Élan Vital Dressage

Full-Time Working Student – Élan Vital Dressage | Ocala, FL

Élan Vital Dressage is seeking a dedicated, motivated Full-Time Working Student to join our growing upper-level dressage program in Ocala, Florida.

This opportunity is designed for someone who is passionate about horses, committed to exceptional horse care, and eager to develop within a professional dressage program.

About Our Program

We are currently a boutique program of eight horses, with plans to expand this winter. Our focus includes training, competition, horse sales, and developing quality partnerships with both horses and clients.

We are proud to have exceptional horses, wonderful clients, and, above all, genuinely good people. We believe a positive culture is just as important as high standards, and we are looking for someone who shares those values.

What We Offer

* Full board for one horse
* Weekly lessons for your horse
* Weekly stipend
* Opportunities to earn additional income through horse shows and other barn responsibilities
* Mentorship in horse management, training, competition, and horse sales
* The opportunity to work with quality horses in a professional, team-oriented environment

Please note: Housing is not available at this time.

Responsibilities

* Daily horse care with meticulous attention to detail
* Feeding, turnout, stall cleaning, grooming, and tacking
* Maintaining a clean, organized, and efficient barn
* Assisting with lessons, training rides, and horse show preparation
* Supporting the overall success of the program while maintaining the highest standard of horse welfare

We’re Looking For Someone Who Is

* Reliable, punctual, and hardworking
* Kind, patient, and attentive with horses
* Organized and able to work efficiently
* Eager to learn and take initiative
* Professional, positive, and team-oriented
* Passionate about developing as both a horseperson and rider

We’re happy to teach and mentor someone who comes with an open mind, a positive attitude, and the grit to work hard. Prior experience with feeding, stalls, turnout, and general horse care is required. The finer details of our program, systems, and standards—we’ll gladly teach.

A Few Things About Our Barn…

You’ll probably fit right in if you enjoy:

* A morning Celsius.
* The occasional pastry run.
* Silly conversations before the sun is fully up.
* Weekly theme songs that somehow become the soundtrack of the barn.
* Really hot Florida days (or at least a good attitude about them!).

Most importantly, we’re a team. We work hard, laugh a lot, support one another, and always put the horses first.

We know our horses inside and out—their personalities, routines, and every little quirk. Exceptional horse care isn’t just expected here; it’s who we are. If you’re looking for a supportive environment where you’ll grow as a rider and horseperson while being part of a team that genuinely enjoys working together, we’d love to meet you.

To Apply

Please email all application materials to [email protected].

Include:

* Your résumé
* Riding and showing experience (if applicable)
* Previous horse care or employment experience
* Your long-term goals within the equine industry
* Two to three professional or equestrian references
* Photos and/or riding videos (optional, but encouraged)

To learn more about our team, training philosophy, horses, and facility, visit elanvitaldressage.com.

We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming the right person to the Élan Vital Dressage team!

🥉 FEI Schoolmaster Available for In-Barn Lease – Ocala, FL 🥉

Looking to earn your USDF Bronze or Silver Medal, gain confidence through the FEI levels, or simply enjoy riding an experienced schoolmaster?

Bacardi is a 2011 Hanoverian gelding with successful competition experience through Prix St. Georges, consistently earning mid-60% scores. Standing 16.2hh, he’s a kind, confidence-building partner who is happily ridden in either a snaffle or double bridle and is a true tempi change machine.

✔ In-barn lease only at Crownview Dressage (Ocala, FL)
✔ Full lease preferred (half lease considered for the right situation)
✔ Lessons and training included
✔ Opportunities to show and clinic

If you’ve always wanted to learn on a horse that truly knows his job—without the commitment of ownership—Bacardi is an exceptional opportunity.

📩 Message for videos, pricing, and full lease details.

Learn more about our program at www.elanvitaldressage.com

Two consignment spaces are now available at Élan Vital Dressage.

For owners who want their horse represented thoughtfully and professionally, my sales consignment program is designed to go beyond simply listing a horse for sale. Each horse in the program is kept in consistent work, presented carefully, and marketed with the same attention to detail I bring to the rest of my program.

If you have a quality dressage horse you’re considering selling and would like to discuss whether it may be a fit, feel free to reach out privately.

Ocala, Florida

🌐 elanvitaldressage.com

A wonderful day at the Florida Horse Park! ☀️🐴

Congratulations to Rya on a successful outing with her new partner, and a huge thank you to Ann for the opportunity to ride and compete such a lovely horse.

Congratulations as well to Shana and Cory on two beautiful, harmonious tests. The attention to detail and hard work behind the scenes is showing in the ring.

And a special congratulations to Donna and Boreas FRF on their first outing together since becoming partners. We’re so excited for this new chapter and can’t wait to see where the journey takes them. More on these two coming soon!

Thank you to Melanie for supporting the team, Mike and Karen for being our biggest cheerleaders, and Garrett for holding down the fort at home while we were away.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Seminole Feed and County Saddlery, and a special shout out to Free Ride Equestrian for keeping us cool and stylish in the Florida heat.

Dressage truly takes a team, and we’re grateful for ours. ❤️

The right environment changes everything.

Not every horse thrives in a large program.

Some horses need consistency. Thoughtful management. Individualized training. A team that notices the small things before they become big things.

At Crownview Dressage, we combine the opportunities of Ocala’s world-class competition scene with the attention and standards of a boutique training program.

Less than ten minutes from the World Equestrian Center.

Individual turnout.
Personalized training plans.
Monthly competition opportunities.
Access to Olympic and international-level clinicians.
Consistent daily care.

Because the best results are rarely built in a single ride.

They’re built in the details.

A limited number of openings are currently available.

📍 Ocala, Florida
🌐 ElanVitalDressage.com
📩 DM to inquire

I’m considering opening one spot for the right pony or smaller horse for Rya to bring along within our program at Crownview. ✨

This would be best suited for something that needs correct, consistent work — not a full professional training package.

Could be a great fit for:
✔️ Eventers wanting stronger flatwork
✔️ Ponies needing a tune-up or boot camp
✔️ Horses needing mileage and consistency
✔️ Horses preparing for their first schooling shows
✔️ Amateur horses needing confidence and better basics

Rya is especially tactful with smaller horses and ponies, and this would all be done under my guidance within the program.

Pasture or full board options available.

This will be a selective fit, not a general opening.

📩 Message me if you think your horse could be a good match

Your horse deserves the right eyes.

Not just more traffic — thoughtful exposure, qualified buyers, and professional representation behind every inquiry.

We are now accepting a limited number of consignment horses at Crownview Dressage, located five minutes from the World Equestrian Center in Ocala.

What that looks like in practice:

→ Professional photography and polished presentation
→ Active exposure to the WEC circuit and a broader national network
→ Careful buyer vetting — we match horses to riders, not listings to clicks
→ A boutique consignment program fully invested in your horse’s outcome
→ Our last consignment horse sold to the first rider who tried him — within one week

If your horse is quality, but the presentation, exposure, or buyer process has not reflected that, this conversation is worth having.

Reach out directly. No pressure, no hard sell — just an honest conversation about whether we are the right fit for your horse.

📩 [email protected]
🌐 elanvitaldressage.com/sales
💬 DM anytime

Selective intake. Limited availability.