Judy Westlake
Judy Westlake is known all over the states as a premier Gold Medal Rider and USDF Certified Instructor training many horses and riders up through Grand Prix in Dressage. Her extensive education and experience includes a degree in Animal Science from the University of Rhode Island and Olympic level dressage instruction from the top Dressage trainers in the world. She has worked and ridden in nearly every aspect of the English riding disciplines through out her equine career currently focusing on Dressage and continues to teach lessons, clinics and lectures all over the states.
Biography
Judy started her life long equine career at the young age of three, mentored by her equestrienne mother, Mary “Pudge” Whitford on her horse Suzy Q. By the time Judy was 8 years old, she was showing her own 10.2 hand pony “Sugar Cookie, quite successfully, becoming “Pet Pony Champion” at her second show. She continued competing in local Hunter Shows in Rhode Island, starting in Pony Hunters, Junior Equitation, Children's hunters and Jumpers. Entering young adulthood Judy worked in the Thoroughbred industry, often galloping race horses at the track and eventually becoming a successful eventing competitor.
Upon graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science, Judy was employed by Johnson and Wales University as an instructor in their Equine Studies Department where she taught riding as well as lectures in Equitation Theory and Equine Behavior.
An wonderful opportunity to lease a barn in North Conway , NH became available and she establish Windcroft Stables in Madison, NH, creating a thriving lesson and training operation, emphasizing dressage and eventing.
It was during this time that Judy met Sue Blinks, one of the nation’s top dressage riders, having earned medals at the Olympic Games and FEI World Equestrian Games. Through Sue Blinks education, Judy acquired her enduring love of dressage. Sue helped Judy find two foundation dressage warmbloods, Iggy and Livian, which Judy went on to successfully train to Prix St George and Grand Prix.
In 1991, Judy established Broad Park Equestrian Center in Gray, Maine. Broad Park was successfully owned, designed and built by Judy to be a full-service board and training facility on 20 acres , housing 28 horses. During this time, she become a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) certified instructor earning her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. She credits the foundation knowledge contained in this curriculum, along with exceptional mentoring from Major Anders Lindgren.
Lindgren was an accomplished rider having won the 1971 Swedish Dressage Championship. He was the reserve rider on the Swedish Olympic Team in 1972 and also won the Scandinavian Eventing Championship in 1959. Judy learned from his systematic, structured approach to teaching dressage that helped her learn to become the extraordinarily well-educated instructor she is today.
When Sue Blinks moved from New England, Judy began to study with Gunnar Ostergaard. A Danish legend who has trained many horses and riders through Grand Prix, winning competitions in Europe, Devon and at the United States Equestrian Team's (USET) Festival of Champions. Gunnar’s incredible education helped Judy take her horse Iggy and several students horses up through Grand Prix. In order to maintain her working relationship with Gunnar, Judy began to winter in Florida so she could continue her own education. Even with a growing national clinic schedule, Judy’s focus on her own elevated education was a priority to be able to offer premier coaching and teaching.
In 1999, Judy was very fortunate to have a wonderful group of dedicated students sponsor her next Grand Prix horse, Lyric. She competed Lyric as an endeavor to qualify for the 2000 Olympics Games. Lyric and Judy were truly an extraordinary pair receiving scores for their USDF Gold Medal but unfortunately not make the team.
Judy persisted, extensively training with Karl Mikolka, former chief rider at the Spanish Riding School, for over seven years. His exercises for the training of the horse are known to be unparalleled. Judy’s grew to have a deep understanding of his work as one of his former, long-time students. Riding many different breeds of horses with Karl, from Welsh Cobs, to Friesians, to an assortment of Warmbloods. His exercises are now an integral part of her training and instruction, giving her another layer of understanding and approach on how to school any select breed up the levels of dressage.
In 2002, Judy met a kinesiologist professor , Eckart Meyners PhD from Lunenburg, Germany through clinician and writer, Jill Hassler Scoop. Eckart’s work in coaching the rider to better position through kinesthetic movement and exercises with the “Balimo” system was a huge influence in Judy’s work and instruction. She studied with Eckart for a number of years being exposed to the German riding academy and introduced to Hannes Muller, head of the instructor certification system for all of Germany. Her six plus years of work with Professor Meyners and Hannes Muller have been integrated into her teaching, riding and training giving her an exceptional amount of kinesthetic exercises and task oriented approaches for her students. Eckart’s “Balimo” system has since been adopted by Olympic silver medalist Heike Kemmer as well as the German education system for all riders and instructors.
Judy's Current Life.....
Judy continues to teach, coach and train as well clinic throughout the country. She continues with her own education working with the most highly qualified and accomplished trainers, riders and horses in the world including Alfredo Hernandez. a Piaffe/Passage work in hand expert. Alfredo has worked with Steffen Peters, Jan Ebling, Leslie Morse, Hilda Gurney and Heather Blitz as well as many other top international riders.
“What I love most about teaching is working with people who want to learn. I don’t care what their discipline is or what level the ride at, if they want to learn, I can teach them.”
~ Judy Westlake
“Judy is the ultimate integrator. She is the best kind of instructor – she’s still learning. She brings sound, proven theory, her own keen experiences and an outstanding ability to assess what’s needed to any situation. She then formulates a successful plan for horse and rider to do their very best. She’s truly extraordinary. I’ve ridden with her for 10 years now and every time, I learn, I improve, my horses succeed.”
