Early Years

Vanessa Krikava, born 1972 in Vienna, Austria, had her first introduction to horses through her mother, Cindy Krikava. At the age of five, Vanessa would accompany her mother to a riding school, where Cindy would receive dressage lessons on various horses. Vanessa would watch and fantasize about one day riding her self. She did not actually begin riding until the age of 11. By that time, the whole family had moved to England. After about a year of lessons, Cindy bought an inexpensive small horse to see what ownership would entail. A few years later, when Vanessa was 16, she was riding two horses at Preliminary level eventing in England. One of whom, Solar Toy, just passed away in February 2005 at the age of 24. She will be missed always.

Vanessa and Solar Toy at their first Prelim level event 1988

Vanessa and Easy Street - at their first prelim level event in England 1988

Vanessa and Solar Toy at Prelim level event 1989

Moving to the United States

In 1990, at age 18, the whole family once again moved to the United States. Cindy found out that a top US event rider lived reasonably close by. Vanessa began to take lessons with Louise Meryman at Treeline Farm, Millbrook, NY; that quickly evolved into a working student situation. The whole thing was a wonderful learning experience.

Vanessa and Reno during lesson with Louise Meryman

Vanessa and Gazelle doing grid work

Working Student Years

Having decided to become a horse professional, Vanessa put her college education on hold. At the time (1993), she was having a blast studying art history and illustration at Parson’s School of Design in NYC. During the next five years, Vanessa would work for information as a working student, for 6 different professionals (3 eventing: Marcia Kulak, David O’Brien & Louise Meryman again; 3 dressage: Sue Blinks, Felicitas von Neuman-Cosel and Andrea Mc Cauley). What a spectacular insight into horse care, stable management, riding and competing this provided.

Purchase of Grey Dawn Farm

The Krikavas would move once again in 1995, from a house in Greenwich, CT to a farm in Warwick, NY. Vanessa and her family would become very involved with farm and land improvement. A wonderful neighbor (Pete), who, as a boy, had grown up on that property, offered his help building a big run-in shed, a 60’ extension to the small indoor riding arena and an addition of 7 stalls to the outside of that riding arena. Roland (Vanessa’s brother), Vanessa, Pete and sometimes his grandsons would build these structures by themselves. This cut costs massively. Pete also helped with a ton of other things almost on a daily basis for a while. He was and still is like a guardian angel to people who really did not have a clue about owning a farm when they started. His attitude was that anyone can learn. He never accepted any payment for his services.

Building the extension to the indoor arena

Building a shed row of 6 additional stalls plus tack room

The focus shifts from Eventing to Dressage

Towards the end of an action packed event season at prelim level in 1998, Vanessa had an unfortunate fall at an innocuous fence with her horse Gazelle. The result was a very painful broken shoulder blade and collarbone. Following the accident, there was a natural evolution towards dressage. During the fall of 1999, Vanessa had her first clinic with top dressage trainer, Uwe Steiner. After the first lesson, Vanessa knew that she had found someone with tremendous insight into classical dressage in its purest form. Since then, she regularly attended monthly clinics and during winter seasons has gone to Venice, FL, where Herr Steiner taught at Fox Lea Farm. The more Vanessa learned from the native German, the more she became astounded at the depth and range of his knowledge. Another classical horseman who helped Vanessa a great deal was Gunnar Ostergaard. From 2006-2007 Vanessa worked with Cesar Parra and Katie Riley at Performance Farm near Gladstone, NJ, where she was inspired by the barn's fantastic working environment and positive attitude. At the time Hubertus Schmidt was a big fixture at the barn and his impact on the training system was felt by all. It was an amazing experience. Beginning in the fall of 2007 till the spring of 2009, Vanessa worked with Chris Hickey at Hilltop Farm, MD and also during 2 winter seasons in Wellington, FL. Chris has a very humane and systematic approach to training all different types of horses and riders. His strong work ethic and attention to detail came to fruition at competition, where he was frequently in the winner's circle at all levels. Chris often worked with Ulla Salzgeber, who is a world reknowned competitor and trainer at the highest level of dressage. Vanessa stayed in FL for the summer of 2009 and had the opportunity to train with Juan Matute, whose enthusiasm and passion for dressage was extremely infectious and fun. Juan is an artist at the highest level and his list of achievements at international level dressage competition is very long. He has a great feel for allowing the horse to express itself. When Vanessa was no longer able to ride, due to her pregnancy, she received invaluble help from Mette Kjellerup, who kindly rode the horses during the last months till the beginning of November, 2009. Until the end of the winter season in FL, 2010, Vanessa worked extensively with Werner Van den Brande, who has made a huge impact on her riding. In the beginning of June, Vanessa, her eight month of daughter, Helena and her partner, Javier, made their way back up north to their homebase at Grey Dawn Farm, Warwick, NY.

2001:11:12 11:12:48 Vanessa and Fraise du Bois

2001:11:12 11:09:25 Vanessa and Fraise du Bois

Now and the future

Currently, Vanessa has cliniced with Marius Schreiner, Catherine Haddad and Elizabeth Campbell. Goals for the future at GDF include: to continue to impact horses and riders in a positive way; to put a solid foundation on all horses that come from Grey Dawn Farm; to become reknowned for producing top prospects in dressage who are all happy, sound, expressive and confident. Finally to keep learning and honing. Below are some of the horses Vanessa has (2011) in training: Leonesse - black 10 yr old Oldenburg mare (Don Cardinale/Placido)PSG/Int1, Amelie - chestnut 7 yr old Oldenburg mare (Florencio/Donnerhall)schooling 3rd level and Dexter - chestnut 7 yr old Hannoverian gelding (Don Bosco/Lancier)schooling 3rd level.

2012:01:15 17:49:16 Leonesse - Oldenburg mare (Don Cardinale/Placido) imported as 6 year old 2nd level horse. Trained through FEI

2012:01:15 17:31:29 Donna Calimba - Hann. Mare (Donnerhall/Pik Bube) imported as yearling & trained & competed sucessfully in dressage and sold as a hunter

2012:01:15 17:09:51 Replay - trained through 4th level

2012:01:15 17:53:27 Aqua Di Gio - imported as three year old and sold to Ohio as a Prix St. George horse

2012:01:15 18:00:04 Osiris - TB bought as green broke 5 yr old, trained through lower level eventing and dressage, sold as a dressage prospect to top professional in NJ

2012:01:15 18:09:47 Amelie - Oldenburg mare (Florencio/Donnerhall) imported as weanling and trained through 3rd level dressage with potential to go all the way.

2012:01:15 18:07:01 Dexter - Hann. gelding (Don Bosco/Lancier) imported as weanling trained through 3rd level dressage & lower level jumping.

2012:01:15 18:03:32 Carpendale - Hann. gelding (Contendro/Gluespilz) imported as weanling and trained through lower level dressage/jumping. Sold as upper level dressage prospect.