Madeleine Dammers Austin Erdman was educated in the United States and The Netherlands.
Her sympathetic, intelligent, and systematic approach to the development of horse and rider has been a successful recipe for many years.
She has trained numerous horses to Grand Prix and is a USDF Gold, Silver, and Bronze medallist, and USDF “L” graduate with distinction. Her horses have won USDF Horse of the Year awards at all levels, including championships. While dressage is her personal competitive venue, she coaches students from all disciplines, encouraging them to bring out the best in themselves and their horses.
She has had several students long-listed for the Olympics (dressage and eventing), World Equestrian Games, and the Pan Am Games (dressage). Riders under her tutelage have earned USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals.
Madeleine has imported many horses from the Netherlands during the last thirty-five years who have had successful careers in several disciplines. The KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) breeding program at Imajica has produced International FEI competitors, national champions, as well as KWPN Top Five horses.
Cross-training plays a large part in the development of Imajica’s horses; all of the dressage horses learn to jump and all of the jumpers are schooled in basic dressage. Madeleine is a respected dressage clinician and her methods are known for improving the rideability of hunters and jumpers.
The University of Vermont Equestrian Team, which Madeleine has coached for many years, is one of the most successful in the country. Top ten placings for the team at the national level confirm this status. Individual riders have won some of the highest honors in collegiate competition, including the coveted Cacchione Cup which riders coached by Madeleine have won twice, John Piggot in 2003 and Alex Carlton in 2014.
Madeleine is a published author and has had articles in various publications over the years.
Madeleine’s specialties include:
- Training horses and riders through Grand Prix
- Dressage for equitation, hunters, jumpers, and eventing.
- Developing JR/YR, amateur, and professional riders
- Teaching clinics
- Matching horses and riders.
- Breeding Dutch Warmblood horses (retired).