Monica Whitmer is a lifetime horsewoman. She began her career
at age 4 - riding with the Tally Ho Riding Club in Griffith Park, California. This was a Pony Club style organization
that taught horsemanship as well as English riding. She also rode ponies and misfit horses at "Haskel's Rascals" a small
rental stable just down the street from her school. Her first pony was a POA that no one could ride. "Forte" would
buck wildly when mounted, so at age 10, she figured out that if you just laid over his back until he gave up, then you could
get on and ride. After a few months, he was fairly reformed, and given back to the owner of the stable.
Thus began a long history of riding the difficult horse, and also getting classical training.
Comet was a sweet Morgan TB cross gelding that she bought with her own money at age 12. He was a schooled
hunter, and gave Monica the chance to compete at many levels. They did 4 H shows, Tri Valley competitons, winning the
Medal class in 1971, as well as gymkhanas and trail trials. With Bob Gordan, of Fairhills Farms, they competed and won
at Del Mar and the Santa Barbara Amateur show - holding their own against much fancier horses.
While attending UC Davis, Monica met her next equine partner - a dynamic Appaloosa mare named
Just a Dream (barn name Tortuga). Together, they persued Eventing - riding at various locales in Northern California
- from Mt. Diablo to Ram Tap. This pair was never eliminated - Toogie was couragous cross country and careful in stadium.
Returning to Southern California, eventing venues were few and far between in the 1980's.
So Dressage became Monica's focus, and so it has remained for 30 years. Monica has had the pleasure to train with many
notable instructors over the years. She rode with Charlotte Bredahl when Charlotte had just gotten Monsieur. She
cliniced regularily with Kamila duPont, Susan Derr Drake, Major Lindgren and many others. She has been a participating
instructor at a long list of USDF workshops - having the chance to learn teaching techniques from Gerhard Politz, Cindy Sydnor
and many others from the program.
Recognising the fact that to reach the upper levels of dressage, you need a schoolmaster, Monica
hocked the farm (literally) and purchased Alissando, a TB stallion who was competing at I-1. This partnership gave Monica
the opportunity to practice the advanced movements of dressage with a horse who already knew the work. But the chance
to get regular training with top instructors was limited, due the the financial stretch of buying Sando.
Still, the duo competed at 3rd and 4th level and earned respectable scores. Sando has
now been retired at the age of 26, but still produces some exceptional foals for Sweetwater ranch.
His offspring are stepping up to the plate to represent him in the dressage and the hunter
ring. Sando's Allegro was HiDHA novice hunter champion in 2006, Sando's Always just earned HiDHA's year end championship
in the Conformation Hunters in Hand class for 2007. Allie is also returning the the dressage court, after a 2 year lay
up from a tendon injury from slipping in the mud during turnout.
Monica continues to take lessons to keep her dressage skills current. She has ridden
with Walter Zettl every time he has come to California - and she hopes to be able to host a clinic with him at Sweetwater
Ranch in 2008. She also rides with Manolo Mendez every time he comes to California - to gain further insight into work in
hand, and how to encourage a horse to find his own balance and improved way of going. Manolo's ability to see everything
that is going on inside a horse is incomparable, and must be seen to be believed.
She considers her strongest skill to be able to communicate effectively with riding students
of all ages and skill levels. The broad base of training she has had with so many different trainers gives her many
different ways to explain the same concept. Everyone learns differently, and a rider may need to have some idea presented
several different ways for understanding to click. Monica likes to cover all the learning modes - telling, showing
and having the rider Feel the right way to ride.
Similarly, when working with a horse, she tailors her training to suit the horse's personality.
Some horses need tact and subtle cues, others requires clarity and need to respect their rider before they will try. Riding
is a dance, and both partners need a say in the process for it to look and feel harmonious. And Harmony in riding is
a must at Sweetwater. Monica hopes to instill that concept in every rider that comes into the arena.
