Background
Born in 1955, Irene has been riding horses since she was a child in Oberursel, Germany. Beginning with vaulting when she was eight years old, Irene was fortunate to ride a variety of horses in everything from parades, hunts and exhibitions.
Showing extensively in all diciplines during her Junior Years, Irene’s more formal equestrian education started in
1971 with her participation in a six week course at the National Stud in Dillenburg,Hessen. This resulted in a Junior Bronze Medal in Riding and a Junior Bronze Medal in Driving.
She acquired her architectural degree in Germany during the mid 70’s and in 1977 Irene began a rewarding but demanding career as a military wife and mother. For a time, horses had to find a more peripheral place in her life. Irene kept riding for fun, but only other people’s horses, and often without a saddle. Once her children started school, a friend asked Irene to teach and her love for Dressage and training came once again into the foreground.
As she began to teach , Irene realized the depth of her passion for quality instruction and was determined to become a fully certified Trainer and Instructor. Starting in 1987, Irene apprenticed and worked under Reitmeister Joachim Weist (pictured to the right) at the
Hanoverian Riding School in Verden for 2 1/2 years, during which time she was able to obtain the FN’s Senior Bronze and Silver Medals and become licensed as Trainer “B”. In 1988-89, Irene also worked 1 1/2 years with FEI Judge, Breeder and Rider Gerd Rietbrock and his wife Kristine (both students of Herbert Rehbein and Bubi Günter) in Bremen, Germany, where she, in exchange for work, received instruction at the FEI levels.
Upon Irene’s return to Texas, she started working at Kingsbridge Farms in Cedar Park, TX where Susan McMorris was the manager at the time. She incorprated her business and over the last two decades has enjoyed a successful enterprise at various local barns the Austin area. In 2002 Irene returned to the Hanoverian Riding School for final licensing as Trainer “A”. Her appreciation for Susan McMorris’ quality barn management motivated Irene to move to Susan’s present home at the beautiful, spacious Rio Vista Farms where Irene’s horses and students now enjoy a well-run facility and wide open spaces.
With a passion for classical training, Irene Moser Hill guides each and every student, from beginner to advanced, in a fundamental understanding of horses and riding. In addition to equitation, classical dressage movements, and a thorough knowledge of the Training Scale, Irene's students learn the physiology of their horse, his gaits, his body language, equine psychology and how every movement of a rider influences her horse, both from the ground and in the saddle. Irene provides truly complete training for the horse and rider. ~ Annie Crawford, Student