TERESA STEWART
DRESSAGE

USDF Gold Medalist × USEF “S” licensed Dressage Judge

As a professional equestrian, whether in my role as a competitor, judge or instructor, I am ideologically committed to the development of a harmonious partnership between horse and rider. Whether your goals are to compete or to ride recreationally, I will mentor you as I have been taught, integrating elements of good horsemanship and focused training as you work to establish the horse and rider relationship.

“The beauty of a well trained horse can only shine when ridden with compassion and feel. Harmony with good training is our ultimate goal.”

— Lilo Fore

My principal philosophy is that successful riding requires a solid foundation in correct and basic training, something that is often overlooked, even by experienced riders. For each of my students, I will create a personalized and objective training curriculum, insuring your foundation is well established. As you and your horse progress through your training you will gain confidence collectively and develop together and advance towards your goals.

Photo above by Carloynn Bunch

COntact

(917) 881-5877 teastew2@gmail.com

Location

Whidbey Equestrian Center
21306 SR 20
Coupeville, WA 98260

*By Appointment Only

Services

TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION

Beginner to FEI / 45 Minute Lessons

CLINICS

6 Lesson Minimum + Travel

COACHING

Contact Teresa for Competition Schedule

Pricing Sheet Available by Request

Photo above by Carolynn Bunch

Bio

Teresa Stewart began her dressage journey 17 years ago after moving to Washington State. Before that, she gave up a fifteen-year successful modeling career living between New York and Paris to pursue her lifelong dream of training and competing horses. Teresa bought her first horse, built a barn on the property she and her husband purchased in New York's Hudson Valley, and dedicated her life to equestrian education and excellence. Teresa quickly advanced through the levels of Three-Day Eventing with her Morgan/Thoroughbred-Cross, Handsome Devil, a horse that taught her how heart and partnership can supersede talent. Over the next several years, after personally training and developing a stable of horses, Teresa competed through the FEI ** level, experiencing success and participating at every major event along the East Coast Three-Day Event circuit. Initially introduced to dressage through Three-Day Eventing, Teresa's passion for the dressage grew when she met Trenna Atkins. Trenna encouraged Teresa to pursue the USDF "L" Education Program, which became a pivotal step in her career.

Fifteen years ago, Teresa met Lilo Fore, a renowned FEI Judge and Trainer, during an "L" apprentice session. Lilo has become Teresa's greatest mentor as both a judge and a rider. Teresa credits the philosophies and techniques Lilo has had on her training and judging. Teresa credits her successes as a rider and judge to Lilo's guidance and mentorship over the years.

Seventeen years later, Teresa is now a highly accomplished "S" judge with distinctions in freestyle, young horse, and equitation. Her judging portfolio includes prestigious events such as numerous regional championships, the US Dressage Finals, and the Festival of Champions.

In addition to her judging achievements, Teresa has developed multiple horses through the FEI levels, earning her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals. Among her most notable accomplishments is her partnership with My Rowan, her former event horse and the first horse she trained from First Level to Grand Prix. My Rowan not only exemplified Teresa’s skill and dedication but also taught her the importance of patience and the value of training a horse through each level of development.

Teresa is unique in the world of dressage because she is a coach, trainer, competitor, and sought-after judge. Teresa balances her time between judging, running a full-time training program, and competing her own horses.

Today, Teresa continues to contribute to the dressage community as a respected judge, trainer, and advocate for thoughtful and progressive horse training. She is also an active member of multiple USDF committees, as part of her commitment further shaping the sport's future.

As a competitor, instructor, coach and judge, I am committed to promoting good horsemanship and the sport of dressage, whether your goals are to improve your recreational riding or to be successful as a dressage competitor.

TESTIMONIALS

“Teresa has been my coach for 5 years. I started with the basics and have progressed through the levels to Fourth level and am now training PSG movements. It has been an amazing journey as I have successfully competed at local, regional and FEI competitions.

