Dressage Lessons at Maple Dell Ranch
Martha teaches a limited number of students in the principles of classical horsemanship. The Maple Dell Ranch has well-trained mounts for teaching horsemanship, or you may trailer in with your own horse. Each lesson caters to the needs of the individual student and the environment. Safety is our number one priority! For information about lessons, please text 615-319-1099.
What Sets Maple Dell Ranch Dressage Apart?
At Maple Dell Ranch Dressage, our lesson program offers more than just expert instruction—we provide highly trained, safe, and experienced horses that help you feel and understand the movements as you learn. With guidance from a skilled instructor, you’ll develop skills on horses that already know the work, making your learning experience more effective and rewarding.
Thinking About Starting Dressage Lessons?
Please see the file below for policies and rates:
mdr_lesson_policies_and_rates.docx
Facilities:
60 ft. round pen, 144 X 72 indoor arena with Tru-Tex footing and mirrors, 200 X 80 outdoor arena with Tru-Tex footing, 2-mile horse trail, trail obstacles, desensitization equipment, cavaletti, jumps, barrels, and poles. Pastures are fenced and cross-fenced in split rail and no-climb fencing. 10-stall main barn with matted stalls, 4-stall lower barn with matted stalls, run-in sheds in turnouts, wash rack and heated/cooled restroom facilities.
SPONSORED BY TRU-TEX EQUESTRIAN
USDF Recognized Dressage Shows at Maple Dell Ranch: Greystone Dressage at the Dell
Greystone Dressage at the Dell holds two USDF Level 2 shows per year at the ranch.
WE ARE HOSTING TWO SHOWS IN 2026
MAY 16, 2026
OCTOBER 24, 2026
For more information visit:
sites.google.com/view/greystonedressage/home
Dr. Martha M. Day served as Director of Designated Qualified Persons and Animal Welfare for the National Walking Horse Association headquartered at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from 2006-2012. Day has presented at the internationally recognized Sound Horse Conference and published articles related to the welfare of gaited horses in The Horse, The Gaited Horse, and Animal Tracks. She was awarded an investigative journalism award by “Friends of the Sound Horse” in 2004 for her article “The Horse Protection Act” published in the April 2004 issue of The Horse. She was interviewed as an expert for the Equus magazine feature article “Why Soring Persists” published in March 2006. In 2025, she collaborated with colleagues and university students, publishing four scientific posters on Equine Dental Care and Temporomandibular Joint Sensitivity at the IGFP conference in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Martha’s horse judging career began at the age of 12, winning the Junior Western Team award at the Murray State District 4-H horse judging contest in 1982 as a member of the Boots and Saddles 4-H club based at Fort Campbell, KY. She has volunteer coached two Tennessee 4-H horse judging teams to win national and state titles in competition and has coached and served as a volunteer leader to the Allen County Kentucky 4-H horse club to win various district and state level judging awards. In 2016, she received a “Friend of 4-H Award” from Allen County Cooperative Extension.
Martha enjoyed a 30+ year career as a professional horse show judge, judging 250+ horse shows throughout the United States including the 4-H Southern Regional Championships, three National Walking Horse Association National Championships, five United Mountain Horse “AAA” shows, the Virginia State 4-H Horse show, the Alabama State 4-H Horse show, Pony of the Americas breed shows, Tennessee Miniature Mule and Miniature Donkey Shows, Kentucky-Tennessee Equestrian Association dressage/combined training events and numerous local 4-H and all breed saddle club shows. Day served as an adjunct professor of agriculture at Austin Peay State University from 2000-2008 teaching the following undergraduate courses: AGRI 492 Ethics of Animal Use, AGRI 330 Horse Production, AGRI 492C Horse Judging and Selection, and AGRI 492B Companion Animal Management.
Martha teaches a limited number of students in the principles of classical horsemanship. The Maple Dell Ranch has well-trained mounts for teaching horsemanship, or you may trailer in with your own horse. Each lesson caters to the needs of the individual student and the environment. Safety is our number one priority! For information about lessons, please text 615-319-1099.
What Sets Maple Dell Ranch Dressage Apart?
At Maple Dell Ranch Dressage, our lesson program offers more than just expert instruction—we provide highly trained, safe, and experienced horses that help you feel and understand the movements as you learn. With guidance from a skilled instructor, you’ll develop skills on horses that already know the work, making your learning experience more effective and rewarding.
Thinking About Starting Dressage Lessons?
Please see the file below for policies and rates:
mdr_lesson_policies_and_rates.docx
Facilities:
60 ft. round pen, 144 X 72 indoor arena with Tru-Tex footing and mirrors, 200 X 80 outdoor arena with Tru-Tex footing, 2-mile horse trail, trail obstacles, desensitization equipment, cavaletti, jumps, barrels, and poles. Pastures are fenced and cross-fenced in split rail and no-climb fencing. 10-stall main barn with matted stalls, 4-stall lower barn with matted stalls, run-in sheds in turnouts, wash rack and heated/cooled restroom facilities.
