Southern Lights Dressage is owned by Amber and Brian Kimball of Citrus Springs, Florida. The company aims to provide quality dressage training and instruction to horses and riders in the Citrus, Marion and Levy county areas of Florida.
USDF Silver medalist, Amber Kimball has the experience to help a variety of horses and riders reach their full potential. Following her horse filled high school years, Amber opted to pursue a full time equine education. She began the journey in 1997 at Franklands Farm in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. For the next three and a half years, Amber held a working student position at the farm riding under the watchful eye of Canadian Olympic bronze medalist, Gina Smith. Gina emphasized the importance of developing a strong basic foundation when training the horse and rider and maintaining strict standards of stable management. Amber rode all types and levels of horses while employed at Frankland's. Also, she had the opportunity to teach adults and children under Gina's supervision. One of the highlights of Amber's years at Franklands was grooming Gina's KWPN gelding, Fledermaus, at the World Cup in Holland in the spring of 2000.
The trip to the World Cup sparked Amber's interest in European dressage. In 2001 she traveled to Belgium for a working student opportunity at the stable of Johan and Penny Rockx. Amber rode Dutch Warmblood mares, geldings and stallions while under the instruction of Penny and Johan. The importance of the horses' acceptance of the aids was stressed daily. Amber was able to compare the differences in North American and European dressage with trips to horse shows and to Anky Van Grunsven's stable.
Amber's return to North America found her at INSPO, the farm of American Olympian, Belinda Nairn-Wertman. For the next eight years Amber trained and showed imported Dutch Warmbloods and Friesians for INSPO in Pennsylvania and Florida. Riding for INSPO was a tremendous addition to Amber's education. Belinda's tutalege refined her skills on horseback in the schooling arena and in the show ring. The instruction Amber recieved stressed the importance of the horse's straightness, lightness and responsiveness to the aids. During her years working for Belinda, Amber successfully trained and competed horses of all ages from Training Level to Intermediare 2. This experience gave Amber the ability to carefully and confidently develop a horse's education from the basics of walk-trot-canter through all of the advanced movements including one tempis, piaffe and passage. Working for Belinda also gave her experience in the sales aspect of the horse industry. INSPO's business centered mostly around importing horses from Holland for resale to riders all over the US. This enabled her to develop an eye for choosing a quality dressage horse and how to match that horse with the correct type of rider.
Amber's interest in self improvement continues today. She still looks to Belinda for instruction and insight into
the training of the dressage horse and participates in clinics with other top dressage trainers.
With the development of Southern Lights Dressage LLC, Amber is now available for horse training, lessons and clinics in the Ocala, Florida area year-round.
USDF Silver medalist, Amber Kimball has the experience to help a variety of horses and riders reach their full potential. Following her horse filled high school years, Amber opted to pursue a full time equine education. She began the journey in 1997 at Franklands Farm in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. For the next three and a half years, Amber held a working student position at the farm riding under the watchful eye of Canadian Olympic bronze medalist, Gina Smith. Gina emphasized the importance of developing a strong basic foundation when training the horse and rider and maintaining strict standards of stable management. Amber rode all types and levels of horses while employed at Frankland's. Also, she had the opportunity to teach adults and children under Gina's supervision. One of the highlights of Amber's years at Franklands was grooming Gina's KWPN gelding, Fledermaus, at the World Cup in Holland in the spring of 2000.
The trip to the World Cup sparked Amber's interest in European dressage. In 2001 she traveled to Belgium for a working student opportunity at the stable of Johan and Penny Rockx. Amber rode Dutch Warmblood mares, geldings and stallions while under the instruction of Penny and Johan. The importance of the horses' acceptance of the aids was stressed daily. Amber was able to compare the differences in North American and European dressage with trips to horse shows and to Anky Van Grunsven's stable.
Amber's return to North America found her at INSPO, the farm of American Olympian, Belinda Nairn-Wertman. For the next eight years Amber trained and showed imported Dutch Warmbloods and Friesians for INSPO in Pennsylvania and Florida. Riding for INSPO was a tremendous addition to Amber's education. Belinda's tutalege refined her skills on horseback in the schooling arena and in the show ring. The instruction Amber recieved stressed the importance of the horse's straightness, lightness and responsiveness to the aids. During her years working for Belinda, Amber successfully trained and competed horses of all ages from Training Level to Intermediare 2. This experience gave Amber the ability to carefully and confidently develop a horse's education from the basics of walk-trot-canter through all of the advanced movements including one tempis, piaffe and passage. Working for Belinda also gave her experience in the sales aspect of the horse industry. INSPO's business centered mostly around importing horses from Holland for resale to riders all over the US. This enabled her to develop an eye for choosing a quality dressage horse and how to match that horse with the correct type of rider.
Amber's interest in self improvement continues today. She still looks to Belinda for instruction and insight into
the training of the dressage horse and participates in clinics with other top dressage trainers.
With the development of Southern Lights Dressage LLC, Amber is now available for horse training, lessons and clinics in the Ocala, Florida area year-round.