I began riding when I was two, mastering a posting trot on my Mother’s sweet Appaloosa gelding by age three, but really took a liking to riding when I was given a wonderful little Shetland Pony. By age six I was Fox hunting on my Welsh cross pony and starting up the ranks of both United States Pony Club (rating to C-3) and 4-H (Level 5)...all the while protesting all the jumping and being adamant I just wanted to ride Dressage. I moved on to a lovely Thoroughbred mare, Fox Hunted some more to please my mother, and then was given the opportunity to ride and eventually own a wonderful Paint gelding. By age eleven it was all Dressage, Dressage, Dressage and my mother became my biggest advocate.
There was a break in riding when my Paint was retired, college started and life moved on for a bit. But after eight years out of the saddle my mother and I found Mocha, a pretty little Quarter Horse, with a family near Battle Creek. They bought her from a rescue group in Minnesota, saving her at six months of age from a kill pen. We've had her 2 1/2 years and she has brought joy back into my riding. With Judy's careful eye for detail and clear, consistent instruction it just gets better every day! The relaxed and friendly atmosphere at Topline Dressage is just the icing on the cake!

I have owned Fritz for 14 years. He is the perfect horse for me. He has a wonderful disposition and is quite the character.

We have been training with Judy for 12 years and have learned a lot.

We have met a lot of nice people over the years and are happy to be able to call Topline home.

I have ridden horses all my life with a 7 year sabbatical to raise my two sons. My career started with a quarter horse that was excellent for trail riding. My career and love quickly turned to dressage with Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and more recently Hanoverians.

I currently have an 8 yr. old Hanoverian gelding named Leonardo. After recovering from an injury, Leonardo & I started training with Judy whom I have known for over 15 years. She has the ability to challenge both horse and rider while keeping it all fun. Leonardo & I will begin showing at 4th level PSG this year. As of last fall, we were ranked in the top 25 Amateur riders at 3rd level.

I feel that I have the horse of a lifetime and a great trainer to compliment his talents. Hopefully, Leonardo & I will end our riding career at the Grand Prix Level before I have to start riding a golf cart.

Along with my family and friends, these two hairy guys are a couple of my best friends. Even though I started riding at eight, (English pleasure, Roman riding, and jumping) Saxony , worked with me through many years of dressage, most of those years were spent with Judy Kelly.

Since going through the basics with Sax from the time he was three, my next challenge was to learn on a trained horse the proper finesse of details, Galloway 's forte. It never ceases to amaze me how much there is to learn about dressage.

My love of horses and art (B of A in Interior Design) has lead me to another area of interest, photography, which has turned into an enjoyable business for me. Digital imaging has allowed me to capture those special instances of harmony. Riding with and photographing my friends at Topline has given me years of pleasure.

I took over the reins and the direction of Allie's (Absolut' Teyn's) career in 2004. With an eye toward starting a formal dressage education for her we came to Topline in December of 2005. Allie was starting her education late, at the age of seven. We wanted a structured environment where she could learn a work ethic and correct basics while not overwhelming this sensitive mare. We found just what we were looking for with Judy. To say the least our first show season in the Adult Amateur Training Level Division went very well.

Grand Champion Waterloo Show Series
Region II Finals 5th Place
MDA Champion
Vi Hopkins Trophy Winner for Year End High Score
Ranked Nationally in the Top 22
USDF Region II All Breed Champion
USDF National All Breed Champion
USEF Zone 5 Performance Horse Champion
USEF National Performance Horse Champion

I've had the honor to work with many different horses and trainers over the years in the hunter/jumper and dressage disciplines. I've really enjoyed being with the other clients of Topline and training with Judy. They make every effort to keep a supportive team atmosphere and Judy is able to keep things fun while still staying focused and helping us achieve the correct basics we need to advance to the next level. We are looking forward to continuing Allie's education with many more successful years both in and out of the show ring.

I began my dressage career with Judy Kelly in 1989 with my then 4 year old “home bred” Anglo Trakehner Gelding named Ransom.

We enjoyed a very successful career through 4th level. In 1999 I returned to school for my nursing degree and Ransom took some time off following an injury.

In 2002 I purchased a young Trakehner Gelding, Handsel and returned to Judy and Topline.

We are doing well and plan on showing 2nd level this season. Ransom came out of “retirement” in 2003 and became a stellar schoolmaster for a mother/daughter team to ride and show.

At 21 Ransom is doing very well and at 8 Handsel is just coming into his own. We all continue to enjoy our time and training with Judy at Topline

Intricate or better know as Indie is an eleven year old Trakehner mare. We have owned Indie since she was almost 4 years old. Indie began her career in the children’s hunter division with my daughter, Alison.

When my daughter opted to stop riding approximately six years ago, I decided to replace her in the saddle. I began my riding career pursuing the same path as Alison. It has been an interesting journey for me.

I have had my share of successes as well as some disappointments. However, after assessing all the variables thoroughly, I decided to make the transition to dressage.

Judy has been instrumental in this transition. Now even Indie appears to have fun with dressage on most days.

Murphy and I are the senior team members of the wonderful Topline family! (I think he and I are about the same age, but of course, he is much smarter.) Murphy, (show name: Alfresco) has resided at Topline for 20 years. All of his formal dressage training has been with Judy Kelly, who showed him to Int. I level. Murphy is a great schoolmaster with a lot of attitude, sort of a Napoleon personality!!

I have tremendously enjoyed riding such a well-trained horse. (He also lets me know regularly what an honor he bestows upon me) I have been riding and training with Judy at Topline for 7 years and riding Murphy for the last 3 yrs. During our last show season, we qualified for USDF Region 2 Finals First Level and were quite respectable. This summer we plan on showing 2nd Level.

Last summer, Murphy took on a new assignment! He now has a junior rider, 11 year old Jacqueline, whom he is teaching the “dressage ropes.” For a senior horse that had not been exposed to kids, he is really enjoying his young student… almost as much as Jacqueline enjoys him!

Training with Judy has truly been, “a wonderful ride”! Her patience, humor and knack for encouraging confidence have helped me to realize a life long dream!!!……. With grace from above, Murph and I hope to have many more years of enjoyment in the magical land of Dressage OZ!!!!!

I was first introduced to the world of horses by my mother Julia Syracuse who had the nerve to drag her nine children to Keith Line Riding Stables in Oak Brook Illinois every Saturday. My siblings and I grew up riding hunter jumper. On my 30th birthday when the great guy I married surprised me with my own horse, I discovered dressage. I have to forever thank him for that because I am really enjoying the experience.

I started training on my former dressage horse Wilhelm Tell with Ken Larson and Alison Sader and truly enjoyed working with them. When Ken and Alison left Michigan I took their suggestion to move my horses to Judy Kelly’s Topline Dressage.What a great move that was for us.

Judy and her barn manager Lisa did a fabulous job in breaking Ansaria. Judy’s expertise in training has really brought Miss Ansy Pants (as she is affectionately known) along. Ansaria is a dark bay Hanoverian mare out of Ken and Alison’s mare and stallion – Ansas and Davina foaled in May of 1998.

Every time Judy has shown Ansi she has been in the ribbons and on her very first test at the Kentucky Horse Park she trotted around like an old pro and took second place. I hope to go back to showing in the future – when my work schedule starts to permit but in the interim I am just focusing on improving my riding at such a great facility. I have been to a lot of barns and the training and care are second to none.