Michelle Just-Williams, Dressage Trainer and Instructor
USDF Bronze, Silver & Gold Medalist
A native New Yorker, Michelle pursued her equine career after High School and received her Associates in Animal Science in Cobeskill, NY. She then went on to get a BA in Agriculture at Murray State University in Kentucky in 1990.
During the college years Michelle competed on the Intercollegiate Equestrian Teams. She received scholarships to ride while in Murray State and qualified for Zone Competition in jumping at the Intercollegiate competitions, being named Hunt Seat Rider of The Year in 1990.
After graduation Michelle moved to Florida. At one of the local Arabian shows she caught sight of a beautiful horse and rider combination in the dressage arena. The rider, Lee Avera, rode in such complete harmony with her horse that Michelle, who had been a pure hunter/jumper rider to that point wound up at Everglade Arabians to pursue dressage. Charlie and Suzanne Stuart noticed Michelle's talent and after a few years of working full time as a dressage rider and trainer for the farm, she was given her first major challenge on a greenbroke horse by the name of Wistar Ananda, owned by Tim and Sally Grissom. They asked Michelle to ride Wistar and the Michelle/Wistar combination attained a
National Reserve Championship at First Level, a Top Ten at Second Level and a Regional Championship in Show Hack. Wistar was the start of Michelle's quest for medals by helping her attain the scores necessary for Third Level Bronze.
Then there is Everglade Arabian's most successful mare, EA Novette. Michelle attributes this horse with teaching her timing, aids, perseverance and patience. Novette was brought out of retirement for Michelle and was none too pleased to find that she was back in full swing competition. Michelle had to recondition her, and then convince Novette to help her through the difficulties of upper level movements including Piaffe, Passage, Canter Pirouettes and flying changes every stride. Day in and day out they would work on it and in the end the Michelle/Novette team earned Michelle her Silver Medal for rider excellence through Prix St George in 1999. Then in December of 2001 Michelle received her Gold Medal, reaching the prescribed scores through Grand Prix.
Michelle feels that one of the great parts of dressage is that it is never without challenges. Even after earning her Gold Medal there is so much more she wants to accomplish. While continuing to perfect her own riding skills, she also works for greater effectiveness in the horses that she trains and is especially giving of the wealth of information she now possesses, freely passing it on to her students.