Barbra Reis

Barbra (Crossmyer) Reis is the resident trainer and has over 15 years  experience in training young horses and teaching novice riders.  Barb and her husband Brian own and operate Brilliant Reflection Farm.  Brian is a Marine who served as an embassy guard in Moscow, Russia, Helsinki, Finland and Jakarta, Indonesia. His last six years were spent at the White House assigned to the executive flight detachment (Marine One) and Alert Facility at Quantico, VA. He has also worked in the security industry concentrating on executive protection. Brian holds a B.S. in Airport Management from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He was raised in Nebraska and grew up on a cattle ranch, so he is very familiar with livestock and the maintenance involved in owning a farm.

Barb holds a Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies from Centenary College in New Jersey, as well as a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor certificate. Her resume includes two years at the USEF (formally AHSA) in the membership department maintaining horse recordings and enforcing pony measurements. Barb also worked for Miller Harness Company at their New York City retail store, taught riding at the Claremont Riding Academy in NYC and Overpeck Riding Center in Leonia, NJ under the guidance of Heidi Erickson. She also managed Millbrook Farm, home of the Prants, and groomed for their daughter Sarah and "Kiss Me Not" on the Pony Hunter Circuit on the East Coast. She rode with George Morris, Greg Best and attended clinics with Gunnar Ostergard, Anne Kursinkski, Bert DeNemethy, Peter Leone and Bruce Davidson. She has also competed on the hunter and eventing circuits in Michigan.  In 1992 she won the (MCTA/TEAM) Sun Ray Perpetual Trophy for high point professional riding Clever Kid.  She has also won the USDF All Breed Award for APHA horses since 1998, placing 1st in the Adult Amateur and Open divisions in Training and First Levels. Her previous mount Brilliant Guise also placed 1st in Second Level. She has also placed in the Performance Horse Registry's Silver Stirrup Awards, Training thru Second Levels with Brilliant Guise and Brilliant Reflection.

Barb has a knack for teaching and training novice horses and riders. Her students excel at shows, always placing in the ribbons with scores above 60% and receiving numerous year end awards. She is extremely patient with young horses, building the foundation for any riding discipline in the future.

Barb showed her APHA/TB gelding, Brilliant Reflection at 1st & 2nd Levels in 2006 and Training &1st Levels with her TB gelding, Brilliant Image. She qualified to attend the Region 2 Championships with Brilliant Reflection in 2005 (Training Level Open) and 2006 (First Level Freestyle).  2007 included showing Brilliant Reflection, Brilliant Image at 2nd Level at USDF/USEF recognized shows and attending schooling shows with clients and their horses.  

In addition to teaching, training, showing and running a boarding facility, Barb held a position on the Midwest Dressage Association board of directors and was a TEAM board member when it was the Michigan Combined Training Association. She also served as the organizer/event chairperson for the Lisa Wilcox Clinic held April 2006 at the Nancy G. Held Equestrian Center at Albion College. 

Training in dressage and hunt seat  is available at Brilliant Reflection farm in Ortonville. Barb will also make farm calls. Visit the training page for rates. She also has a service of matching riders to horses. See the sales page for more information.