Biography
Ann Thal has been a rider and trainer of hunter, jumper and equitation horses since 1976. She has taught at all levels, children and adults, in both hunter and jumper divisions as well as assisting eventers with their stadium jumping rounds. From 1989-2006 Ann owned and operated Snaffles Farm in Bradenton, Florida.
Now based in Aiken, South Carolina, Ann has been giving clinics up and down the East Coast and has a strong local following. Her students have garnered ribbons in eventing, improved their fox hunting skills and won numerous state, zone and local high score year end awards. Most recently, her students won best child rider award in the 2011 Aiken Spring Classic Series, the Silver Stirrup Award Zone 4, numerous children's hunter, children's and adult jumper classes and several N.A.L. Classics.
Before moving to Aiken in March of 2006 and through Snaffles Farm, Ann and her staff produced numerous
local, state and Zone champions in hunter, jumper and equitation divisions. In 2006, Snaffles Farm started the year with a win in the Tackeria Children’s/Adult Jumper Classic at Littlewood Farm. At the same show, Snaffles students also garnered top ribbons in the children’s hunter and equitation divisions. At HITS Ocala, 2006, Snaffles students again won top ribbons in the children’s jumpers and hunter divisions, as well as the novice adult hunter division.
In 2005, Snaffles Farm trained a student who was 7th in the very competitive NHJL Children’s/Adult Jumper Finals,
held in Conyers, Georgia. This was the rider’s first year competing in the Children’s Jumper division. Her students
have qualified for the Marshall Sterling finals two years in a row, finishing in the top 20 in the country. Ann also trained
a rider to a top ribbon in the Pony Equitation Finals as well as placing in the top five overall in the pony hunter division. In addition, Ann trained one of the top five-year-old jumpers in the Young Jumper Championship. Ann enjoys working with horses and riders of all levels and believes in a strong foundation in overall horsemanship to help both the riders and the horses achieve their goals. Ann has a strong and diverse background in both dressage and jumping and uses this to develop a strong foundation for her students.
Ann broadened her training and competitive experiences by competing in USEA Horse Trials for just over 2 years.
She rode in the American Eventing Championships twice. Ann and Galileo competed in novice, training and preliminary divisions. Galileo started his career as a
3 year old and prior to competing as an event horse, he had successfully shown as a jumper at Level 6.
Ann has a strong commitment to the development of horse and rider on the flat. With a strong emphasis on continuing education, Ann is currently training with FEI Dressage trainer Carol Bishop and continues her education by attending and hosting clinics and trainers symposiums. Additionally as part of her and her student's continuing education, she regularly hosts clicnics taught by international renowned clinicians.
Ann is a student of the Alexander Technique, studying with Alina Holder in Aiken, and applies the principles to her teaching.
Her current client list includes tadpole to advanced level event riders, young jumpers, adult & children's jumpers, junior jumpers and children's and amateur hunters. She has expanded her client roster to include lower level dressage and lower level cross country students.
SNAFFLES, LLC
Ann Thal
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