Her expertise and knowledge as an accomplished competitor, trainer, and judge allows her to approach training (and all its challenges) with a unique perspective. I love that Teresa stresses the importance of the basics as the foundation of all dressage as we are progressing forward in my training. She makes new concepts and movements easy to understand and my lessons are always engaging for me and my horse because she varies the exercises and training techniques. I appreciate that she is firm but quick to praise when a movement or exercise is executed properly. Teresa is a thoughtful, kind, and supportive coach who has helped me achieve many of my dressage goals. I look forward to continuing on this journey with her!”

–Catharine Schumacher

“I met Teresa when I moved to Whidbey Island in the fall of 2022. At that time, it had been years since I had competed or had any consistent instruction. I borrowed someone else’s horse at Whidbey Equestrian Center to try a lesson with Teresa. The horse I borrowed was a National Show horse that had only been trained for endurance racing, I braced myself for what I assumed could be a disastrous dressage lesson. Teresa was kind and positive, she quickly saw where the horse had potential and what areas we could improve. She focused on the fundamentals and by the end of the lesson I was feeling like this little endurance horse could make his way into the dressage ring!

I was very lucky to have Teresa help me find my next horse. She helped me determine the criteria I was looking for in my next partner and was able to work within my limited budget range. We found a spectacular young horse, knowing that I had Teresa to help me bring it along gave me the confidence to buy a three year old. It has been great to witness her ability to train young horses, I have learned so much watching the standards she sets and the fair and consistent expectations she has for a young horse that instills a willingness to partner and trust their rider, helping them grow into successful competition horses. You can see it in her own horse that she has started and is bringing up the levels, his eagerness to work and confidence in the ring is wonderful to watch.

Teresa as a trainer and horse person sees the positive in any horse, she will work with you to get the most out of that horses’ gaits and ability. I have learned Teresa holds her students to a high standard and pushes you to be your best, doing so with humor and reminders that this is a sport that takes a lifetime of perfecting. She always puts horse welfare first and is there to support her students beyond the ring, advocating for the horse always and providing guidance on how to keep our horses as happy and healthy as possible.

I am extremely excited about the future I have with my young horse and to have Teresa be a part of the process as a trainer, mentor, and friend to help us build the best partnership possible and achieve our goals big and small. We are extremely lucky to have her caliber of a trainer here on Whidbey Island!”

–rachel Roman

“At the advice of a horse friend, I reached out to Teresa Stewart in the summer of 2021. I had not ridden in a dressage arena for many years. I had become frustrated and disappointed with horses I owned over the years who weren’t a good match for me and not sound in body or mind. I had let my dream of competing in dressage drift away.

At the time I met Teresa, I was enjoying my Norwegian Fjord Gunnar on local trails and progressing up the levels in liberty and in-hand work. From the get go, Teresa was super welcoming and encouraging. When I told her I’m in my late 50s, have a Fjord I haven’t ridden in an arena, haven’t cantered him much and am nervous parking a horse trailer and need to buy boots... she said she could help me park and unload him, and as long as I was committed and enjoying the lessons, that I would be most welcome as her student.

I’ve now been hauling up to weekly lessons with Teresa for the past 3 years. Within a few months of training with her, Gunnar and I were trotting up the centerline at my first dressage show. The next season I entered every rated show at WEC, and Gunnar ended up with the USDF All Breeds #1 ranking for Fjords at Training Level and I received the #1 rankling for USDF “Vintage” Rider Award for the Fjord All Breeds.

I appreciate Teresa’s combination of deep knowledge and experience in dressage as an elite rider, and her extensive training and hours as a judge. Teresa prioritizes my goals and the same time nudges me to set my sights high. She treats me and Gunnar with respect and meets us exactly where we are each week and manages to both hold a high standard for us stretching into new skills and at the same time will goes deep with us on the basics. I would not have been in any show ring this past few years if I hadn’t met and been welcomed into regular training with Teresa. I delight in our shared sense of humor, her ability to take the training very seriously and at the same time take ourselves and our horse girl craziness with lightness. I feel honored and so fortunate to get to ride with her as my friend and trainer. Time in the saddle with Teresa coaching me is a highlight of my week and of my horse career.”