Dana Butler-Moburg
Executive Director
J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center
Judy Westlake is known all over the states as a premier Gold Medal Rider and USDF Certified Instructor training many horses and riders up through Grand Prix in Dressage. Her extensive education and experience includes a degree in Animal Science from the University of Rhode Island and Olympic level dressage instruction from the top Dressage trainers in the world. She has worked and ridden in nearly every aspect of the English riding disciplines through out her equine career currently focusing on Dressage and continues to teach lessons, clinics and lectures all over the states.
Biography
Judy started her life long equine career at the young age of three, mentored by her equestrienne mother, Mary “Pudge” Whitford on her horse Suzy Q. By the time Judy was 8 years old, she was showing her own 10.2 hand pony “Sugar Cookie, quite successfully, becoming “Pet Pony Champion” at her second show. She continued competing in local Hunter Shows in Rhode Island, starting in Pony Hunters, Junior Equitation, Children's hunters and Jumpers. Entering young adulthood Judy worked in the Thoroughbred industry, often galloping race horses at the track and eventually becoming a successful eventing competitor.
Upon graduating from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science, Judy was employed by Johnson and Wales University as an instructor in their Equine Studies Department where she taught riding as well as lectures in Equitation Theory and Equine Behavior.
An wonderful opportunity to lease a barn in North Conway , NH became available and she establish Windcroft Stables in Madison, NH, creating a thriving lesson and training operation, emphasizing dressage and eventing.
It was during this time that Judy met Sue Blinks, one of the nation’s top dressage riders, having earned medals at the Olympic Games and FEI World Equestrian Games. Through Sue Blinks education, Judy acquired her enduring love of dressage. Sue helped Judy find two foundation dressage warmbloods, Iggy and Livian, which Judy went on to successfully train to Prix St George and Grand Prix.
In 1991, Judy established Broad Park Equestrian Center in Gray, Maine. Broad Park was successfully owned, designed and built by Judy to be a full-service board and training facility on 20 acres , housing 28 horses. During this time, she become a United States Dressage Federation (USDF) certified instructor earning her USDF Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. She credits the foundation knowledge contained in this curriculum, along with exceptional mentoring from Major Anders Lindgren.
Lindgren was an accomplished rider having won the 1971 Swedish Dressage Championship. He was the reserve rider on the Swedish Olympic Team in 1972 and also won the Scandinavian Eventing Championship in 1959. Judy learned from his systematic, structured approach to teaching dressage that helped her learn to become the extraordinarily well-educated instructor she is today.
When Sue Blinks moved from New England, Judy began to study with Gunnar Ostergaard. A Danish legend who has trained many horses and riders through Grand Prix, winning competitions in Europe, Devon and at the United States Equestrian Team's (USET) Festival of Champions. Gunnar’s incredible education helped Judy take her horse Iggy and several students horses up through Grand Prix. In order to maintain her working relationship with Gunnar, Judy began to winter in Florida so she could continue her own education. Even with a growing national clinic schedule, Judy’s focus on her own elevated education was a priority to be able to offer premier coaching and teaching.
In 1999, Judy was very fortunate to have a wonderful group of dedicated students sponsor her next Grand Prix horse, Lyric. She competed Lyric as an endeavor to qualify for the 2000 Olympics Games. Lyric and Judy were truly an extraordinary pair receiving scores for their USDF Gold Medal but unfortunately not make the team.
Judy persisted, extensively training with Karl Mikolka, former chief rider at the Spanish Riding School, for over seven years. His exercises for the training of the horse are known to be unparalleled. Judy’s grew to have a deep understanding of his work as one of his former, long-time students. Riding many different breeds of horses with Karl, from Welsh Cobs, to Friesians, to an assortment of Warmbloods. His exercises are now an integral part of her training and instruction, giving her another layer of understanding and approach on how to school any select breed up the levels of dressage.
In 2002, Judy met a kinesiologist professor , Eckart Meyners PhD from Lunenburg, Germany through clinician and writer, Jill Hassler Scoop. Eckart’s work in coaching the rider to better position through kinesthetic movement and exercises with the “Balimo” system was a huge influence in Judy’s work and instruction. She studied with Eckart for a number of years being exposed to the German riding academy and introduced to Hannes Muller, head of the instructor certification system for all of Germany. Her six plus years of work with Professor Meyners and Hannes Muller have been integrated into her teaching, riding and training giving her an exceptional amount of kinesthetic exercises and task oriented approaches for her students. Eckart’s “Balimo” system has since been adopted by Olympic silver medalist Heike Kemmer as well as the German education system for all riders and instructors.
Judy's Current Life.....
Judy continues to teach, coach and train as well clinic throughout the country. She continues with her own education working with the most highly qualified and accomplished trainers, riders and horses in the world including Alfredo Hernandez. a Piaffe/Passage work in hand expert. Alfredo has worked with Steffen Peters, Jan Ebling, Leslie Morse, Hilda Gurney and Heather Blitz as well as many other top international riders.
“What I love most about teaching is working with people who want to learn. I don’t care what their discipline is or what level the ride at, if they want to learn, I can teach them.”
~ Judy Westlake
“Judy is the ultimate integrator. She is the best kind of instructor – she’s still learning. She brings sound, proven theory, her own keen experiences and an outstanding ability to assess what’s needed to any situation. She then formulates a successful plan for horse and rider to do their very best. She’s truly extraordinary. I’ve ridden with her for 10 years now and every time, I learn, I improve, my horses succeed.”
Dana Butler-Moburg
Executive Director
J.F. Shea Therapeutic Riding Center
