Tom Poulin has been an influential member of the American dressage community longer than many riders today have been alive.  In his lengthy career, he has been recognized as a top rider, trainer, USEF “S” judge, instructor, and clinician, and is one of the driving forces behind the development of dressage as a sport in the United States.  As his clients and students can affirm, when seeking a professional that can realize the potential of both horse and rider, there is no substitute for experience.

A successful rider and competitor through Grand Prix, Mr. Poulin honed his skills while training with Franz Rockowonsky in Holland and Walter Christensen in Germany.  He worked with many gifted trainers, including Werner Platzer, Ernst Backinger, Arthur Kottas, and Hans Moeller. As a result of these opportunities, Mr. Poulin enjoyed many successes in the ring, was a three-time winner of the prestigious Lufthansa Trophy for excellence at FEI and was an invited rider for USEF International Judges Forums.  Adept at communicating his techniques in the saddle, Mr. Poulin assisted Mr. Rockowonsky in coaching the Mexican Olympic Team and Major Hans Wikne in coaching the Swedish Team in European competitions.

Tom training in Germany

Mr. Poulin has demonstrated his commitment to the development of dressage in America for over forty years.   He was an original member of the New England Dressage Association (NEDA) and then served as an advisor to NEDA in conjunction with Jonathan Burton and Jack LeGoff.  Along with other such notables as Dr. Max Gahwyler and Margarita Serrell, he was an original member of the American Dressage Institute (ADI) (NY), an organization that hosted clinics, demonstrations and fielded the 1976 U.S. Olympic Bronze Medal Dressage Team.  Mr. Poulin served as Vice President and Director of Instruction at ADI, and co-founded and taught the Body Control and Discipline for Riders program.  With the leadership of people like Mr. Poulin, the ADI later morphed into the United States Dressage Federation (USDF).

In continued service to the sport, Mr. Poulin served as chairman of the USDF Freestyle Committee and is currently an instructor for the USDF “L” program.  He is an active member of the International Trainers Club and the International Dressage Judges Club.

A dedicated teacher, Mr. Poulin has given numerous lectures and symposia over the years.  For example, he developed a handbook to accompany a seminar series for the North American Dressage Institute (MN) and used it to educate riders and trainers in countries around the world, including Bermuda, Hawaii, South Africa and England.  Decades of educating riders around the world at all levels and on all types of horses is evident in his approach to training and teaching today; Mr. Poulin can quickly address habits in both horse and rider that prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Assessing a student

Mr. Poulin operates Flagship Training Center, based in Wellington and Chicago, with Ryan Yap. Mr. Yap began training with Mr. Poulin as a junior rider over 17 years ago.  Under Mr. Poulin’s tutelage, he has become a recognized FEI-level rider and trainer; he was an invited rider for the Rhinelander auction in Germany, a demonstration rider for video clinics, and is a popular clinician.  Another star pupil of Mr. Poulin is his daughter, FEI-level rider Elizabeth Poulin.  She has enjoyed recent successes in the USEF Young Horse divisions with Oldenburg stallion Donates in addition to accomplishments with a number of other talented horses.

Daughter Elizabeth

Mr. Poulin is available for judging and clinics nationwide, and horse buying trips matching quality horses with riders of all levels.