Barbra and Brian Reis

Barbra (Crossmyer) Reis is the resident trainer and has over 25 years experience in training young horses and teaching novice riders.  From an early age, Barb was obsessed with horses. She talked about horses, drew horses, wrote stories about horses and, finally, at the age of five started riding horses! By the time Barb was a teenager she had set three goals for herself: To obtain the best possible education; To own a great farm; And to excel as a rider and trainer at the national level in dressage. Barbra attended Michigan State University ’s Pre-Veterinary program for two years then transferred to Centenary College in New Jersey where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Equine Studies. She also attended Porlock Vale Equestrian Centre in England and she earned a British Horse Society Assistant Instructor Certificate.  Barbra continued her education with jobs in the New York City area at the United States Equestrian Federation (then AHSA), Miller Harness Company, as an instructor at both Claremont Riding Academy in the city and Overpeck Riding Center in New Jersey. She managed Millbrook Farm in upstate New York and spent time grooming on the AA hunter circuit. Barb rode with George Morris, Greg Best, Gunnar Ostergaard, Anne Kursinkski, and in clinics with Bert DeNemethy. Upon returning to Michigan , she began competing on the hunter and eventing circuits to continue broadening her education.  In 1992 she won the (MCTA/TEAM) Sun Ray Perpetual Trophy for High Point Professional Rider. 

Dressage finally took over as her primary equine discipline in 1995 and she has shown successfully through Second Level winning many local, regional, and national breed association awards with her own horses as well as client owned horses.  To continue her own education Barb is currently working with Grand Prix rider Judy Kelly and spending a week in Canada with riding with well know German Master Walter Zettl in June of 2010.  She will also be riding with Catherine Haddad who is clinicing at her farm in July of 2010. Barb has also cliniced with Jochen Hippenstehl of Temple Lippizzans.

Barb was recently featured the September 2009 Equine Journal  in an article about Paint Horses as well as the Paint Horse Journal (September thru November 2008 issues) which had three instructional articles on dressage for the Paint horse which included a full photo spread and step by step exercises. 

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 starts a number of young horses each year following the classical dressage training scale to make sure they have the solid foundation necessary to become future dressage stars.  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. 

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.