–Virginia RhoAds

“Training with Teresa Stewart has transformed the way I ride and connect with my horse. Her clear and astute guidance feels perfectly tailored to us, always providing actionable feedback that aligns seamlessly with our goals and challenges. As an endurance rider, Teresa has shown me the depth of connection and communication that can be achieved through dressage.

I’m incredibly grateful for Teresa’s unique balance of kindness and no-nonsense clarity in her coaching. She has an amazing ability to know exactly when to push me (and my horse) beyond our comfort zone for growth and when to offer the encouragement and understanding we need. This thoughtful and enjoyable approach has not only strengthened my confidence as a rider but has also brought out the best in my horse. Each session leaves us feeling more capable, more in sync, and more inspired to keep improving.”

–Benjamin Materna

For the last five years, I have spent countless hours at Whidbey Equestrian Center while my daughter trained with Teresa. I have always liked horses but have never been a rider. While on the sidelines listening to and learning from Teresa, I developed a love for the sport of dressage ~ the challenges, the successes, and the disappointments. I am amazed at the relationship between horse and rider, the subtle communication needed to ride correctly, and the beauty of that connection. After years of watching and cheering for my daughter, and with Teresa’s encouragement, I took the leap from observer to equestrian. With Teresa’s help, I purchased a lovely horse and am finally learning to ride. Teresa has been incredibly supportive, encouraging, and patient in her teaching. I am having a blast learning the basics and look forward to every lesson. Teresa makes it fun, challenging, and enjoyable. I wish I had done this sooner!

–Anne fox

“I have had 8 different riding instructors during my years actively competing, but the last two years of coaching under Teresa has made me the strongest rider I’ve ever been. Teresa has taught me mechanics of movement and balance that I’d never been able to feel in my horse before. My seat has improved and my comfort as a horsewoman - the feeling that I could even get on a different horse and use my learned skills - Teresa has given me that. What a freedom there is in learned confidence and competence that I have gotten from Teresa’s coaching.”

–Rea Olliffe

“When transitioning our older Arabian Saddlebred, LA Stilleto, from ‘main-ring’ breed shows to dressage, it became clear we had holes in our training and needed help. Throughout the past few years, we have transformed under Teresa’s thoughtful guidance. She has helped our horse become relaxed and consistent and established a happy horse and rider partnership. After joining Terea’s program, we gained the confidence and skills to be independent and successfully show without our trainer on-site which was a dream come true.

During our most recent year showing (with Stilleto, age 25!), we were able to beat our longstanding personal best dressage score and win our class against professionals and horses of all ages and breeds--a major accomplishment. We also travelled to the Region 17 Arabian Championship Show at Thunderbird Show Park (bucket list item) and had our best show ever placing in every championship class and winning multiple regional championships and reserve championships in our dressage and in-hand classes. We created many wonderful memories with our horse and show friends we will cherish forever, all thanks to Teresa.

In Teresa's program, Stilleto also earned three AHA Lifetime Achievement Awards: Legion of Honor (+), Legion of Merit (++), and Legion of Supreme Honor (+/) and is now "LA Stilleto++/". I also earned three AHA Amateur Achievement Awards: Rider of Merit Champion, Horseman of Merit Champion and Horseman of Supreme Merit Champion. After many years of showing, it wasn’t until we were in Teresa’s program that we became multi-regional champions and earned many of our greatest achievements--all while Stilleto was in his twenties.

Teresa excels in improving the performance, comfort, and health of the horses in her training program. She pays tremendous attention to detail and has been able to detect and solve many issues our other trainers missed.

We so admire Teresa’s willingness to take on riders of any level and horses of all breeds, no matter how unique their needs or challenges may be. Regardless of where you or your horse are in your training and development, Teresa can help you set and achieve your most ambitious goals.”

–Shelby & luana lubchuk

“In 2024, thanks to Teresa, I earned my USDF Bronze medal. She focused on the areas of my training that were weak and helped me establish a strong partnership with my horse Capote. With Teresa’s knowledge as a rider, trainer and with her judge’s eye, she guided us to be the best that we can be.

Additionally, I appreciate the positive and supportive community Teresa has created at Whidbey Equestrian Center and among her students.”