Kimberly Bench-Dunlap

For over 20 years Kimberly Dunlap has been a fixture in the West Michigan and USDF Region II equestrian community as a rider, coach, trainer and clinician. 

Kimberly has devoted her life to her education and has passionately studied physics, equine psychology, anatomy, and biomechanics as they relate to riding. She has ridden competitively to 4th Level herself, has been trained in all the Grand Prix movements and has coached riders to competitive success from Intro/beginner through 4th Level as well. Due to a bad back she no-longer takes long-term training horses for mounted work but continues to develop riders through coaching. She is also experienced in long-lining, natural horsemanship and in-hand techniques. 

Through the years Kimberly has worked with horses of many breeds, including imported warmbloods, thoroughbreds, quarter horses, arabians, friesians, morgans, mustangs, appaloosas, paints, ponies, drafts and everything in between - even gaited!
 

She especially excels at helping former western or reining/ranch horses transition successfully into Dressage. She 110% believes that Dressage is for ALL horses and that, when done correctly, it brings out the most beautiful and most athletic version of each horse. Her deep understanding of conformation, equine psychology, biomechanics, physics and Classical Dressage theory make her well-rounded approach powerful and effective. Kimberly has a patient, clear way of communicating that allows her riders to progress through the levels with confidence and success, both in and out of the show ring.