Cover-All Provides Ideal Teaching Venue

Two years ago, Judy Gustafson of Chimney Hills Equestrian Center in Virginia purchased a 72' w x 220' l (21.3m x 67m) Cover-All® riding arena when she decided to turn her love of horses and dressage into a public teaching venue. The fabric covered building Gustafson researched and decided upon was manufactured by Cover-All Building Systems and distributed and installed by the local dealer, JD Sauer Corporation in Edinburg, Virginia. The building installation was complete in just 9 days.

"The sense of openness and peaceful acoustical qualities of the building provide the natural environment that horses and riders love, it is so easy to get the horse and rider to concentrate. I have been to many conventional riding arenas with the low ceilings and artificial lighting, it is always a welcome treat to come home and re-experience the qualities of my Cover-All riding arena. My horses love it!" says Gustafson.

The arena quickly attracted curious attention from a number of neighbors and equine enthusiasts such as Catherine Sutton. Sutton is a certified USDF (United States Dressage Federation) dressage instructor who utilizes the Chimney Hills riding arena on a regular basis for dressage clinics. Sutton is one of approximately one hundred certified USDF instructors in the United States that trains riders and horses in the sport of dressage.

Sutton first met Gustafson by staging a free clinic in her new riding arena, "what started off as a free clinic has turned into a great working relationship," states Sutton. Sutton shares her expertise with those wanting to improve the fine art of dressage. "A lot of the indoor buildings I ride and teach in are the standard wood truss and wood roof construction, they can be dark and claustrophobic even under lights. I love the natural light and openness of Judy's riding arena, and the acoustics of her arena are exceptional," says Sutton, "a rider can be 200 feet away and still be able to hear me without shouting."

New opportunities continue to open for Gustafson in a variety of ways. Most recently, the facility was approved to host a USDF Learner Judges program. "I have had the honor to host internationally recognized dressage judges from across the United States who train and prepare the future judges of dressage. These judges have been involved in the actual writing of the Olympic rulebook for dressage. The response I have gotten from clinic participants and instructors has been fantastic!' says Gustafson.