In the early seventies, Dr. Chopra was an original member of the USDF Education Committee with Chairman Joe Batten in Lincoln Nebraska. It was at that time that the initial foundation for dressage education and the learner judge program was laid. He continues to actively participate in all USEF and FEI sponsored clinics.
     Dr. Chopra has been an USEF “S“ Dressage judge for nearly 25 years and an “FEI” International (I) Dressage Judge for nearly 15 years, he has recently been licensed as USDF DSHB "r" judge. He is very active in judging not only in the United States but also in Europe. He has been invited to judge in Belgium, France, and Holland, where he judged the Dutch Championship Arnhem. He has also judged the Canadian Championships on tour in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, and British Columbia.
     Among the many shows that he has judged in the past year, the 2008 schedule includes UEEF/USDF recognized shows in Florida, Texas, Morven Park in Virginia, St. Louis Mo., Wichita Ks., Lexington, KY and others.
     He is familiar with, and has extensive knowledge of, German and French Dressage training techniques and has spent time in Warendorf, Germany, Saumur, France and visited the Spanish Riding School in Vienna Austria. Dr. Chopra spent time with, and was greatly influenced by the legendary German dressage trainer and teacher, the late Mr. Willie Schultheis as well as the late Mr. Jaap Pott of Holland, and Mr. Wolfgang Niggli of Switzerland. Mr. Raymond Withages of Belgium taught him the importance of the correct development of muscles of the horse resulting from classical dressage training, enabling the horse to perform the prescribed movements according to the scale of training.
    He has a broad knowledge of Dressage literature, including the writings, teachings and techniques of the masters.  Dr. Chopra believes by using Classical Dressage principles consisting of simple and logical training methods including work in hand, any horse can be trained to his or her maximum potential.
     Due to his unique experience in education at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, he is able to combine two disciplines with great success for both the horse and rider. Dr. Chopra helps riders show their horses effectively by having them execute the correct movements as prescribed in a particular dressage test.
     The most important advice Dr. Chopra has for riders when they are riding and teaching  their horses a  particular movement is: Ask often, be Satisfied with little, and Reward profusely; always remembering anger has no place in dressage!

Chopra118@gmail.com * home: 608-845-6262 * cell: 608-220-5300