Linda Landers began riding and jumping horses in the 1960’s. She began to study dressage in the early 1970’s. Linda was a co-founder of the Kansas City Dressage Society which became a founding group of the United States Dressage Federation. She was President of KCDS twice and was the USDF Region IV Representative from 2000 – 2006.
Photo provided by Linda Landers. Linda Landers riding Creme de Cocoa.
Linda purchased Hunter's Vale Equestrian Center in Bucyrus, Kansas in 1978. It grew to be a thriving equestrian center where adults and children began their equestrian careers until she sold it in 1996. Hunter's Vale thrived with beginner lessons, boarders, horse sales and horse shows. Linda taught and rode her own horses while also having trainers for the dressage and jumping discipline on her staff. Linda used the facility to bring in top clinicians such as George Morris for the hunter/jumpers. The dressage clinicians included Hilda Gurney, Carol Grant, Kay Meredith, Jaap Pott and Robert Dover.
In 1985 she purchased her Grand Prix Hanoverian Stallion, Marchenhoff, and she also met Michael Beining that year. Through her connection with Michael she brought in Master German rider, Willi Schulteis and helped bring Rudolf Zeilinger to the United States for his first time.
Wanting to be closer to her home in Independence, Missouri, she sold Hunter's Vale and purchased Landers Farms in 1996 which was primarily a dressage facility. There she continued clinics with Michael Beining, importing horses from Germany, and a having a boarding business.
Then in 2007, Linda moved Landers Farms to Liberty where she shares it with her daughter, Sara. It is a small stable but she is still hosting dressage clinics and promoting her love for dressage.
Sara was fortunate to ride her entire life. With the support of her parents she was able to move her way up in the Hunter/Jumper world. She won 6th in the AHSA Medal Finals in Harrisburg, PA in 1981 and in 1982 won the National Junior Jumper Championship on The Artesian. Sara then taught riding lessons and trained horses in the summers between college at Hunter's Vale. She showed jumpers as an adult until 2007 where she began to focus exclusively on dressage. Linda and Sara enjoy sharing this passion with each other and their community!
LINKS:
WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT BASICS FOR HORSE AND RIDER? ANSWERED BY LINDA LANDERS
BY LINDA LANDERS The basics of the rider must come before a rider can really train the basics to a horse. This means that riders progress the most easily and completely when given lunge lessons and practice riding horses that have been trained in ... continue reading...
WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF RIDING FORWARD? ANSWERED BY LINDA LANDERS
BY LINDA LANDERS - Forward riding has two components in my mind. First, the horse must respond by going forward from the leg and seat aids of the rider promptly. At the beginning, of a horse being broke to ride, this is often taught without ... continue reading...
WHAT ARE YOUR ORGANIZING TIPS FOR EQUESTRIANS? ANSWERED BY LINDA LANDERS
BY LINDA LANDERS - Organizing for the Barn and Horses: Through the years with different barns, organizing may take a weekly review with employees. If it is just yourself, then that also takes time to review. Organizing well obviously ... continue reading...
