through compassionate training and exceptional care – always keeping their mental and physical well-being at the forefront of what we do.
by better problem-solving and working together toward our goals.We approach every situation with a positive “can do” attitude.
Always treating each other as equals with mutual respect. Lifting each other up and encouraging during challenging times, but never forget to also celebrate our achievements together!
“I can do things you cannot, You can do things I cannot; Together, we can do great things.”
We’re recognized for being the pink team and on Wednesdays the entire barn wears pink. I’ve always been a fan of pink, but it’s more meaningful for us than that. Within our team, we’ve all had friends and family affected by breast cancer and this is our way of supporting them and raising awareness.
We know you want to be the best you can be – let us help you get there!
Having trained horses from training level through Grand Prix successfully, I understand the development process for each level and can create a custom program for you based on your needs and goals.
We offer several training and lesson options to help you reach your goals but if you don’t see what you’re looking for, please get in touch! We also offer horse show coaching and multi-day clinics
It’s my goal to create happy, healthy partnerships so that you can progress together to achieve your goals inside the ring and out!
FEI Competitor, Trainer, Importer/Sales, Owner of Jodie Kelly Dressage When I say horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, it’s because I got my first pony when I was just 2 years old.
I had two more ponies after Little Joe and they allowed me to try everything – including galloping wildly, bareback through the woods, the finer aspects of dressage, the technical challenges of pony jumpers, and then combining it into three-day eventing. It was a blast!
The ponies had hearts of gold and would try anything, allowing me to go participate in local 4-H and Pony Club where I competed at local, regional, and state championships with both.
It gave me a very early appreciation for horses and why I believe that breed doesn’t matter. Your heart horse is your heart horse, which is an essential part of your success!
I was fortunate to get a lovely grey mare named Lolita, at the time I’d outgrown my ponies, from a family friend who’d decided to get out of the horse business. With her, I was truly able to immerse myself in the magic of dressage.
After meeting Toine and Ingrid Hoefs at the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague, Netherlands, I started spending my summers in Holland. I was only 12 then and I’d spend my mornings at Anky van Grunsven’s farm as a working student, and in the afternoon, Toine would pick me up and I’d spend the rest of my day with him, riding young horses or driving around previewing potential sales horses for Toine’s clients
It was the most incredible opportunity to be submersed in daily life at Anky’s during the height of her career. I would spend hours cleaning bridles, rolling wraps, sweeping aisles, and when I was lucky, warming up a few horses for her; all while taking in every aspect of horse care.
I did that every summer until I was 18. By then, my training business was slowly starting to take shape. Toine was coming to the states regularly by then, which enabled me to keep riding with him as much as possible.
I enjoy working with young horses, assessing their potential, and bringing them up the levels. I believe my extensive experience at all levels gives me the ability to help my students set realistic goals, which allows them to be more confident and enjoy their successes.
I was fortunate to compete on numerous North American Young Rider Championship teams and earn several medals. I received great instruction coming up through the Junior, Young Rider, and U25 ranks.
Coming up through the ranks the way I did enables me to understand my younger students and relate better to them because I’ve been there.
Destin is remote. It’s beautiful, but I didn’t have numerous trainers to choose from – or really any. I traveled to lessons or did a lot of clinics and had some great opportunities there too.
I began to find the consistency in my training I had been searching for and as a result, found success on the senior tour when I connected with Anne Gribbons to ride with her year-round and meet at the shows. She lives 7 ½ hours from me. I leave VERY early one morning, get there in time for evening lessons, take lessons the next day, do a third set of lessons very early the next morning, then drive the 7 ½ hours home. I do this monthly if I don’t see her at a horse show in between.
With Anne’s help, and Toine still coming periodically, I have had success in the CDI rings, had FEI Regional Championships, Horse of the year awards, gone to the Festival of Champions, and have had two horses in the US Development Program.
What has turned out to be the biggest benefit is the time in between the training, when I can work on what I learned from the last session and incorporate the pieces that worked with what I have already had success with.
Ultimately, that’s how I developed my training method over years. I love hearing how much everyone enjoys using it and you can’t beat the results!
It’s rewarding when strangers come up to us at shows and want to know how we train and care for our horses. They can’t believe they consistently see us in the ribbons with beautiful, healthy, happy horses!
USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals
1998 Individual Gold/Team Gold medals N.A. Junior Young Riders Championships
Klaus Balkenhal, Conrad Schumacher, Debbie McDonald, Steffen Peters, Oded Shimoni, Charles DeKunffy, Scott Hassler, Susie Dutta
Let’s start here, to make sure we’re a good fit.
Give credit where credit is due, Don’t take credit when it’s not about you. Remember the dressage world is very small, Fame comes to those who stand very tall. Honor those who give you their time, Boosting you so your star can shine. When and if you climb to glory, It’s now time to write a new story About sharing, giving, helping, support, It’s now your time to give back to your sport.
Jodie Kelly Dressage operates at Southern Cross Equestrian Centre on 22 acres in Destin, Florida. Built by Jodie’s parents to support her pursuit of horse training, the Centre celebrates Destin’s rustic charm – part livery stable, part training facility. Located just off Highway 98 inside the gates of Kelly Plantation. The farm is almost entirely hidden from public view.
The Centre, features 3 barns with 34 stalls, 3 tack rooms 3 tack stalls, 2 wash stalls, a 20 x 60-meter dressage ring with Perma-Flex footing, a 250 x 225 ft jump arena, and turnout paddocks.
A new private training facility is also being planned in Freeport, Florida.
Destin is a world-class beach and fishing resort community. If you are planning a trip to JKD, make sure you visit the beach with its soft, white sand and clear emerald water! It’s also home to some of the greatest deep-sea fishing in the country.
