at the Area VI Preliminary Level Championships in Woodside, California in 1994.
Elizabeth Coviello Moore has been an avid equestrian for most of her life. In the
earlier part of her career on the West Coast, she trained and competed in multiple
disciplines with many breeds and types of horses, and successfully pursued goals in the hunter, jumper, and eventing arenas.
During the 25 years that she lived in California, she competed through the
Intermediate level in eventing and the high Preliminary level in the jumper division. She also trained riders and horses who qualified for both regional and national championships in pony club, eventing, and children’s hunt seat equitation.
Dressage has always been the cornerstone of her education and success, and has provided her with a lasting fascination and focus that has allowed her to work with many wonderful horses and people. Her early exposure to dressage included witnessing Dr. Reiner Klimke and "Ahlerich" win the Gold Medal in dressage in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, being judged by Hilda Gurney, and being taught by Dennis Callin during the time that he represented the U.S. in dressage with “Zorn.” This was followed by a move at age 20 from Southern California to the famous Pebble Beach Equestrian center to work for Bea and Derek diGrazia, who are both accomplished dressage riders in addition to being former U.S.E.T. members in eventing. While at PBEC she got to clinic with Jessica Ransehousen, work for and have regular lessons with Jean Phillipe Giacomini—who trained with Nuno Olivera—clinic with FEI trainer Lynn Roberts Johnson and Anne Kursinski, watch the master French trainer Jean Paillard, and ride on a daily basis with the diGrazias.
After leaving Pebble Beach, Elizabeth earned her B.F.A. from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco in 1990 with an emphasis in Illustration and Computer Animation. However, her desire to be outside, moving about, has kept her from pursuing this full-time, and she quickly turned her attention to starting her own training business instead. It was based in the Bay area until 1997. During this time she rode in regular clinics with Gwen Stockebrand, Alexandra (Sandy) Howard, Charles deKunfy, and Major Anders Lindgren. She also continued her jumping education with clinics by Jimmy Wofford, Bruce Davidson, and Captain Mark Phillips, among others. Through her association with Sandy Howard she was very fortunate to be included in a dressage instructor’s education series with the well-known author Mary Wanless.
In 1998, she and her husband John relocated to New York State for 2-½ years, so that he could receive his M.B.A. It was during this time that Elizabeth began to switch her focus more distinctly to her dressage education. She attended U.S.D.F. instructor certification workshops and had the opportunity to work with Gunnar Ostergaard, Raul de Leon,the former director of Westmoreland Davis institute, and Sarah Geike, a U.S.D.F. faculty member and “S” judge.
Now living in New Hill, North Carolina for the past 9 years, she owns and operates Victory Hill Farm. She has obtained her U.S.D.F. Bronze and Silver medals, and is working toward the last two scores required for her Gold with her Trakener gelding “Mondschatten.” She has coached riders and competed with several horses at the regional championships in dressage. Her current student Alison Coyle received her Bronze medal in 2007, at age 14.
In both 2007 and 2008, Elizabeth made her own personal dressage education her goal. She recently completed the U.S.D.F. learner judge’s program, and is an "L" graduate with distinction. She has been fortunate enough to be invited to ride in clinics with U.S.D.F. instructor faculty and ‘S” judge Lilo Fore, “S” judge Gretchen Verbonic, “O” judge Linda Zang, “I” judge Jessica Ransehousen, current U.S.E.F. team member Steffan Peters, and absolute master horseman Conrad Schumacher. She feels exceptionally lucky to be blessed with opportunities to work with great horses and riders every day.