Bay City Dressage

I’ve very sorry to hear that the first reviewer had such a miserable time at BCD. Let me tell you about my experience.
First off, if you have ridden dressage before and are looking to step up your game and training, then I would give Des 4 stars. If you are completely new to the game (like me), I think 3 stars is adequate. I’ve been riding with Des about 4 month and have taken the whole horsemanship class with her. I’ve also been able to hang around and witness her train much more experienced students.
Here is the thing with Des… she is NOT going to hold your hand every step of the way and you need to be completely honest with her in terms of your experience level. I told her that although I grew up farming and was around horses, I never properly learned how to ride or even tack up a horse. She was very good about teaching me to groom and tack up my horse and then watched me do it on several occasions until she was convinced that I knew what I was doing. However, it is also up to the rider to make sure to ASK if they are unsure of something, forget, or are using new tack for the first time. I would never call Des unsafe or irresponsible when it comes to safety.
Has Des canceled on me before? Yes, but so has my cross-​fit trainer, my message therapist, my hairdresser… it comes with the territory. However, the times that Des has canceled or I have driven out there and wasn’t able to ride, it was because either my horse had a bum ankle that wasn’t picked up beforehand or the vet had to be called for something else. Also, YOU as a rider need to be proactive about keeping track of payments… she is not great at that. Lastly, I think Des is out of sorts once in a while. This appears to be due to over-​scheduling her weekends with too many lessons. Sometimes my lessons do overlap with other people, but it is also because I am now able to tack up my own horse and ride it in the arena without complete supervision.
What I like about Des: 1) She is down to earth and truly believes that everyone should be able to ride, not just elitist Pacific Northwestern equestrian snobs who the other stables cater to, 2) I’ve seen her do some amazing things with horses and with more advanced riders. If you want to step up your game, I think Des will be a good trainer for you. 3) She takes in rescue horses and does an amazing job breaking them in and training them. 4) She has a zen quality about her approach to teaching and knowing your horse. It’s not just text book with her.
Is Des for everyone? Certainly not, especially if you need lots of hand-​holding, expect perfection, and are an elitist, whiny equestrian snob, but so far I’ve been pleased with my lessons and have learned so much about horses in general.

Are you looking for a unprofessional, dangerous and horrible horse trainer? Join the several other disappointed suckers who have gone to Desiree and Bay City Dressage.
Here is why I rated Des and BCD so low:
1. Lack of Professionalism.
Des would constantly reschedule or cancel my lessons. 2 of the 3 months I rode with her I leased a horse from her. I was guaranteed 3 lessons per week. She would either show up late (She works at two barns), or send me a text about 30 mins before asking to either reschedule or push the lesson back later. Fortunately, my work schedule allowed me to do this. However, towards the last month– it was becoming too common. In fact, she canceled on me three times for May. When we had a scheduled meeting first week of June, I got a text saying it was time to pay up again… When I asked her about the missed appointments her response was «That’s the horse business». She would come to work in horrible moods. Often crying, or pissed off about random things going on in her life. There would be times, where I came to a lesson and she was completely zoned out. In fact, about two weeks ago. She was so irritated with me and mad at the world, she let me tack up unsupervised. She wouldn’t talk to me, or review the horse. Because she wouldn’t come look at the horse before I rode it, I tacked it up wrong and the saddle slipped. The horse spooked and threw me. Thankfully, I was just thrown and wasn’t seriously injured. She did feel some remorse and help me get up. While I was laying there, she had to redo the whole saddle. I should have cut my losses and went to another barn after that.
2. Cannot be trusted
Basically, when I had been riding for 1 month, she tried selling me a 1.5 year old Filly who wasn’t broke to ride. Turns out, in the horse world, she would have gotten a nice commission check for selling me a horse that belongs to her friends. When I asked other horse people about this their response was «Are you serious? No green rider should buy and ride a green horse». Who is right? Was Des? Or was my horse friends? Ask around and you be the judge… Clearly, a trainer is out to make money, that’s their job. But I felt like My life was in danger had I kept training with her.
Along those lines, she forbade me from talking to other horse professionals about anything related to training or buying a horse. One of the reasons she was so upset with me was because I had asked my friends if they thought buying a 1.5 year old filly was a good, safe beginner horse. She said I’m not supposed to get second opinions and only trust my trainer… Is she right? Or were the multitude of other people who told me otherwise. You be the judge.
Dishonest, manipulative, secretive and unprofessional. That sums up my experience with BCD.