Jenny Veenstra

Jenny Veenstra is a Dutch-born, Belgium-based Grand Prix dressage rider, international coach, clinician, and horse trainer. With more than 30 years of professional experience, she specializes in classical dressage, rider biomechanics, performance coaching, and Friesian horse training. She travels internationally conducting clinics throughout Europe, North America, South Africa, and Australia.

Biography

Jenny has worked professionally at several leading dressage stables, training horses for elite riders across numerous disciplines. Although primarily a dressage specialist, she has also trained:

* Jumping horses

* Event horses

* Driving horses

* Arabians

* Friesians

* Warmbloods

* Various other breeds

She has experience developing horses from their first rides through Grand Prix competition and has trained Grand Prix horses for a former European Champion.

Education & Influential Trainers

Jenny has trained extensively with some of dressage's most respected figures, including:

* Tineke Bartels (three-time Olympian)

* Imke Schellekens-Bartels (Olympian)

* Alex van Silfhout (former Dutch national dressage coach)

* Johan Rockx (former Dutch national coach)

* Arthur Kottas-Heldenberg (former Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School)

* Rafael Soto (Spanish Olympian)

She also served as the head instructor for Friesian training weeks at Academy Bartels, home of the Global Dressage Forum.

Riding & Training Philosophy

Jenny combines:

* Classical dressage principles

* The German Training Scale

* Natural Horsemanship

* Learning theory

* Rider biomechanics

* Sports psychology

* Individualized coaching based on rider learning styles

She emphasizes developing both horse and rider while respecting each horse's temperament, conformation, and athletic ability.

Coaching & Services

Jenny offers:

* Dressage lessons (beginner through Grand Prix)

* Young horse training

* Competition coaching

* Groundwork

* Lunging

* In-hand work

* Working Equitation

* Driving instruction

* Online coaching

* Masterclass clinics

* Rider biomechanics assessments

* Action Type Training

* Rider Preference Assessments

* Rein pressure measurement

* Heart-rate analysis

* IBOP preparation

* Presentations and educational seminars

Special Expertise

Jenny is especially recognized for:

* Friesian horse training

* Producing approved stallions and model mares

* Grand Prix Friesian dressage

* International driving horses

* IBOP training and preparation

* Classical dressage for all breeds

* Rider performance analysis using sports psychology and biomechanics

Certifications & Continuing Education

She has completed advanced education in:

* Action Type Training (certified practitioner)

* Deep Motivational Drivers

* Rider Preference Instructor

* Sports psychology

* Equine physiology

* Equine first aid (University of Utrecht)

* Equine physiotherapy courses

These qualifications allow her to integrate psychology, biomechanics, and communication into her coaching.

International Clinics

Jenny regularly teaches clinics in:

* Belgium

* Netherlands

* Germany

* United States

* Australia

* South Africa

* Other European countries

Her clinics serve riders across multiple disciplines, including dressage, jumping, eventing, and driving.

Competition Highlights

* Grand Prix dressage rider

* Competed successfully with her Friesian stallion Wolter V

* Produced numerous horses to FEI levels

* Students have progressed from novice levels to Grand Prix and won national championships under her guidance.