Jess Havey has been a dressage trainer at Nellie Gail since 2015. She trains and competes client’s horses and also provides dressage instruction to clients on their own horses. In November 2018, Jess competed at the Friesian World Cup in Las Vegas with client Angie Waian’s mare Margriet. The pair won 2 Grand Championship and one Reserve Grand Championship titles. In addition to her clients at Nellie Gail, Jess is the dressage trainer at a private dressage stable in Encinitas where she has a number of competition horses and clients in training. Jess is a United States Dressage Federation Bronze and Silver medalist and 3 Star rated rider. She has numerous wins on multiple horses Training level through PSG/I1 with scores in the 70s.

Jess grew up in Maine and her first exposure to horses was at an eventing stable when she was 8 years old. Over the next few years she became passionate about dressage and during her teenage years, dressage became the focus of her equestrian training. While pursuing a pre-vet degree from the University of Vermont, Jess continued to dedicate herself to dressage. Following graduation she became the assistant trainer and barn manager to Ellen Miller, summering in Vermont and wintering in Wellington, FL. Jess then went on to work for Nancy Later in Wellington, FL, learning the ins and outs of a sales barn as well as training young horses up through the levels.

In 2009, Jess moved to Langley, B.C where she was the assistant trainer for 3-time Olympian Leslie Reid. With Leslie as a role model for top competition dressage, Jess rapidly developed her skills as a rider, competitor and trainer. 2011 brought a move to Holland for Jess with the opportunity to work for a horse sales barn, riding, training and presenting dressage prospects to potential buyers.
Jess moved to San Diego in 2012 to take a position as assistant trainer to Olympian Sue Blinks. Here she trained and showed Leatherdale Farm’s horses under Sue’s knowledgeable and experienced eye, gaining invaluable experience and continuing to her advance dressage education.

In 2014, Jess started her own riding and training business. She currently trains with Olympian Christine Traurig, and in addition to competing client’s horses, she is very successfully showing her own talented mare, Relevant, at 4th level, with hopes of making it to Grand Prix with her in the future. Jess really enjoys the process and challenge of training all different types, ages, and levels of horses and their riders.