Dorte Lindegaard, owner

Dorte Lindegaard grew up in Denmark, where she started riding at Øresundskystens Rideklub from the age of 6. At 10 years old she started riding directly under the instructions of the owner, Egon Stenbjerggaard, who was originally trained by the Danish Military Academy. She worked with him and numerous other trainers in Denmark through her teens and early twenties, getting an excellent foundation in eventing, jumping, horsemanship and first and foremost dressage.
Dorte moved to Los Angeles in 1991, and was introduced to polo, as well as western riding and natural horsemanship, working with Ray Hunt, Buck Brannaman and many others. She keeps her own training current with yearly visits Europe, where she works regularly with a number of renowned trainers, incl. Olympic silver medalist Rafael Soto.
Dorte started Westside Riding School in 2006, where she has created a unique program, which gives all students an all-around solid foundation in riding on the flat (western and dressage), jumping, trail riding, horsemanship and proper equestrian etiquette. The training is based on the teaching from British Horse Society.
Besides riding, Dorte believes strongly in having her students volunteer at various riding and horse programs the school participates in at Will Rogers State Historic Park, walking in the footsteps of Will Roger's humanitarian and horse-loving ways. Dorte has seen great improvements in her students self-esteem and trust in their own riding abilities, once they start helping others, teaching what they've learned themselves.