Monday September 20, 2004

Double Victory at Hagen, Perfect Good Bye Present for Lisette Milner

Lisette Milner Returning to Florida After Training with Ernst Hoyos in Germany

When Milner packed herself and her three horses in the late spring of 2003, it was just supposed to be for the summer months. However, she was having the experience of a life time and could not pass up the opportunity to train longer with Hoyos, who is based at Gerd Knoop’s Gestüt Höftehof in Meppen, Germany.

Milner was fortunate enough to be accepted by Ernst Hoyos as his student. The former Spanish Riding School trainer is very strict in taking on new students and is currently only working with the world’s best, such as Olympic team bronze medallist Lisa Wilcox and many other top European riders. He has also coached Ulla Salzgeber and Rusty to Olympic gold and individual silver.

“I have learned so many things, but what has been really stressed is that the rider’s position is everything,” Milner said. “If the position of the rider is good, the horse will go well. I learned to understand and listen to my horse. You have to feel the back and the hind legs and listen to what the horse’s mind and body is telling you. This Ernst Hoyos stressed more than any other trainer.”

Milner’s European journey is coming to end mid October 2004, when she’s flying herself and her horses Eminence, Lorenzo’s Fire and Solaris home. She will return to her beautiful new Morningside Farm in Wellington , Florida , to start another chapter in her life as a new and improved dressage rider and teacher.