About

Brian Hafner is Grand Prix Dressage Competitor and trainer. As a lifelong equestrian originally from Minnesota, he relocated to California in 2006 and landed in Northern California where he started Brian Hafner Dressage. He is now located in Ocala, Florida year round. Brian is a well-known trainer with a relaxed yet determined approach to the sport. Throughout his career, Brian has shown to be successful at all levels of dressage on a personal level as well as developing a program where is students and clients are successful. He has coached and trained riders to numerous USDF medals, CDI wins, NAYC team and individual medals, regional championship wins, and USDF National Championship wins. His biggest accomplishment is training his own horse Lombardo up to be a successful International CDI Grand Prix horse from a 4-year-old. Brian’s riding resume’ includes:

  • US Team member for 2015 Nation’s Cup team Falsterbo, Sweden CDIO5*
  • US Team member for 2014 Nation’s Cup teams for Rotterdam CDI05* and Hickstead CDI3*
  • USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medalist
  • 2015 CDS Horse of the Year Grand Prix
  • 2014 Carol Lavell $25,000 dressage grant recipient through The Dressage Foundation (dressagefoundation.org)
  • 2013 Top Six USEF National Championships at Grand Prix (Lombardo)
  • 2013 Top Ten USEF National Championships at I-1 (Chablis)
  • 2012 Brentina Cup Champion
  • 2009 NAYRC Triple medalist
  • Numerous CDI wins and top placing’s
  • Numerous Regional and Year-end championships

Brian’s training philosophy comes from a culmination of working with some of the world’s top dressage trainers and judges including; Johann Hinneman, Robert Dover, Debbie McDonald, Ernst Hoyos, Juan Matute, Gary Rockwell, Janet Foy, Axel Steiner, Jane Wetherwax, Heidi Gaian, Laurie Falvo Doyle. Brian has also spent time training throughout Germany. Brian is known for his calm yet effective approach to dressage and is great with riders and horses of any level and ability. This approach has proved to be successful both in and out of the show arena. Contact him for more information.