Valley Horse News - Trainer's Spotlight
August 2003

Esther Hillner of Talisman Farm is a 35 year old Pacific Northwest transplant from Portland, Oregon. Residing in Las Vegas for almost 5 years, Esther had been assisting Jere Harris Ivey until a year ago when Jere left for England. Esther took over as head trainer, instructing and training in hunter, jumper and three-day eventing.

Esther's 20 years riding experience and formal training began with classical dressage, which progressed to hunters, three-day eventing and jumpers. Esther has attended clinics with the likes of many U.S. Olympic and USET riders; David O'Conner, Sally O'Conner, Jim Graham, Bernie Trauig, Gene Lewis, Mike Nelson, Nick Holmes Smith, Don Sachey and Bea DiGrazia and trained with many of the Pacific Northwest's top trainers. Competition experience has led to numerous top show placings in dressage, hunter, jumpers and eventing throughout Oregon, Washington, California and Arizona.

"What makes my riding program unique to Las Vegas is that riding and training programs consist of European Classical training in which all riders and horses in the program are educated in classical dressage. There's so much misconception here in the United States, especially among the hunter/jumper trainers about 'dressage' being its own discipline, when in fact — from a classical sense — it's a basic fundamental to jumping. It's your solid foundation for future success."

"Look to the great show jumping riders in the world and you'll see where they are all European, case in point look who won this years world cup here in Las Vegas -Germany. What you typically see is in the US is this water skking type of riding, with hollow back horses that you see among many of the top US show jump riders and amateur riders."

"Other unique attributes with the program is the fact that I mentor with a classical master — Will Faerber — on a regular basis. Will comes out every couple of months to work with me and my clients. We discuss and review each horse's and rider's progress in the program to see where modification may be needed. In addition, outside clinicians are brought in, but only if they support the classical riding program, not contradict it."

Classical training is very black and white. You do not "short cut." For instance, you do not modify a leg yield by using your reins and turning the horse's nose in, but instead you use your leg to get a proper bend.

Classical training takes a great deal of dedication, discipline and patience. It is not about instant gratification. Horses in training are all ridden in basic snaffles. If a horse cannot properly accept a snaffle, stay round and be non-resistant with the use of the rider's leg aids then it has no business jumping fences. Jumping hollow and over biting simply leads to lameness issues later on down the road. Once the rider is educated in the how, what and why of classical riding and can accurately ride a dressage test, then the horse and rider incorporates jumping and course work.

This European Classical Training program is designed to provide long-term results, not short term fixes.

Esther can be seen taking clients to Arizona and Southern California for hunter/jumper and three-day eventing circuits, as well as competing her Dutch Warmblood and Russian Trakehner — Harmonious and Rostov.

Talisman Farm is newly located in Northwest Las Vegas at 4151 N. Decatur, near Craig Road. Esther Hillner can also be reached at 702-592-8381 or via e-mail at talismanfarmlv@yahoo.com