Our teaching and training philosophy
At Paard Hill Farms we offer lessons in dressage and jumping. Our professional and experienced trainers teach all levels and abilities of riders – from the first timer to the seasoned competitor. We also offer a program for riders with disabilities.

Our lesson program is unique in that we start from the ground up. That is, we start on the ground, teaching the aspiring equestrian how to halter and safely lead a horse out of its stall. Beginners learn how to groom and tack up, thus encouraging the bond between horse and rider. We believe horsemanship is more than just riding: it’s caring about all aspects of the horse and learning how to communicate with the horse in a language the horse understands.

From the very first lesson, our students are taught the correct leg, seat, upper body, and hand positions. Once a good foundation is established at the walk, trot, and canter, the student can progress to more challenging work, such as jumping and advanced dressage movements.

Our Instructors

Dressage

Diane Rodich is our resident dressage trainer. She has been teaching and training horses and riders from the beginning levels through the FEI levels for the past 20 years. She is a Certified Dressage Instructor with the United States Dressage Federation and the American Riding Instructor Association.

Diane enjoys teaching and finds great reward in helping her students communicate with their horses and ride effectively. She follows the classical system of dressage training in her teaching and utilizes her skill and understanding of the biomechanics of horse and rider to help her students ride in harmony with their horses.

Diane earned her USDF bronze and silver medals, and has won numerous year-end awards through Intermediarre I with scores consistently in the upper 60’s. She studied with many well-respected dressage trainers throughout the country and in Europe. In 2006 she spent 6 months living and training in Germany with international coach Conrad Schumacher. Diane currently trains with Ashley Holzer whenever their busy schedules allow, and is preparing her Holsteiner gelding, Casa Quo, for Grand Prix competition.

In addition to teaching and training horses and students, Diane imports top quality dressage horses for all levels of riders. New horses for sale are always arriving at the barn.

For more information about the horses Diane currently has for sale please visit her website at www.topclassdressage.com.

Camp Director/Riding Instructor/Therapeutic Riding

Anna Boylan has over 20 years of teaching experience at several barns throughout Long Island. She specializes in children and adults from first-timers on up. She is our exuberant and creative Camp Director and part-time riding instructor. Her lessons are always fun and challenging as she motivates her students to try new tasks and skills they didn’t think they could do.

As a Certified Instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), Anna also has extensive experience teaching therapeutic riding to individuals with physical and or emotional disabilities. She taught at the New York Therapeutic Riding Center in New York City and she worked for the Special Olympics. She currently teaches therapeutic riding at Pal-O-Mine Equestrian on Long Island. In addition, Anna started a riding program for pre-school kids with disabilities at the New Interdisciplinary School in Yaphank, Long Island.

Anna has a strong background in dance. She is an International Ballroom Dance Champion and has danced with many companies in New York and New Jersey. She uses her experience of being a dance partner to help her riding students become better partners with their horses.

Anna currently rides regularly in a quadrille and has successfully shown lower level dressage. In addition to all her riding and teaching activities, she is President of the Long Island Dressage and Combined Training Association (LIDTCA).