Knoll Dressage in Chuluota, Florida
Article: Training in Florida with Anne Gribbons

Knoll Dressage is on 50 beautiful acres in an equestrian community. As you enter the farm, the winding driveway has natural foliage on both sides. As you approach the barns the land opens up and you will see two flag poles. Anne fly's the American flag and her homeland flag of Sweden. The barns and covered arena can be seen behind the flag poles.

The architectural design and colors let's you feel for a moment of being in Europe.

There are two mirror image barns. One barn is where Anne's personal horses are housed as well as full time client horses in training. Each barn has ten stalls, feed room and tack room that includes washer/dryer, full bath, two inside wash stalls and three outside wash stalls. The second barn is for visiting horses in training and is equipped the same. Both barns have a short wing off the side that house apartments that are available to riders who prefer to stay on the farm while in full training.

My apartment was floor level. My door can be made out just below the stairs. I enjoyed living on the grounds. Shopping is only 15 minutes away. There is a large shopping mall twenty five minutes away with a movie cinema and restaurants. I discovered a small tack shop in the little town of Chuluota next to the post office. I had lot's to do on my day off from training. I usually headed for the mall and even took in a movie on New Year's Day and saw Aviator.

The stalls are large and all have rubber mats. There are two doors to each stall. The grills on the outside stall doors can be put up or left down. The horses love hanging their heads out and checking out the action. Even with bad weather they can hang out. The covered aisle is about 14 feet in depth. David Gribbons designed the barn and everything is colored coordinated right down to the water buckets.

The inside of the barn have extra wide aisle with black rubber bricks going down the middle. This is very comfortable when leading stallions. The stalls have European design grills with sliding doors. They used scissor trusses which give the feeling of being even more open and airy. I used the same scissor trusses for my barn.

The wash stalls are large and the floors also had mats to keep the horses from slipping. All wash stalls have hot and cold water available. The feeling of luxury that is very enjoyable.

David Gribbons designed both barns the landscaping around the barns, covered arena and the entrance to the facility. David is seen driving his club car daily taking care of the facility. David is the one to go to when something needs fixing, or you need to know where to go for a specific item. Before I left David had been working on a watering system for the plants that surround the covered arena and the entrance to Knoll Dressage. He is up first thing and he is the last to end his day by watering and dragging the covered arena and the dressage arena. There is no question for David's passion about his farm.

Horses have ample turnout with about ten turnout pastures. Every horse get's their turn for a good roll. The paddocks are designed without any corners. This keeps horses from running into a corner and doing a skid stop. If a horse happens to start running they will tend to keep going like in a lunge ring.

When leaving Knoll Dressage you will pass the two flag poles and drive slowly down the winding driveway that takes you to the entrance. Be careful of the speed bumps... You will be leaving a very unusual training facility that is very dedicated to horses and riders.

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