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Welcome
Premier Equestrian Dressage Training & Care
Expert coaching and horse care for every dressage rider's journey.
Discover Santa Fe Sport Horse
Our Mission
At Santa Fe Sport Horse, we believe in classical dressage practiced with patience, feel, and deep respect for the horse. We are committed to correct, thoughtful training that honors each horse as an individual and allows them the time they need to develop with confidence and soundness.
Our mission is to create a loving home where horses receive exceptional care and riders are supported as true partners in the process. We work closely with owners and riders to develop lasting partnerships built on trust, education, and shared responsibility, guiding both horse and human toward their fullest potential in a way that is kind, correct, and enduring.
Meet the Team
Andrea Vassallo
Andrea Vassallo
Andrea Vassallo
Owner and Founder
Andrea Vassallo has spent a lifetime listening to horses.
She began riding as a child in England, immersed in Pony Club, eventing, and hunting, spending long days galloping across the Norfolk countryside. Those early years shaped her belief that riding is not just a sport, but a relationship built on feel, responsibility
Owner and Founder
Andrea Vassallo has spent a lifetime listening to horses.
She began riding as a child in England, immersed in Pony Club, eventing, and hunting, spending long days galloping across the Norfolk countryside. Those early years shaped her belief that riding is not just a sport, but a relationship built on feel, responsibility, and trust. From the beginning, Andrea knew that horses would not be a phase in her life. They would be the throughline.
In her twenties, Andrea purchased an Arabian stallion and began a focused pursuit of dressage in Vermont, training with Dr. Van Schaik. During this time, she also competed in competitive trail and driving, experiences that deepened her understanding of versatility, balance, and correct training across disciplines. These years reinforced a core belief that still defines her work today: true training must support the whole horse, mentally and physically.
In the 1990s, Andrea relocated to New Mexico and committed fully to classical dressage. She sought out instruction from some of the most respected masters in the sport, including Herwig Radnetter, Andreas Hausberger of the Spanish Riding School, Bill McMullin, Kai-Markus Sebastian, and Andrew Murphy. From these mentors, she refined a training philosophy rooted in classical principles, patience, and correctness, always prioritizing the horse’s long-term soundness over short-term results.
Andrea founded Santa Fe Sport Horse in 2006 with a clear intention: to create a place where dressage is practiced with integrity, where horses are treated as individuals, and where riders are educated to become thoughtful, capable partners. What began as a vision has grown into a premier dressage training facility known for its exceptional care, depth of knowledge, and supportive culture.
In 2013, Andrea was named Trainer of the Year by the New Mexico Dressage Association. Today, she is widely respected for her calm authority, keen eye, and unwavering commitment to doing right by both horse and rider. Her work is not about speed, trends, or shortcuts. It is about building trust, developing brilliance over time, and honoring the classical tradition that allows horses and riders to thrive together.
At Santa Fe Sport Horse, Andrea’s leadership is felt in every detail, from the way horses are cared for to the way riders are taught to listen, learn, and grow. Her standard is clear, and the results speak quietly but unmistakably for themselves.
Leslie Apfel
Andrea Vassallo
Andrea Vassallo
Trainer, Santa Fe Sport Horse
Leslie Apfel was born in Frankfurt, Germany and raised in Switzerland, where horses were part of her life from the very beginning. Her mother rode throughout pregnancy, and by the age of six Leslie was already deeply immersed in barn life, cleaning stalls and grooming horses in exchange for riding lessons. Ho
Trainer, Santa Fe Sport Horse
Leslie Apfel was born in Frankfurt, Germany and raised in Switzerland, where horses were part of her life from the very beginning. Her mother rode throughout pregnancy, and by the age of six Leslie was already deeply immersed in barn life, cleaning stalls and grooming horses in exchange for riding lessons. Horsemanship was learned hands-on, day by day, long before it was formalized.
From 1984 to 1987, Leslie completed a rigorous apprenticeship working toward her Bereiter certification, grounding her foundation in classical European training principles. Between 1992 and 1994, she worked for Swiss Olympic dressage rider Otto Hofer, bronze medalist at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and seventh place finisher at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. This experience shaped her understanding of correct, systematic training at the highest level of the sport.
