Jane is a United States Dressage Federation Silver Medalist, and has extensive experience in competition at the FEI (international) levels. She and her husband Paul Schopf, assisted Walter Zettl with the preparation of his book, Dressage in Harmony, from Basic to Grand Prix (Half Halt Press 1998), and are co-authors with Zettl of The Circle of Trust, Reflections on the Essence of Horses and Horsem
anship, Half Halt Press, 2007. She works on a regular basis with US Olympic judge Linda Zang and with Reitmeister Ulf Wiltfang of Warendorf, Germany, who is former Deputy Trainer/Instructor at the German National Reitschule in Warendorf. She has also trained with US Olympian Lisa Wilcox and Danish Olympian Bent Jensen. She is the author of a number of equestrian articles, and has spoken at numerous educational programs and webinars about running a successful equestrian business. Jane is:
- current Vice President of the Maryland Horse Council
- current member of Montgomery County’s Zoning Advisory Panel
- current Vice President of the Maryland Fund for Horses, a 501(c)(3) charity
- former member of Montgomery County’s Agricultural Advisory Committee (nominated by County Executive, confirmed by County Council).
- organizer and speaker at MD Horse Council annual Equine Business Seminars, 2007, 2008 and 2009
In addition, Jane:
- served on the Maryland Horse Industry Board’s Strategic Planning Committee and Horse Forum Planning Subcommittee in 2004 and 2009
- served on Keep It in Maryland Task Force
- served for 9 years on the Board of Directors of the Potomac Valley Dressage Association, including 2 years as Chairman of the Board and 2 years as Vice President
- was actively involved in the legislative consideration of the Montgomery County Equestrian Facility Zoning Text Amendment, which became law on April 5, 2004. He has competed at the AHSA levels on several thoroughbreds, and at Prix St. George/Intermediaire with his Hannoverian gelding, Lowenmut (Louie). He is currently working with his Sachsen Anhaltiner, Del Piero (Drakdream-Rubenstein). Paul helped Walter Zettl with the writing of his books, Dressage in Harmony, and The Circle of Trust, both published by Half Halt press, as well as illustrating both the english and German edition, published by the Verlag FN, in Warendorf, Germany. Although most of his time is spent as a Professor Oceanography at the College of Science of George Mason University, he teaches enjoys teaching and training at Dressage at Sundown. Paul trains with Linda Zang and Ulf Wiltfang, and has worked with Bent Jensen and Lisa Wilcox. He has also worked extensively with Walter Zettl.
