SANTA BARBARA COUNTY CHAPTER
of the
CALIFORNIA DRESSAGE SOCIETY

It’s 2026, The Year of the Horse, and there was a lot of energy at the CDS Annual Meeting and Symposium in Pasadena this year. Gary Getz is the new President of CDS and educational events are a top priority for CDS this year. Margaret Fleming and Lisa White attended the Annual Meeting and are pictured here with Central Region Chapter members. Central Region Chapters - Central Valley, Carmel Valley, Gavilan, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Tehachapi, and Ventura A

SBC-CDS members gathered on January 25, 2026, at Convivo Restaurant in the Santa Barbara Inn for the Annual Awards Banquet, celebrating the accomplishments of riders, volunteers, and leaders who make the chapter thrive. The afternoon featured heartfelt recognitions, award presentations, and special thanks to longtime board members, all in a warm setting filled with camaraderie and appreciation.

Avery Klein’s dressage journey began far from the traditional path, shaped by early ranch life and a deep belief in putting the horse first. Now training with Larisa Mantor and Albrecht Heidemann, she has quickly made her mark in the dressage arena while continuing to grow alongside her talented young partner, Georgi, a Glamourdale son with a puppy-dog personality. Balancing life in the saddle with her studies at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Avery values the strong Santa Barbara

Meet SBC-CDS member Kelly Thoits and learn more about her.

Gina who? Legally she is Gina Funderburgh but to all of us in dressage she is our beloved Gina von der Burg. If you have ever attended a dressage show at Earl Warren you are familiar with the site of Gina in the golf cart, often with one of her Basset Hounds!

SBC-CDS member Wendy Brown started Dressage later in life. She's working her way up to a Century Ride at Earl Warren Showgrounds.

Summary of SBC-CDS riders who qualified for CDS Championships (and who won) and RAAC

Meet SBC CDS chapter member Hannah Finder and her horse Valiente.

SBC-CDS offered a laid back atmosphere for 95 riders competing in RAAC and USDF/USEF classes.

Cutting Horse Champion Valentales that Barbara Cleveland chose for a dressage horse.

SBC-CDS was excited to offer 10 members a Pelvic Floor Exercise Workshop at Core Sport in Santa Barbara. Pelvic Floor Specialist Cat Myklebust offered the 45-minute session in the Fitness Center nestled between Harry’s Plaza Café and Gelson‘s market on upper State Street.

Structural Integration is a body work modality that can address core body imbalances because it provides access to the deepest layers of your horse’s body through his fascial network, or connective tissue.

Lisa White shares insights from the 3-day RiderPilates clinic with Dr. Beth Glosten, held in Santa Barbara and hosted and sponsored by the Santa Barbara Chapter CDS. With nine different riders, Dr. Glosten analyzed different rider challenges and offered helpful and long-term solutions through exercises.

If you've been around the SBC CDS events, you may have noticed an energetic lady with colorful horn-rimmed glasses. Member Judith Ramondi...

SBC CDS members socialize at The Mill in Santa Barbara.

The Spring Dressage Competition at the Earl Warren Showgrounds in Santa Barbara was laid back despite a full show schedule with two rings.

Meet SBC-CDS member Susan Soderman.

Warm welcome to new chapter members Lauren Ogden and Tim Forster, a husband and wife team training in Templeton, CA.

On Sunday, January 26th, members of our chapter got together at The Santa Barbara Inn to celebrate the 2024 SBC CDS accomplishments, members

SBC-CDS put on an Appreciation BBQ for all the volunteers.