Maria & Baudouin Hallet
Classical Competitive Dressage in Florida
Testimonials
I am a first time horse owner, and there is absolutely no way I would have made it through this first year without Maria and Baudouin. I am lucky enough to own a talented, fun, mare, but she is also very sensitive and delicate, and working with her requires a level of finesse and experience that I didn't have when I first met the Hallets. Over the past year, the Hallets have helped me change the high-strung, nervous horse I bought into a relaxed, happy and playful partner. Baudouin taught me the skills, both in and out of the saddle, to keep her happy focused and relaxed, and I know I could not have gotten anywhere without them.
We have both moved more quickly in our training than I ever thought was possible, and despite both of our complete lack of experience, have been excelling in the show ring. I attribute this success to time and effort that Maria puts into preparing all of her riders for shows. She is the type of trainer who will keep teaching you even if it starts pouring, because she knows how important it is to you to get through the test just one more time. She is infinitely patient, helpful, and encouraging, and always willing to help you find a way to meet your goal.
I have never been happier at a farm than I am at Hallet Training. It is such a wonderful place, not only because of the training, but because the overriding theme in everything they do is love for horses. This reverberates in the training, the care, and especially in the fantastic community of horse lovers who are proud to ride at Hallet Training, and I am looking forward to being here as long as I can.
- Kasey Bedard, Gainesville, Florida
I have been a student of Maria Hallet for 2 years and I have nothing but praise to say about both Maria and Baudouin.
Over the years, between my daughter and I, I have experienced many trainers but none compare to the quality of Maria and Baudouin.
I find them to be very safety oriented and have learned a great deal about practical safety habits. they are very forthcoming with their knowledge and I feel at ease asking very naive questions.
The pure joy that radiates from Maria when she talks about connecting to the horses she rides is contagious. Maria is an unusually gifted rider and of course her wins and reputation back that up.
I love Maria as an instructor. She is always patient and fully present. she tells me exactly what to do if I am having difficulty but lets me figure out how to do things myself when she feels I'm capable of doing that. She has taught me how to feel and listen to my horse and this has been invaluable information to me and has made my connection to my horse so much more meaningful she has also trained my horse and he is absolutely wonderful. I would drive long distances to continue to take lessons from Maria.
I have often had the opportunity to watch Baudouin work with the stallions and I am always impressed with the quiet strength and control he has over these spectacular animals. They listen intently to him and it is a pure pleasure to watch him work. His resume is quite impressive but watching him work is even more so.
When I was in Paris last year I went to see a performance at the Palace of Versailles where he had been head master of the Academy Of Equestrian Arts. After the performance I mentioned his name to one of the grooms I saw on the grounds and he took me to the stable and gathered all the students around and they all wanted to know about how Baudouin was doing. They obviously had great respect for him and gave me a private tour of the stable. It was so much fun!
The best thing about being in Baudouin and Maria's barn is that their love and respect for horses is apparent everywhere as is the love and respect they have for each other. They and the horses they train are just a pleasure to be around as are all the people who ride with them. They attract a clientele both young and older who love their horses as much as they love riding them."
- Deborah Telew, Eugene, Oregon
This letter is written in advance recomendation of Baudouin and Maria Hallet, who have been the trainers and instructors for our daughter and horse for the past two years. I cannot praise them highly enough.
Our daughter has ridden horses since she was five years old, and competed seriously since she was 12, so we have seen our fair share of training programs and barns. It was with tremendous relief that we found the Hallet's. I sensed right away that they offered that rare combination of elite knowledge and skills, yet with none of the hype, negativity, or ego that had, quit frankly, nearly driven our family out of the competitive arena.
I feel I can speak very strongly to the abilities of the Hallets, because our family probably provided quite a challenge to them! Our daughter and her horse had both only been trained in the Hunters, and our horse had behavioral issues as well as some lingering health issues.
As testimony to the Hallet's talents, within eight months, our daughter and her horse were not only truly competitive in eventing and dressage (they finished 5th at the ODS State Championships), but were both healthy, happy, and thoroughly enjoying it all. But what I have grown to treasure about the Hallet's training program has come from more simple conversations with my daughter about her time spent training with Baudouin. She has articulated that for the first time in her training she has truly been allowed to take the time to make mistakes and learn something deeper from them, to feel completely what it is she needs to do differently while on horseback and to come up with solutions from within herself. This kind of true patient teaching is about something more than ribbons, and strategic micromanagement to ensure wins. It is about truly becoming a better rider.
Our daughter is very lucky to have found the Hallets, and I truly feel any barn would be so lucky, too.
-Karen Ann Hays, Eugene, Oregon
My name is Jennifer Roth. I am a USEF "S" dressage judge from California.
I have been a clinician off and on for the last few years at the Hallet's barn in Oregon and then in Tennessee. Maria is an up and coming young professional who has trained and succesfully shown several horses thru Prix St. George and Intermediare I.
Maria has tremendous feel and talent and has done a great deal of training on her own. Her husband, Baudouin, helps her regularly at home and he has had the great fortune to have been trained by some of France's greatest masters.
Maria is also a gifted teacher, sympathetic and articulate, passionate and energetic with great desire to pass on her knowledge to others. Although new to the East coast she has already become very active in volunteering her time to the comunity. I would highly recommend Maria."
