Our Story
Where horses live naturally, thrive as athletes, and develop their full potential. A serene, private setting for horse-first training, rehabilitation and sport.
At KD Dressage & Sport Horses, we believe great sport horses are developed through understanding, patience, and partnership.
Founded by Katrin Derreumaux and assisted by Brianne Valentino, our program is built on a relationship-based, horse-first philosophy that blends classical horsemanship with modern sport horse science.
Revolutionizing horse care is at the heart of what we do. Custom feed programs, specialized conditioning, and optional advanced therapies including certified bodyworker on site, PEMF, SureFoot Balance pads all thoughtfully integrated to support recovery, performance, and overall wellness. Horses in our program are developed as athletes without sacrificing the simple joys of being a horse: Time outside up to 24 hours a day, freedom of movement and management guided by each horse's physical and mental needs.
We specialize in the development and care of today’s high-performance dressage and show jumping horses, with a strong emphasis on biomechanics, soundness, and longevity. Every training and management decision is made with the horse’s body, mind, and long-term well-being in mind—because lasting success comes from horses that feel good, move correctly, and trust their riders.
Our approach to training and coaching is thoughtful and individualized, focusing on correct movement patterns, strength development, and clear communication. From young horses learning their foundations to seasoned competitors refining their work, we aim to produce confident, willing partners prepared for sustainable careers in sport.
Katrin Derreumaux
Katrin is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist whose life and career have been shaped by a lifelong dedication to horses and horsemanship. Beginning her riding journey at age seven—and finding her true “horse family” by twelve—Katrin has spent decades developing horses and riders with care, clarity, and classical principles.
Over the years, she has developed a beautiful string of horses from young prospects through FEI, honing her expertise in horse behavior, thoughtful training, and horsemanship while growing a successful business and raising a family.
Katrin grew up in a non-horse family, which led her to find her equestrian home at Fox Meadow Farm in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Gail O’Neill. There, she trained her Thoroughbred mare Dozy through the FEI levels and competed at multiple USDF Region 1 Junior Championships.
During her years at Fox Meadow Farm, Katrin gained a deep appreciation for classical training and learned how to manage an efficient, tidy stable where horses lived long, happy, and sound lives. As a teenager, she also began training horses independently and teaching lessons.
While in high school, Katrin worked for FEI 4* judge and WB breeder Jeanne McDonald at Turing Point Farm, assisting with starting young horses and serving as a groom and rider. She later became a working student for Lorinda Lende, a renowned classical dressage master celebrated for her creative and horse-centered approach to developing horses of all types to Grand Prix.
Before founding her own boarding and training business in 2010, Katrin stepped away from the horse world to pursue studies in social work—a journey that took her as far as India. These years working closely with people profoundly shaped her approach to training and teaching, deepening her patience, empathy, and healing.
Katrin has trained extensively with and ridden in clinics for many international-level riders and trainers, including:
Betsy Steiner
David de Wispelaere
Beth Baumert
Gary Rockwell
Laura Graves
Gerrit Cleas Bierenbroodspot
Catherine Haddad-Staller
Current Training & Mentorship
Sara Schmitt comes regularly for clinics
Mark Hausman – Master horseman and clinician, visiting regularly
Celeste-Leilani Lazaris (BTMM) – Ridden Nerve Release course (2025)
Ongoing study with Celeste-Leilani Lazaris and Tara Davis .
Brianne Valentino
Brianne is a USDF Bronze medalist, Equine Bodyworker and professional dressage trainer specializing in ethical training, correct biomechanics, and the thoughtful development of horses at every stage of their careers. Her work is grounded in a whole-horse approach that integrates correct training, bodywork, postural development, and equipment fit to support comfort, confidence, and long-term soundness.
With a lifetime immersed in the horse industry, she has benefited from exceptional mentors across multiple disciplines. Her background began in the hunter/jumper world, then expanded into starting young horses and working extensively with Thoroughbreds both before and after the racetrack. She worked as a working student at Tatra Farm under Patricia Garthwaite Towle where she focused on developing young horses—from their first rides under saddle through competition in the hunters and jumpers in NY and on the Florida winter circuit.
She later transitioned into dressage under the guidance of Katrin Derreumaux, introducing her own off-the-track Thoroughbred to the discipline and gaining experience in the dressage show ring. In 2025, she earned her USDF Bronze Medal, achieved entirely on horses she trained herself. These horses often came from unconventional backgrounds or presented behavioral and physical challenges, reinforcing her commitment to patient, ethical training and sustainable progress. She has successfully shown through Fourth Level.
She is particularly drawn to working with horses labeled as “problem horses,” seeking to uncover the physical, emotional, or training-related causes behind resistance or tension. Her training philosophy centers on listening to the horse as an individual and adapting methods accordingly. She believes diversified training is essential for developing durable, confident athletes and incorporates groundwork, postural and biomechanical development, dressage, poles and cavalletti, hacking, and trail riding to support both physical and mental well-being.
In addition to her training program, she is a certified Equine Bodyworker with a focus on posture and biomechanics, as well as a certified saddle fitter. This integrated approach allows her to address the vital connection between horse, rider, and equipment—ensuring that training, bodywork, and saddle fit work together to create balance, comfort, and sustainable performance.
To work with Brianne and Valentino Sport Horses LLC for bodywork or saddle fitting, reach out directly at Valentinosporthorses@gmail.com