Blog April, 5, 2026
New Beginnings and More Firsts
“March comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb,” goes the proverb, generally describing the weather in the Northern part of our country. Yet, this saying is so true for my dressage training business. It became increasingly more difficult to have my horses at the stable where I subleased stalls and pastures besides other parties who had stalls in the same barn, using the same small, dark tack area, wash stall, feed loft, etc. Teaching lessons in the area that I built from a patch of weedy land on the property – leveling sand brought by trucks, installing the sprinkler system and the outdoor lights, etc. was my preferred place where I not only taught lessons with my hard working five horses but we also had many fun and joyous Saddle Club meetings next to this arena where we had bon fires, shared food, and learned about horsemanship. By the beginning of March tensions mounted at the crammed barn, and I felt like in a lion’s den.
A group of helpers after moving the horses to my new stable home.
Destiny combined with gracious luck led me to a wonderful opportunity to move my business to a new location just 15 minutes away to a large facility where I once used to teach. On March 13, Saddle Club members and some of their family, students, and friends helped dismantling the arena and sprinkler system, loading all my horse equipment and training stuff on trucks and into cars, and we drove to the new place like a caravan out of Egypt! Everyone helped unload and piling my horse belongings in the wash/tack-up area. Then, I gave a tour to my wide-eyed students and helpers who couldn’t believe that this magnificent stable is where Collette Zimmer Dressage is now going to be housed. I started the tour with – some priorities must come first! – the air-conditioned restrooms! (one has a spacious shower and there is a lady’s powder room – no more walking to the adjacent property to use a rundown bathroom) followed by a spacious, air-conditioned tack storage room for boarders, my personal, AC tack room with saddle racks and bridle hooks for all my horses’ tack (no more piling saddle upon saddle and three/four bridles on the same nail), then leading the group down the wide barn with individual stalls right and left, illuminated by barn chandeliers on the ceiling then stepping out to marvel at the expansive individual pastures, where the horses will be at night.
Two days later, on Sunday March 15, the same group helped load saddles, tack, buckets, feed and hay, and every single item that belongs to me on trucks and into cars before we loaded the astonished but calm and curious horses on trailers. “Where are we going?” their glances asked us. The second caravan arrived at the new stable a few minutes later. The horses unloaded with ease; they were calm and interested in what they saw, their new home! We walked with them around the buildings, along their pastures, and finally into their stalls. They now are all together, they can see, hear, and smell each other. We could see that they are pleased and happy!
Unloading Augie and walking him around to see his new home.
The following week, I organized my new stable home with the help of Shelby, my barn manager. The move went smoothly, so did this gigantic step into a new chapter of my life and business. Teaching lessons and riding/training my Friesian Dallas resumed the following week.
Celebrating with Maggy on Noni after the Century Club Ride at the Suncoast Festival in Tampa, March 28, 2026. (Lady in yellow dress is USDF judge Sue Kolstad.
On Saturday, March 28, I drove with my student Maggy and my beloved 25-year-old lesson horse Noni the Pony to the Suncoast Dressage Festival, a USDF recognized show, in Tampa. Maggy rode with Noni Training Level Test 3, her first recognized show. It also was her Century Club Ride (horse and rider must be 100+ years old to qualify). Many students came to support Maggy and Noni; they are my first Century Club team I trained.
On the last day of March (31), we celebrated Noni’s 26th birthday. He was so astonished to get so many treats, horse cookies baked by Helen, bananas, apples, carrots, and many, many kisses and hugs.
Noni on his 26th birthday on March 31, 2026.
March went out like a lamb or rather like our senior horse Noni the beloved Pony, calm, cuddly, and full of life! I am so thankful to the incredible group of people who helped to realize the new beginning, and a very special thank you note goes to my amazing friend Matt who helped me during the process physically, mentally, and spiritually!