Ange Bean

Ange Bean, USEF ‘r’ judge, instructor, trainer and clinician.

Ange’s enthusiasm and strong communication skills make her a dynamic educator. Her credentials include USEF ‘r’ dressage judge, ARIA Level 3 certified in Dressage and Stable Management, USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medal, and USDF Bronze and Silver Freestyle bars. 

Her education includes four apprentice years under three well-known trainers (Gina Krueger - USDF instructor, Lorinda Lende - FEI competitor, and Claudia Garner - Bereiter) and on-going long-term study with prominent instructors (Scott Hassler, Jeanne McDonald, Sara Schmitt, and Kathy Rowse), as well an academic background in journalism and biology. 

Ange prioritizes her continuing education with annual trips to the FEI Trainer’s Conference and various Judge’s Clinics. This diversity and depth of theoretical base gives her a strong depth of knowledge to find the “right way to make it click” with students. Her commitment to professional development carries over into the competition ring, with both students and horses excelling in multiple disciplines.  A regular in the victory gallops herself, her students have been blue-ribbon winners at Dressage at Devon and nationally ranked in dressage, eventing, and endurance. 

In the saddle, Ange’s specialty is developing each horse to its potential, regardless of breed. Her horses compete consistently in the dressage ring, with local High-Score, Regional, BLM, and National ribbons in her collection.

Out of the saddle, Ange is often asked to speak to groups such as GMOs, local barns, and Lendon Gray’s WIT program, where her public speaking clearly shows her enthusiasm to educate about her sport. In addition, her thoughts are regularly published in her personal blog, https://ko-fi.com/ange0854 and on Chronicle of the Horse Blogs, various Dressage Newsletters (OVCTA News, DVCTA Newsletter, Centerline Reader, SCDCTA Magazine, Morgan Extensions), and national magazines (Riding Instructor Magazine, American Morgan Horse Magazine and USDF Connections). She also is the founding trainer for Straight Forward Trainer Talks, a web-based, clear, supportive discussion on the highs and lows of dressage horse training.

Ange instructs and develops horses and riders at Straight Forward Dressage in Chester Springs, PA. She also travels throughout the United States as a clinician.

Zoe Gautier, instructor, assistant trainer, stable manager, BS in Animal Science/Equine Business from Delaware Valley College, joined our team in 2020.

Zoe brings a healthy curiosity to her teaching and training. She enhances her traditional dressage education with a willingness to “think outside of the box” to find the best way to help both students and horses understand the dressage process. Her thirst for knowledge makes her a frequent rider and auditor at clinics. Her competition success in Eventing through Preliminary level on multiple horses gives her the background to come up with creative solutions to keep horses progressing up the levels.

Building on her experience at two busy eventing barns, (Pleasant Hollow Farm under Jane Cory and Carin O’Mount Stables under Susie Beale), she understands the needs of equine athletes. She has helped tailor SFD’s stable management to meet the needs of each horse and clearly communicates with each owner.

Having been born in Switzerland and lived in France, she offers instruction in French as well as English.