Diego Circuit Awards on Private Dancer
Multiple wins with scores in the mid to high 60’s at second level on Alazon and Khaos and at
second level on Mr. Bean
Placed 3rd at second level Open division for the CDS San Diego Circuit Awards on Alazon
Placed 5th at second level Open division for the CDS San Diego Circuit Awards on Mr. Bean.
Multiple wins and top 5 placing in Materiale Classes with 4 year old Pik’s Eternity and 4 year old Pik’s Allegro with scores in the mid 70’s. Both young horses were started by Birthe.
2007
Successfully competed horses at multiple levels; from Materiale classes up to
Fourth Level at shows such as the Del Mar National
CDI***, Dressage Affaire CDI***, the Del Mar Classic CDI***, Dressage Getaway, and the CDS San Diego Chapter shows in Del Mar.
2006
Champion Third Level -
CDS San Diego Circuit with Coupon
High Point and multiple first place wins with scores in the 70’s on Khaos at Training and
First Level.
2004
Trained and successfully presented five young mares to State’s Premium and Elite Mare Status. Elite Mare status is only given to the top 15 Oldenburg mares in Germany yearly.
2000
Champion, Oberhavel Dressage Circuit
Selected to become member of German D-Kader
1999
Champion Oberhavel Dressage Circuit
1998
Reserve
Champion Oberhavel Dressage Circuit
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Rancho Los Amigos Equestrian Center
German Dressage, is located at Rancho Los Amigos Equestrian Center in Encinitas, Ca. Just 25 miles north of San Diego, Rancho Los Amigos offers premium stabling in a beautiful park like setting.
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Contact Information: