Monique and Aladdin
I started riding when I was 4 years old with taking western riding lessons. When I was 10, I fell in love with a neighbor's horse who had become a pasture pet in their backyard and they offered to lease him to my parents for the summer. At the end of the summer they decided they didn’t want him back so my parents bought him for me. His name was Tango, and he became my heart horse and competition horse in 4H and English competitions all through high school. He retired when I was 16, and while I would go trail riding here and there I stopped riding for the past 10-12 years until I found Collette through a lease ad for Aladdin, I could just tell by the way she described him and her program that she was exactly the trainer hat I was looking for. I bought Aladdin in December of 2025 after leasing him from Collette for 6 months. Aladdin was the first horse I rode when I came to Collette and I just knew he was special. I bought Aladdin for his personality and his potential, he is hands down the smartest horse I have ever worked with and also the most willing. Collette did such a wonderful job starting him and bringing him along that I knew I wanted to be the one to continue the journey with him. I think what makes our relationship so special is his willingness to try whatever I task him. Our bond is so strong that he feels confident taking on new challenges. I also love that there are many days where we do nothing but sit together under the trees outside while he grazes. He is truly my heart horse. Aladdin has been shown through training level but is schooling 2nd level movements at this time. Our goal for this upcoming season is to qualify for regionals at training level 3, for Collette to take him first level as his first experience, and then for me to hopefully get a qualifying score at first level with him to progress towards our bronze. But if all else fails, to just enjoy the journey. Our riding community at Collette Zimmer Dressage is a slice of paradise. I genuinely look forward to seeing every single person at the barn, and the days where we get to ride together. It is the most supportive community and I feel so lucky that we have this place to come together.
Monika and Opie
I rode as a kid and loved it, but I never really thought I would ride again as an adult. That changed when my daughter received riding lessons from a friend for her birthday. She was not very interested in riding, but I became friends with the mom, who had horses and kept encouraging me to go on trail rides with her. Three years later, I bought my first horse — lol!We moved to Tampa exactly one year ago, and at first riding was the last thing on my mind. We were focused on figuring out schools, our new house, and the distance to my husband’s work. Once we settled in, I started searching for a barn, and Collette came up in my search. To my surprise, her barn was only seven minutes away. It truly felt like it was meant to be. I did visit another barn, but after my trial lesson with Collette, I instantly knew it was the right fit. The lesson felt so great — it was almost like she was riding right along with me. She was so focused on helping me understand and improve, and I knew right away that we would do well together. I bought Opus One, aka Opie beginning of June. My original plan was to maybe buy a horse toward the end of the year, and I thought I was only starting the search. We even joked that there was no way I would buy the first horse I saw. Well, Opie was the first horse — and he is perfect. What makes him so special is that the connection felt natural right away. He has such a kind, willing presence, and I feel very lucky to have found him. I am excited to build a partnership with him and grow together. My main goal is to learn as much as I can. Opie has come to the barn at the perfect time, and I feel very fortunate to be building this partnership with him under Collette’s guidance. The three of us — Opie, Collette, and me — will work together to reach our goals and continue leveling up in our dressage journey. Collette and her barn are everything a person could ask for. The positive energy, knowledge, and supportive environment make it such a wonderful place to ride and learn. I feel very lucky and fortunate to be part of this community.
Kristina and Dianna
I started riding in the saddle-seat discipline when I was 10. I competed in saddle-seat and then mostly hunt-seat equitation for seven years before leaving with Dianna and starting on our own. We started dressage with Collette in January 2026 and have never been happier. Collette and Noni had taught at my old show barn for a bit when I was younger, so when I was looking for a dressage trainer that aligned with my values on horsemanship, Collette was recommended to me again by a friend. I bought Dianna as a two-year-old when I was 12 years old. My trainer had brought in her and her brother to sell to her riders, and Dianna immediately caught my attention. Now she’s 8 and I’m 18 and we’ve pretty much grown up together. Dianna is my anchor in life, I could never imagine letting her go. She gives me 110% in everything that she does and my first priority will always be her health and happiness.
I started dressage at the same time that Dianna did, in January 2026. Right now there’s a lot of retraining to rehab old saddle-seat methods in both Dianna and I. My goal is to take things slow to make sure we have all of our correct basics down so that Dianna can feel her very best, which she’s already improved on so much since we moved to Collette’s barn. Maybe later on we can look at competing, but only when Dianna and I are ready. Everyone at the barn is so nice and has come up to introduce themselves to me multiple times. It’s such a welcoming environment that I needed after the more toxic environment of my old show barn. It’s a very healthy barn, from the horses to the amazing people.
Suzanne and Bubba
I have been riding off and on since I was a little girl. I started lessons about 10 years old and then stopped after the local barn was sold to developers. I was sad! I started riding again more seriously in my early 30’s after I married and moved with my husband to Wisconsin. I actually bought my first horse there. Dalton, my paint moved with us to Florida after our family got settled here. He passed unfortunately in April 2021 due to issues with navicular disease
I bought Bubba as a 9 year old. He is from Georgia. He was trained originally as a reining horse, I discovered Collette’s Dressage online through a facebook posting. I was intrigued and was thinking that I might need to go in a different direction with both my and Bubba’s training. I am new to dressage. Bubba is kind, curious, and a willing partner. He loves spending time grazing with me. It has been an excellent decision to move to Collette’s farm.
My goals are to feel really comfortable and confident riding Bubba at all gaits, look forward to and be confident at horse shows. I’m loving being able to ride around the beautiful property at 3 Wish Stable and so happy to make new friends who share my equine passion.
Jenna and Remi
Like many of my horse friends, I was horse crazy as a kid. When I was 13 my family went halfsies with the family across the street on a pony named Tiata. We had all kinds of adventures together! I rode almost daily through high school, but regretfully gave up riding entirely before I left for college. As a stay-at-home mom I was never able to swing horse ownership, but dove in again in my mid forties. I purchased a young Saddlebred that wasn't a good fit for me, and after several years of watching trainers work with him I ended up giving him to a friend better equipped to deal with his issues than I was. Not having a horse left a hole in my heart, so I bought Remington in March of 2022. Since then we've both had holes in various body parts, and we remain grateful to the equine and human medical personnel in the Tampa area! current barn, and now, looking back, it feels like the timing could not have been more providential. Remi and I began our journey at a large, busy barn, but we both needed something more calm; a space to refocus on our partnership and not be worried about the chaos around us. Two of my horsey friends know and respect Collette and her training methods, so I gave her a call. I came to CZD just a week or two after her move to her I am embarrassed to say that I was not as diligent as I should have been in purchasing Remington, but he is so gorgeous, and has such a funny personality, I found him irresistible. Of course, I love him dearly, and although it hasn't been an easy road, I learn something new about horses almost every time we are together. Most amazing to me is his ability to seemingly read my mind, which forces me to turn my thoughts from what could go wrong and to focus on the positive. My long-term goal is to someday own a piece of property where I can sit in a rocking chair on my front porch and watch a very old Remington grazing in his pasture. In the short term my goals are ever evolving. Currently, my riding is on pause (again!) as Collette and I try to better understand some of Remi's physical limitations. The last four years have been particularly challenging, and although my riding goals are humble, I do wonder if I will ever reach them. Sometimes it's hard to even think about training goals, and to not be envious of those around me who are succeeding, but in the end I just want to do what is right for my horse, even if that means letting go of what I was initially hoping to accomplish. It was difficult to make the leap and to leave a barn and trainer that were familiar- but I'm so thankful that I did! Collette is not only a beautiful rider and fastidious trainer, but she cares deeply for horses AND for people. There is a kindness and openness to her that seems to draw like-minded people to her barn, and I feel privileged to be a part of it. My new barn family has been so welcoming and encouraging, and if Remington and I are going to figure things out, I believe with all of my heart that we are in exactly the right place to do that.
Maggy and Tera
I had a Quarter Horse together with my daughter for 20 years doing dressage exercises but not showing. After Razcal's passing, I took dressage lessons for years with a several trainers and horses. After retirement to FL, I started leasing a horse with the goal doing the Century Club Ride. To my chagrin, the stable was sold and the horse was retired last year. I found Collette Zimmer Dressage online and drove to the stable on the same day last October. Collette had the perfect horse to lease, sweet schoolmaster Debonair, aka Noni the Pony (26). Thanks to Collette's outstanding training, Noni and I competed at the Suncoast Dressage Show in March 2026, training level 3, which was our Century Club ride. Training with Collette and Noni rekindled the wish to have my own horse again. I found Tera, an 18 year old Andalusian mare, on facebook. On March 16, I brought Tera home to 3 Wish Stable, a horse and rider dressage paradise. My goal is to ride a Century Club Ride with Tera in a few years. Our stable family is full of energy, acceptance, and love. When Collette rides our various horses in perfect harmony and balance, we see what they are capable of doing. With her passionate expertise and solid teaching methods, she'll progressively guide us making our dressage and riding wishes come true!