Scott Hassler and Jessica Jo Tate Move High Performance Training Operations to Poinciana Farm

Dressage

U.S.A.

Within only eight months since its grand opening, Poinciana Farm is excited to welcome international Grand Prix competitors Scott Hassler and Jessica Jo Tate to their team of trainers. Hassler Dressage and Team Tate Dressage will join two-time Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks, who based her training operation at the world-class equestrian park during the 2020 winter season.

The state-of-the-art facility is revolutionizing the business of horse care and boarding in the winter equestrian capital by exclusively providing only full-care services to clients. Located within minutes of Wellington’s show grounds, the 13-acre horse park is located on C Road in Loxahatchee Groves. For Jane Cleveland, the owner and inspiration behind the design and implementation of the farm, the addition of Hassler and Tate to her team of trainers who call Poinciana Farm home, is a fulfillment of a lifelong dream.

“From the very beginning, we have believed a positive culture has been the most important amenity we could offer,” Cleveland explained. “It was wonderful to have Jacquie and her clients join us this past winter, and we could not be more excited to have Scott and JJ, who are both very well-respected and friendly members of the dressage community, join our team!”

Scott and Sara Hassler

Hassler was widely impressed by the design of Poinciana Farm and with the coronavirus pandemic derailing the competition schedule for the year, he made the enthusiastic decision to move his training and sales business to the facility for the remainder of 2020 and through the winter season of 2021. In addition to his client horses, his daughter, Sara, has joined him at Poinciana Farm.

Sara and Scott Hassler (Photo © Elizabeth Hay)

From the climate controlled building for vet appointments to extensive hurricane safety measurements, Hassler Dressage is enjoying the carefree and enjoyable atmosphere at Poinciana Farm. One of the United States’ most sought-after coaches, Hassler has a vast amount of accomplishments not only as an international Grand Prix rider, but as a trainer as well. He helped develop USEF's National Young Horse Program and has served in various leadership positions with US Equestrian. Over the winter, he returned to the CDI show ring, competing in the small tour on Harmony’s Diamo Gold. Sara is also making a name for herself as the business’ assistant trainer and keeps busy developing and competing Harmony's Boitano. The pair finished third in the 2019 USEF Intermediaire I Dressage National Championship at the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions.

“We are so excited to be at Poinciana through next winter for the Florida season,” Scott Hassler said. “Jane has done an amazing job designing the facility. It is laid out beautifully to work out of and the horses are really happy here. The Poinciana team have been wonderful to work with and create a great environment to enjoy our training. Great teamwork, great care, and a great facility for us to operate our training business — thank you Poinciana team!”

Jessica Jo Tate

Growing up in a small town in Wisconsin, Tate began taking dressage lessons at the age of nine and rapidly progressed up the levels, making her FEI debut at only 16. Following a few years training in Europe, Tate has elevated her reputation with consistent, high-quality Grand Prix performances and her positivity. She was long-listed for the FEI World Equestrian Games and she has represented the U.S. at many international dressage competitions, including the FEI/WBFSH World Breeding Championships for Young Dressage Horses in Verden, Germany. Most recently during the 2020 Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Tate won the CDI4* Grand Prix Freestyle aboard Faberge and she is looking forward to continuing her momentum.

For the past decade during the winter months, Tate Dressage operated out of Yellow Bird Farm, a farm owned by Elizabeth Guarisco, one of her sponsors and the owner of Faberge. Following Guarisco’s difficult decision to put the farm on the market, Tate knew she had to begin her search for her next winter base.

“We love Yellow Bird so much and we were so worried about finding a place that felt like home,” Tate explained. “I remember scrolling through Facebook last fall and Poinciana Farm came up on my feed. I was familiar with the property and remember it being all trees and unkempt Loxahatchee wildlife. I couldn’t believe it was the same property — it is unbelievable what Jane [Cleveland] has developed. I knew I had to jump on the opportunity before it was too late and full.

Jessica Jo Tate and Faberge (Photo © Richard Malmgren)

“Jane was so welcoming giving me a full-tour of the facility,” she continued. “I ended up coming for eight more visits and every time I came there was something else upgraded and finished. Jane built this park from nothing and the pride she has in it is so fun to see!”

In addition to having access to Poinciana Farm’s five-star amenities which includes a covered arena, a double-wide outdoor arena, a walking trail around a lake, a covered walker, open and covered round pens and grass paddocks, Tate is thrilled about the center’s clubhouse.

“In the past, I would host many sponsor parties, wine-and-cheese get-togethers and educational lectures and I was worried about how I would be able to continue hosting events like that for my business,” Tate said. “Jane told me about her clubhouse and she’s been very supportive about my events, so I knew Poinciana would be perfect. This is the place!”

Though Tate is currently based in Landrum, South Caroline, she is eagerly awaiting her migration down south for the winter, especially looking forward to working around Brooks and Hassler.

“I can’t wait to share my winter home with Jacquie and Scott,” Tate said. “I don’t think there could be a better fit with our three personalities. I’ve trained with Scott for eight years and really love his involvement with my riding and I adore Jacquie, who I think is such a fun and generous person in the industry. I asked her how she enjoyed her season and she had amazing things to say about boarding at Poinciana. “With this group of people, it’s going to be such a rare opportunity to be around world-class riding and training, while also being around very nice people,” Tate concluded. “That’s what makes it so incredible. I am absolutely honored to be a part of the team and I’m really excited!”