Biography: Elizabeth Hopps McConnell

International dressage competitor and trainer Liz Hopps McConnell has returned to Southern California to train and compete after being away for several years.

I am honored to have been asked to train out of Dove Hollow by Laurie Falvo Doyle and Flo Brown. It is such an amazing facility and the owner, manager, trainers and their clients are so focused and down to earth.


Some of my accomplishments are:
· Canadian National Grand Prix Dressage Champion, 1999
· Canadian National Grand Prix Freestyle Dressage Champion, 1999 (winning both had not been achieved by any rider prior to this year)
· Accepted into the British Columbia Sport Hall Of Fame in 1999, the first equestrian to be accepted.
· AAP Carded in 1999 (Recognition by the Canadian National Athletics governing bodies as an Olympic Level Athlete)
· Short listed by the Canadian Equestrian Team from 1996 to 2001
· 1st Place Canadian National Team Trial for the World Equestrian Games (Germany, 1998)



· Represented Canada at the World Equestrian Games, 1998
· Sunneybrook CDI-W (International Competition, Toronto, June 1998)
  · 1st Grand Prix
  · 1st Grand Prix Freestyle (with scores over 70%)
· Awarded GP rider of Sunny Brook CDI Tournament
· Golden State CDI-W (International Competition, Sacramento, CA USA) April 1998
  · 3rd Grand Prix
  · 1st Grand Prix Freestyle



· Competed for Canada at the 1997 Sydney Australia Trivett CDI, team Bronze
· Trained Canadian team alternate rider, Sherri Bresee for the 1999 Winnipeg Pan American Games. Sherri rode the warm up test for the judges in Winnipeg.
· Coached Jen Grenz on Jazz to the British Columbia 4th Level Championship, and the Canadian 4th Level Championship 2003.



My philosophy is to work calmly and quietly with my horses and riders, developing a clear understanding of the building blocks that make up the Training Scale. The process takes as long as it takes, sometimes we wait for an understanding but often we are waiting for the appropriate muscular development. As we move up through the levels we do so with a beautiful athlete, strong and confidant with his (or her, as I seem to be a magnet for mares) training and abilities. It takes as long as it takes, but it is very important to me that we get from A to B or from basic to Grand Prix, with a happy confidant horse. To quote Podhowski, we must train our horses in such a way that they retain their friendly charm.

It is very important the rider has a correct and effective position and stress this throughout the training, often incorporating longing to improve the rider’s ability to influence the horse in a correct and quiet way. I take pride in the knowledge that my clients can work on their own because they have a clear understanding of how to continue the training of their equine partner.

My training methods are classical and based on the knowledge I have gained throughout my career. I have had the opportunity to train with some exceptional trainers and continue to hone my skills with the wealth of Olympic riders and coaches here in our area, as well as with clinicians brought in from Europe. To find out more about my training please visit my website. www.elizabethmcconnelldressage.com

I have several horses to compete this coming year (always happy to take on more!) We plan to continue the successes we had last year with three of my client’s horses being awarded scores over 75% at their respective levels. We had many championships, and more importantly, we have laid the foundation for continued progress and success in 2010.

I have a wonderful group of assistants who support my clients on a day to day basis as well as providing assistance during competitions. Personally, it has been quite a journey for my family since we left California seven years ago. We moved to the East Coast because my husband Brian, was transferred with his job in the Coast Guard. It was an eventful seven years, with fantastic opportunities to compete, coach and train. I got to compete at Devon and at Wellington for three years. I made some connections with great breeders on the East Coast who are wonderful sources for young horses. I had the opportunity to take part in the young horse symposiums that seem to be more prevalent on the east Coast and made some good connections in that field also.

We also now have a little girl, Megan. It is just the most amazingly grounding experience and I am happy to say my husband, my daughter and I have purchased a property here in S. California and we are so glad to be able to set down some roots, finally.
Please contact me via email lizhopps@yahoo.com, or call the contact number below to discuss your training needs.
Liz Hopps McConnell
Home: 760 751 3551
Cell: 302 685 0237