The first Symposium started with a brainstorming session back in the spring of 2004 between Scott and Susanne Hassler and Richard Malmgren. They wondered how to fill the gap between breeders and trainers in North America. So many quality young horses were born in North America each year, yet many were left unrecognized by the industry through the lack of qualified trainers. The idea grew that if talented riders could be located and developed, breeders could then have greater access to qualified trainers. These trainers could more readily bring forth the quality of their offspring and, hopefully, on a schedule appropriate for development towards sport. The seeds for the first Symposium were planted.
Hilltop Farm, Inc. and Harmony Sporthorses generously agreed to co-sponsor this project, keeping participation attractive and affordable to the best talent out there. They didn't want lack of finances to limit a person's ability to participate. They recognized that the event could attract significant crowds, which would deter from the focus and intent to develop the trainers as individuals. It was decided to keep the event closed to the public, with no press, and no auditors. In this way, the selected participants could most benefit from discussion and feedback through interactive training sessions with Scott Hassler and his friends and colleagues Dr. Ulf Möller and Ingo Pape.
Advertising for the first Symposium began in the fall of 2004. What better way to draw attention to the event than Susanne Hassler's recent accomplishment with Hilltop's stallion Royal Prince. Together, they were the best placing American pair to date in the World Championships for Young Horses in Verden, Germany! Applications came in by the dozens and at the end of the application deadline, well over 340 applications had been received! With the applicant review tapes, Scott, Susanne and Richard quickly saw the tremendous talent actually available in the North America. They realized that their true task was to select a group out of all the talent out there. Some very qualified and experienced applicants were not chosen for the first Symposium to keep learning opportunities open to others; other applicants were not selected as they didn't yet have a strong enough background in dressage. The original concept of working with ten to fifteen trainers was expanded to a format that would allow the greatest number of people to participate without losing the effectiveness of educating and interacting with the entire group.
Forty trainers from twenty states and Canada were selected. On a Thursday evening in April, 2005, on the tail of the first World Cup event in Las Vegas, YDHTS began welcoming guests for the three day Symposium held at Hilltop Farm in Maryland. Initially, everyone was very quiet, very few people knew each other. Scott Hassler opened the Symposium by welcoming everyone and started by sharing his vision of how the Symposium would work. He noted that it was created for trainers by trainers and introduced his fellow speakers Dr. Ulf Möller and Ingo Pape. Scott stressed that he hoped there could be similar friendships created among this group of trainers, similar to those he had created with Ingo and Ulf in Germany at Herbert Rehbein’s stable at Groendwoldhof. Scott encouraged a sense of camaraderie and ongoing support among the attending trainers, a concept that caught on quickly.
By the second day of the Symposium the atmosphere among the forty participants had begun to stir with genuine excitement! The atmosphere was abuzz with great conversations and the excitement was building due to the openness of discussion. It was clear to the participants that the Symposium conductors were there to help and share with them not only as directors, but as peers. They remained completely approachable and open to questions. After three full days of training and evening discussions, the first Young Dressage Horse Trainer's Symposium left participants inspired, enthused, and renewed in their sense of community.
The 2006 YDHTS was held on a weekend in late November, after all Regional Championships had concluded. All alumni from the 2005 Symposium were invited to come back and an additional thirty attendees were selected from another huge number of applicants. The 2005 YDHTS conductors were Scott Hassler, Ann Gribbons, and Ingo Pape. Participants enjoyed having a successful and insightful trainer such as Ann join the panel. In addition, Ann effectively brought the judge's view to discussions
The 2007 YDHTS was carried forward by Scott and Susanne's newly formed company, Hassler Dressage LLC, and once again in partnership with Harmony Sporthorses. Held in Castle Rock, Colorado this Symposium was conducted by Scott Hassler and Michael Klimke. A group of sixty participants attended this time. There were approximately twenty alumni from 2005, twenty alumni from 2006 and roughly 20 newly selected participants; proof that the event was gaining great momentum and was highly regarded by past participants. This was also was a great opportunity for Harmony Sporthorses to get a first-hand feeling of the impact and atmosphere that the Symposium creates, since this event was right in their neighborhood. Participants were treated to a welcoming party at the beautiful Harmony Sporthorses' facility and the Harmony Sporthorses team rolled out the red carpet throughout the weekend. Being in the Western state of Colorado, they even threw in a surprise bull riding contest which added a lot of fun and memories to the event. Read more about the 2007 YDHTS here.
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