TRAINER PROFILES

Rebekah Wesatzke

Rebekah is the manager for Hearthstone Riding Stables, as well as the primary instructor and trainer. She has been teaching and training in the Houston area for the past 12 years and has horses and riders successfully showing and competing from training to FEI. Rebekah is a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, having met these goals on horses she trained herself. She has been training for the past nine years with Hans Biss of Hamburg, Germany, who focuses on the classical approach to training and problem solving. Her approach to teaching is disciplined and kind, and the well being of the horse always comes first. She is currently competing FEI on an Arabian mare Gisela MBI+ and on her Dutch  mare Modern Art.

Charla Gipson

Charla began riding at age six and was a successful junior rider in the mid-west. She has competed in dressage, hunter/jumper, combined training, and endurance events and considers riding a lifelong learning experience. In more recent years, she has continued that success and was GHCTA division champion in combined training for 2005. Charla is an Airport Ranger, has been licensed by The California Horse Racing Board and worked with The Gallery Racing Team and been awarded several end of year awards from the Houston Dressage Society.

Her students have also been successful in the show ring at the HDS schooling and recognized levels, several going on to win HDS end of year awards. Her wealth of varied equestrian experience, along with being the mother and home educator of two sons, grants Charla a unique perspective to help beginner to intermediate riders reach their riding goals safely and in a positive, fun way while at the same time instilling the important basics of dressage. Charla says “nothing is more fulfilling for me than watching beginning riders of all ages develop their confidence and competence on horseback”. .

Siri Bezdicek

Siri Bezdicek is new to the Houston area but not new to dressage. Although Siri began riding at age 5 horses were a part of her life before then. Siri did not choose dressage - dressage chose Siri. 

Siri’s mother was a successful F.E.I. dressage competitor,  so horses and dressage were a constant in her life.  As Siri matured, she explored other equestrian disciplines, including jumping, hunters, reining, and even dabbled in ranch horse work.  However, Siri's passion for dressage always pulled her back.
 
Like all of us, Siri knows dressage can be a humbling sport but believes nothing in the world can beat those “got it!!” moments. That instant when -for a stride or a circle- it comes together and you can feel it; when it all makes sense.  As an instructor, Siri looks to bring this same experience to her students.  For Siri, that moment when her student "gets it" and she sees the excitement shining from their eyes is as good as experiencing it herself. 

Siri completed the Texas Tech University Breaking and Training course, where she so impressed the professor that she was asked to come back to help the next semester’s students. In the end, Siri's passion is more than just dressage.  It's about horses- being in their company, getting to know their individual personalities, and seeing how proud they are after a good lesson.   Siri likes to work with all breeds and has experience with Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Friesians, Quarter Horses, warmbloods, and crosses.