Firstview Farm

Dawn Detwiler Weniger, a USDF gold medalist, is the trainer and owner of Firstview Farm, Apex, NC.  Dawn offers lessons, training board, and an import and sales business.

Dawn began riding as a child, and competed primarily in the hunter ring. After college (BA from Mary Washington College in English) Dawn worked at the Chronicle of the Horse, where she began riding Connemara stallions in combined training and dressage for a co-worker. She also helped break and start the youngsters for two breeders in Virginia and Maryland (while working full time as a text book editor and completing an MBA at the University of Maryland). A happy marriage brought Dawn and husband Andrew  to North Carolina in 1990. Since then, Dawn has trained with Lynn Leath, Cathy Morelli, Betsy Steiner, and Jessica Ransehousen in dressage, and Betsy Freedman in combined training. In the spring of 2001, Dawn quit her software desk job. She is now a full time trainer and instructor (as well as a full time mother to daughter Anna).

A competitive amateur, Andrew earned his USDF bronze medal in 2004 and his Silver medal in 2010.  He has extensive experience with young horses including driving and saddleseat as well as dressage.

Anna was born in 1998, and started riding at age 2.  She began showing in 2007 and showed Aladdin's Delaney, a 13.3 hand Connemara pony, in Introductory and Training Level dressage for several years.  Anna is currently schooling 2nd and 3rd level tests on Indecent Proposal and plans to show 1st and 2nd level in the coming 2012 show year.