- Jennifer Roth (S), Carmel Valley, California
It is a distinct pleasure for me to provide this personal letter of recommendation for Hallet Training or Baudouin and Maria Hallet.
My horse Madison and I have been in training with the Hallets for one and one half years.
Baudouin and Maria are absolutely honest, hardworking and devoted to the horses in their care. I once commented to Maria that I didn't know where she found the stamina to show horses for three days and return home late at night only to resume a demanding training schedule the next day. She replied, "we love what we do."
If you observe the horses in training with the Hallet's, you will see happy horses who are performing well whether in the show ring or at home. Madison always greets Maria, her primary trainer, with enthusiasm and pleasure.
The Hallets are ultimate professionals. They carefully oversee the care of horses, from the cleanliness of the stalls, to proper turn out for each horse, to calling the owner if they notice even the smallest change in a horse in their care.
Maria found Madison for me. I believe the fact that madison and i are so happy together is evidence of the Hallets' abilitie to understand both horse and rider. I feel increadibly lucky that Madison has been in training with the Hallets. Under their care and training she has blossomed and performed admirably in recent shows. And more important to me, she has become the most affectionate, willing and hard working mare imaginable.
I fully and confidently recommend Baudouin and Maria Hallet for any training position where excellent horsemanship, reliability, honesty, inter-personal skills and good judgement are important characteristics. The Hallets will inspire riders to ride beyond what they ever thought was possible and will work with each horse gently and consistently to bring out his or her very best."
- Cheryl Easterwood, Eugene, Oregon
My horse, Reasilient Daydream, has been in training with the Hallets for about 13 months.
I knew this horse would require a very special individual for his training. He was a very sensitive, almost 6 year old, 17.2 warmblood who had developed some very nasty habits. he was a nightmare for the vet and farrier and, though I had started him with groundwork, I had completely lost my confidence and knew he needed more than I could give him. Prior to interviewing them about his training, I talked to at least 10 other trainers. Some of them politely refused the job, others offered suggestions of abuse to get him under control. Baudouin offered kind, but disciplined training. Daydream responded to him positively the moment he walked up to his stall. In their care, Daydream 's attitude changed very quickly and within a month he was a pleasure to work around. There was never any abuse, just good training. his groundwork was restarted with a focus on more correct movement and relaxation. soon maria began to ride him and he responded well to her light and balanced seat. With more attention and work, the source of the pain issues that may have been the cause of many of his problems surfaced. they worked with the vet and farrier to resolve the problems. I now have a horse that is healthy, confident, well mannered, and solid in his dressage foundation work. I am truly grateful to them for their patience, skill and attention to detail.
Baudouin and Maria have been a true pleasure to work with. I have never worried about my horse in their care. They have been honest and open with me about my horse. their training is classical and kind. They will certainly be missed in our area and I hope I will be able to have them work with my horses again soon. I will always treasure their friendship."
- Sherry Pride, College Grove, Tennessee
I am writing in support of Baudouin and Maria Hallet.
I am a manager of a small breeding program in northern Illinois and met the Hallet's three years ago, while shopping for a horse for a client.
I had the opportunity to ride several horses of theirs and become familiar with their horsekeeping practices and was impressed. I sent a clients horse to them although it was far from home and have not regretted it. They are responsible, caring, correct in their training and horsekeeping. I would not hesitate to recommend them as trainers."
- Iris Moore, Harvard, Illinois
I have known Baudouin and Maria Hallet for more than a year and in that time have observed them as equestrian professionals training both horses and riders.
Their approach to their profession has been exemplary in dealing with their clients and with others who cross their path.
Results speak for themselves. The Hallets have shown several horses in classes from Intro thru FEI and have achieved tremendous results evidenced by high scores and blue ribbons. Further, the Hallets' training program has taken horses previously discarded or labeled as 'difficult', 'lame', or 'broken down' and transformed these same animals into top quality performance horses who have since turned in winning scores in their dressage classes.
Earlier this year, I engaged Hallet Training to work with my own imported Westphalian gelding. In our initial meeting, my respect for this professional couple grew. As I laid out my plans for the horses training and showing,
Baudouin asserted that in their training program, the horse is paramount and in his words, "We let the horse tell us when he is ready." This made it clear that they cared first about the welfare of the horse and it's proper training and developement. Under Maria's patient work, my gelding has returned to the horse he was bred to be - well-muscled, enjoying his work, and full of potential. I look forward to continued improvement and success in his training program.
I recommend Baudouin and Maria Hallet of Hallet Training with the utmost confidence. Confidence in their professionalism, their integrity, and their unquestioned commitment to the proper, well balanced training of the horse carried out with the right measure of care, patience, and discipline."
- Michael A. Foster, Franklin, Tennessee
I am writing this letter to recommend Maria and Baudouin Hallet.
I have been training under them for two years, and the time I have spent with them have been some of the best I have spent riding. They are the most relaxed and even people I have ever experienced in the horse world.
In the high-stress environment of competitions, they remain calm. The Hallets have also provided me with the highest quality instruction and have shared their extensive knowledge with me. I am a more well-rounded equestrian because of it. They helped me through a difficult horse, and an even more difficult transition to the discipline of Dressage.
I truly value my experience with Maria and Baudouin Hallet because of their ability to inspire and improve their students without negative preassure."
- August Hays-Ekeland, Eugene, Oregon