From 2006 to 2008, Leslie worked with Swiss Olympic show jumper Bruno Candrian, further broadening her perspective while maintaining a strong dressage foundation.
In 2005, Leslie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. This academic background informs her thoughtful approach to biomechanics, soundness, and long-term athletic development for both horse and rider.
Leslie has trained extensively in clinics with Conrad Schumacher, Herwig Radnetter, Bill McMullin, and Jeremy Steinberg. She has earned her USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals.
Her work is rooted in classical dressage training methods, emphasizing correctness, balance, and patience. Leslie’s philosophy is centered on taking the time necessary to understand each horse and rider as individuals. She believes true brilliance emerges when training honors the unique abilities, physical needs, and temperament of each partnership, never rushing the process and always prioritizing longevity and harmony.
Braulio Vargas
Andrea Vassallo
Braulio Vargas
Facilities Caretaker
Braulio Vargas has been a valued member of the Santa Fe Sport Horse team since 2012. Calm, steady, and deeply committed to his work, Braulio plays an important role in the daily rhythm of the barn.
Working closely with the rest of the team, he helps oversee the care of each horse with consistency and attention to deta
Facilities Caretaker
Braulio Vargas has been a valued member of the Santa Fe Sport Horse team since 2012. Calm, steady, and deeply committed to his work, Braulio plays an important role in the daily rhythm of the barn.
Working closely with the rest of the team, he helps oversee the care of each horse with consistency and attention to detail. Feeding, turnout, stall care, and arena maintenance are handled thoughtfully and on time, creating a reliable routine that supports both the horses and the people who care for them. The three arenas are groomed daily, and the facility is maintained with pride and care.
Braulio brings a quiet love for animals, and especially horses, to everything he does. He approaches his work with patience and respect, contributing to the calm, family-like atmosphere that defines Santa Fe Sport Horse. Together with the team, he helps ensure that every horse and rider is cared for in a way that feels personal, attentive, and grounded.
Chuy Ayala
Andrea Vassallo
Braulio Vargas
Facilities Team
Jesus Ayala joined Santa Fe Sport Horse in 2016 and is a valued member of the weekend care team. With over 25 years of experience in the horse industry, Jesus brings deep knowledge, energy, and a keen attention to detail to the barn.
Prior to Santa Fe Sport Horse, Jesus worked as a barn manager at a large multi discipline
Facilities Team
Jesus Ayala joined Santa Fe Sport Horse in 2016 and is a valued member of the weekend care team. With over 25 years of experience in the horse industry, Jesus brings deep knowledge, energy, and a keen attention to detail to the barn.
Prior to Santa Fe Sport Horse, Jesus worked as a barn manager at a large multi discipline facility, overseeing dressage, jumping, and western programs. There, he managed the daily operations of a busy boarding and training environment, developing a strong ability to anticipate needs and keep complex systems running smoothly.
Jesus works quickly and with purpose, often noticing details before they become issues and addressing them without being asked. His consistency, efficiency, and readiness to step in wherever needed help support the horses, riders, and staff alike.
As part of the Santa Fe Sport Horse team, Jesus contributes to the boutique, family-style approach to care that defines the facility. His dedication, work ethic, and genuine love for horses help uphold the high standard of thoughtful, attentive care given to every horse and rider.
Facility
14 matted 12'x12' stalls with runs
Wash Stall with hot and cold water
Tack room and heated cubby room
Indoor 20x40 meter, mirrored arena with Premier Equestrian Arena Aid footing
20x60 meter outdoor dressage court with Premier Equestrian Pro Stride crumb rubber footing
Over sized 33x80 meter fenced arena with sand and rubber footing
20 meter sand round pen
Schooling large oval dirt track
Working equitation obstacles and cavalettis
2 large turnout dry lots
Stallion turnout
80 acres of trails
Our Vision
We envision Santa Fe Sport Horse as a rare kind of barn, one where excellence feels calm, care feels personal, and community feels like family. A place where classical horsemanship is not just taught, but lived through consistency, collaboration, and love for the horse.
Our vision is to be a lifelong home for horses and riders who value depth over speed, trust over trends, and the quiet confidence that comes from being in the right place, with the right people.
Our Sponsors
Custom, Aviar, and Envy Saddlery