SPONSORED BY TRU-TEX EQUESTRIAN
USDF Recognized Dressage Shows at Maple Dell Ranch: Greystone Dressage at the Dell
Greystone Dressage at the Dell holds two USDF Level 2 shows per year at the ranch.
WE ARE HOSTING TWO SHOWS IN 2026
MAY 16, 2026
OCTOBER 24, 2026
For more information visit:
sites.google.com/view/greystonedressage/home
Dr. Martha M. Day served as Director of Designated Qualified Persons and Animal Welfare for the National Walking Horse Association headquartered at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky from 2006-2012. Day has presented at the internationally recognized Sound Horse Conference and published articles related to the welfare of gaited horses in The Horse, The Gaited Horse, and Animal Tracks. She was awarded an investigative journalism award by “Friends of the Sound Horse” in 2004 for her article “The Horse Protection Act” published in the April 2004 issue of The Horse. She was interviewed as an expert for the Equus magazine feature article “Why Soring Persists” published in March 2006. In 2025, she collaborated with colleagues and university students, publishing four scientific posters on Equine Dental Care and Temporomandibular Joint Sensitivity at the IGFP conference in Wiesbaden, Germany.
Martha’s horse judging career began at the age of 12, winning the Junior Western Team award at the Murray State District 4-H horse judging contest in 1982 as a member of the Boots and Saddles 4-H club based at Fort Campbell, KY. She has volunteer coached two Tennessee 4-H horse judging teams to win national and state titles in competition and has coached and served as a volunteer leader to the Allen County Kentucky 4-H horse club to win various district and state level judging awards. In 2016, she received a “Friend of 4-H Award” from Allen County Cooperative Extension.
Martha enjoyed a 30+ year career as a professional horse show judge, judging 250+ horse shows throughout the United States including the 4-H Southern Regional Championships, three National Walking Horse Association National Championships, five United Mountain Horse “AAA” shows, the Virginia State 4-H Horse show, the Alabama State 4-H Horse show, Pony of the Americas breed shows, Tennessee Miniature Mule and Miniature Donkey Shows, Kentucky-Tennessee Equestrian Association dressage/combined training events and numerous local 4-H and all breed saddle club shows. Day served as an adjunct professor of agriculture at Austin Peay State University from 2000-2008 teaching the following undergraduate courses: AGRI 492 Ethics of Animal Use, AGRI 330 Horse Production, AGRI 492C Horse Judging and Selection, and AGRI 492B Companion Animal Management.
Martha has served as volunteer coordinator of the therapeutic riding program for school children enrolled in Allen County, Scottsville, KY “Special Riders” program and has donated therapy horses to “Riders Unlimited” in Oak Harbor, Ohio and “Saddle Up!” in Franklin, TN. Day competed in hunter/jumper events as a youth competitor, winning high point awards in Hunter Over Fences and Hunter Under Saddle competitions. As a rider, she competes and trains in dressage and has earned United States Dressage Federation, USDF Rider Performance Awards at 1st level (2016), 2nd level (2017) dressage and Training level (2018). She earned a USDF Bronze Medal in Dressage (2019) and she has shown through Prix St. Georges and has earned scores halfway towards a USDF Silver Medal.
She has studied under the numerous accomplished dressage trainers: Meghan Riviello, Daniela Banner, Sue Kolstad, Donna Richardson, Laura Graves, Jody Inman Wilson, Judy Downer, Debbie Rodriguez, Susan Mandas, Barbara Strawson, Grant Schneidman, Kevin Kohmann, Ida Anderson Norris, Lilo Fore, and Ela Ladwig. Additionally, she has studied under renowned horse trainers Clinton Anderson and Buck Brannaman as a participant in colt starting clinics in Stephenville, Texas (2012) and Lexington, Kentucky (2014).
Dr. Day operates Maple Dell Ranch in Scottsville, KY where she breeds and trains her horses and raises grass fed beef and pastured pork. Professionally, she serves as Professor of Science Education and Co-Director of the SKyTeach program at Western Kentucky University. She enjoys engaging in lifelong learning through travel, reading, competitive dressage and long-distance trail riding.
She has studied under the numerous accomplished dressage trainers: Meghan Riviello, Daniela Banner, Sue Kolstad, Donna Richardson, Laura Graves, Jody Inman Wilson, Judy Downer, Debbie Rodriguez, Susan Mandas, Barbara Strawson, Grant Schneidman, Kevin Kohmann, Ida Anderson Norris, Lilo Fore, and Ela Ladwig. Additionally, she has studied under renowned horse trainers Clinton Anderson and Buck Brannaman as a participant in colt starting clinics in Stephenville, Texas (2012) and Lexington, Kentucky (2014).
Dr. Day operates Maple Dell Ranch in Scottsville, KY where she breeds and trains her horses and raises grass fed beef and pastured pork. Professionally, she serves as Professor of Science Education and Co-Director of the SKyTeach program at Western Kentucky University. She enjoys engaging in lifelong learning through travel, reading, competitive dressage and long-distance trail riding.
