Courtney Vesel-Seha

CV Dressage incorporates education, experience and a

comprehensive approach to both saddle fit and PEMF Therapy. Horses may not be able to vocalize their needs, but by considering the broad spectrum of tools they can use to communicate, CV Dressage is able to provide thorough solutions to your needs and aims to become a valued member of you and your horse’s team. 

Courtney brings extensive experience in and out of the saddle to better assist the clients of CV Dressage. As a student and a professional equestrian she has had the opportunity to ride and analyze hundreds of horses, from starting young ones, to upper level mounts. This allows her to not only clinically examine a situation but understand the feel behind what is going on. 

Her keen eye has been developed through years of continuing education, enhancing her already diverse equine background. Her formal studies began at Virginia Intermont College where she received her Bachelor of Science in Equine Studies. She is certified by the American Riding Instructors Association in Dressage (Level III) and Stable Management (Level II), is a Level III Certified PEMF Practitioner, and is an apprentice with the Society of Master Saddlers. 

She is passionate about the connection between biomechanics and how they affect saddle fitting, are improved through PEMF, and tie into what the rider feels. As an independent saddle fitter, she aims to give you and your horse the best tools possible to help you both feel and perform your best - not limiting you to something that may not be the best fit. 

She is also the North Carolina and Virginia Representative for Erreplus Saddlery and the North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina Representative for Ikonic Saddlery in addition to being the national Co-Director for Ikonic Saddlery. By bringing these brands into the CV Dressage offerings, she has been able to align herself with saddles that offer the same level of commitment to the horse’s well being that she finds so vital.  

Accomplishments

2021 USDF Hanoverian Reserve Horse of the Year 3 year old Colts/Geldings

2021 USDF Dressage Sport Horse Breeding Horse of the Year 9th- 3 year old colts/geldings

2021 Dressage at Devon- Top 10 in 2 classes and top 5 in one class in the 3 year old Colt/Gelding finals division and Hanoverian breed class

2017 CBLM Championships for Third Level Division A-4th place 

USDF Bronze Medal

NCDCTA 70s club on several horses

2016 Qualified Diesel for the 4-5 Year Old Gelding/Stallion Materiale Championships at Dressage at Devon

2014 IDA Nationals- Virginia Intermont College- Champion 

2014 IDA Nationals- Representing Virginia Intermont College at First Level- Team day Individual Champion 

2014 IDA Region H Dressage Seat Equitation First Level Champion

2013 IDA Nationals- Virginia Intermont College- 5th place

2013 IDA Nationals-Representing Virginia Intermont College at Upper Training Level- Team day Individual Champion

2013 IDA Region H Dressage Seat Equitation Upper Training Level Champion

2010 USDF Rider Performance Award in Training Level 

2010 NCDCTA Horse of the Year First Level Jr/Yr 3rd place-Easy Street

2009 NCDCTA Horse of the Year Training Level Jr/Yr Champion-Easy Street

Education/Experience

BS in Equine Studies from Virginia Intermont College

Minored in Business Administration

ARIA Certified in Level III Dressage

ARIA Certified in Level II Stable Management

USDF Bronze Medal

Level I/II/III Certified Pulse Practitioner (PEMF) 

Apprentice in the Society of Master Saddlers program

Trained under: Lizzy Kramer, Lisa Moosmueller- Terry, Heather McCloud, Kendra Kent, Susan Cooper, Eliza Sydnor, Fie Anderson, Wanja Gerlach, Rebecca Nelles, (currently) Dawn Weniger

Cliniced/audited: Dr. Gerd Heuschmann, David Collins, Kay Meredith, Henk Van Bergen, Todd Flettrich, Suzanne Von Dietze, Bernie Traurig, Michael Poulin, Jeremey Steinberg, Brian MacMahon, and Lars Petersen

Continuing Education Courses

2025

Whole Horse Dissection with Trinity Equine Services/ Lorre Mueller 

2024

Dr. Sharon May Davis Lecture Series 

Jillian Krienbring MS "Understanding Equine Movement: Realizing Your Horses Potential" Course 1 

2023

Whole Horse Dissection with Dr. Sharon May Davis

Assessing Posture and Movement with Gillian Higgins

Equine Sports Medicine Symposium- Fall 2023

2021

Advanced Saddle Fitting NASS- Summer

Intro to Saddle Fitting NASS-Spring 

2019

Bench and Onsite Course NASS

Expresso joined the family in 2020! He is a 2018 Hanoverian gelding by Expression. 

Enzo was sold in December of 2025 to continue his career as a jumper. We wish his new owner the best of luck and miss him dearly!

Hugo is the CV Dressage schoolmaster. A 1998 model, Hugo is a 16.2 Oldenburg/Thoroughbred gelding. He is extremely sweet and loving retirement. His background includes showing the 3' hunters and winning several NCDCTA Horse of the Year titles for Training and First level dressage. Courtney trained him to a solid second level, schooling most of the 3rd level work, until his transition to schoolmaster. He taught many riders to fine tune their aids, improve their lateral work, work on their postion, and learn to canter.  His favorite treats include honey wheat twisted pretzels, carrots, and sour patch kids!  He loves his occasional trail rides and swimming. He welcomes treats and scratches when you walk by his stall! Hugo is currently retired in Florida. 

Jack was Courtneys competition mount. He was a Friesian/Arabian cross, which means he was adorable and a complete powerhouse! He loved his tempi changes and offered them any chance he could get. He was also a garbage can-he would eat anything he could get his lips on. They showed 3rd level in the fall of 2017 and they intended to show to PSG in 2018 before his injury and subsequent passing.

Rest easy buddy.... June 20, 2010-August 12, 2019