Meet the people who make Chestnut Hill’s reputation for excellence possible.
With decades of combined experience in training, teaching and horse care, our team brings both expertise and dedication to create the professional and supportive environment our riders have come to expect.
The Person Behind It All: Meet Trina French
At nine years old, in a small seaside town on England’s south coast, Trina French walked into Fairlight Stables in East Sussex and decided this would be her life. Not just riding, but understanding horses at their core – how they think, how they move and how to build a genuine partnership between horse and rider.
That early clarity led to a journey spanning continents. After extensive work throughout England and a stint in Holland refining her skills, Trina came to the Hudson Valley. She looked at a piece of land and saw potential. Not just for another riding facility, but for something different. She envisioned a place where horse and human could become completely in tune.
What sets Trina apart from the beginning is her conviction that riding is about creating a conversation with your horse. Where many instructors focus solely on position and technique, Trina teaches you to recognize what your horse is telling you through the subtle shift of weight, the flick of an ear or the tension in their back. Under her guidance, you learn to listen with your seat, respond with your hands, and communicate through your entire body. The result is riders who actually partner with their horses, creating the kind of relationship that makes great horsemanship possible.
Classical Horsemanship Taught with Patience, Humor and Genuine Care
Trina’s approach has been shaped by remarkable mentors. Marina Genn taught her to see the biomechanics of movement and develop the keen eye that makes her instruction so precise. USDF medalist Verne Batchelder deepened her foundation in classical dressage. Reinhardt Teator continues to refine her jumping technique and her skill for bringing young horses over fences properly. She’s participated in clinics with Olympic eventers including Jimmy Wafford, Vaughn Jefferies, and Boyd Martin, constantly learning and evolving her methods to better serve the riders who come through Chestnut Hill.
But her impressive credentials only tell part of the story.
What makes Trina exceptional is something her students recognize immediately – she sees the whole picture.
While you’re focusing on keeping your heels down, she’s reading your horse’s state of mind. While your horse is processing a new request, she understands what you’re feeling in the saddle. This dual perspective allows her to guide both partners toward real understanding and improved skill.
Her students will tell you she never makes you feel foolish for being nervous. She acknowledges progress at every level. She knows when to push gently forward and when to take a step back and has an uncanny ability to explain the same concept five different ways until it clicks for you. And somehow, she makes even the most challenging lessons enjoyable.
Trina doesn’t seek the spotlight. She simply shows up every day, committed to doing what she enjoys – teaching riders of all ages and abilities to communicate with horses in a way that respects both partners.
After decades of teaching, Trina has created something rare at Chestnut Hill – a place where classical horsemanship is taught with patience, humor and genuine care. Where every student matters and where horses come first.
