Next Level Dressage and Eventing was founded in 2013 by Carrie Montgomery. After years of training, riding, and competing all over the world Carrie decided to bring her knowledge and experience to the St. Louis and mid-illinois eventing and dressage community.

 

Carrie began riding at a very young age in Kaneohe, HI. In 1984 Carrie began training at Kaalaea View Farms Riding Academy and Lio lii lii Pony Club, with Jean “Terry” Campbell Tugman, a USDF judge and driving force in Hawaii’s dressage scene. During her time with Terry, Carrie had the opportunity to ride with many top level clinicians including Bert de Nemethy, Hans Moeller, Michael Handler, Dominique Barbier, Michael Herbert and Lockie Richards to name a few. While under the tutelage of Mrs. Tugman, Carrie competed in FEI Dressage at Intermediare I and was schooling Grand Prix dressage.

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As Mrs. Tugman was also recognized for introducing eventing to the island and strongly believed the quality of horses and riders shouldn’t suffer due to its isolated location, Carrie was also competing at Training level eventing while in Hawaii. 

 

Following her mentors belief that particularly talented riders and horses ought to consider moving to the mainland to pursue their careers, at 18 Carrie moved to Oregon. There Carrie was riding and schooling Intermediate level eventing and earned her Pony Club "B" certification at Donida Horse Farm, a world-class equestrian facility in the Pacific Northwest.

 

After earning her "B", Carrie was a working student for Trip Harding who was revered as a brilliant trainer, clinician and USDF judge in Agoura Hills, CA.

 

In 1995, Carrie went to New Zealand to again work with her mentor Terry Tugman and complete her Pony Club "A" Certification. While in New Zealand, Carrie continued to ride Intermediate level eventing.

 

Moving to St. Louis, MO in 1996 to be close to family, Carrie took a break from horses to get married and raise her own family. In 2012 a chance encounter and a Youtube video of a dog doing dressage, brought Carrie back into the horse world.

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In 2013, Carrie founded Next Level Dressage and Eventing based out of Avalon Horse Farm in Millstadt, IL. Next Level has quickly become a successful lesson and training program. Carrie and her students enjoy completing and have had success at all levels of dressage and eventing both the local and national level. Carrie especially enjoys restarting off the track Thoroughbreds. During her free time Carrie enjoys giving back by contributing to Pony Club and helping to grow the local eventing and dressage community.