Our Clients
We like to build relationships with our clients, so that - over time - we come to know them well and be able to assist them in various areas of their equine endeavours, whether in training, helping them purchase or sell horses, or advising them on other aspects of show jumping, dressage, eventing or breeding.
"I have been a client of AEA Burong since 1990. Over that time, I have bought four horses from Dirk, including AEA Inspector. Dirk has also helped me buy other suitable horses. He has a brilliant eye for potential in a horse and his judgment has always been first class when selecting horses for me, both as a breeder and an agent. I've travelled and competed a lot with these horses over the years, to Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, Australia and back to Indonesia where I am now. Dirk has always found time to come to these countries two or three times a year for clinics, and his training on these occasions has been invaluable for both the horse and me."
Sarah-Jane Wagg, Indonesia
It has been my pleasure to experience the professionalism and mastery of Dirk Dijkstra in business and horseback since October 2004.
At that time I was looking for an establishment in Australia to place my six year old stallion "Jaybee Ambassador" (Kit) for continued training, stud duties and competition experience.
After researching by word of mouth and on the internet I decided on AEA Burong. Even though I considered Winchelsea a huge distance away for my beloved Kit (we are based in Queensland), I knew that he deserved the best chance to fulfill his capacity as a performance and stud stallion.
I visited two weeks after Kit's arrival and was very impressed by the entire AEA Burong
establishment - the staff, along with Dirk's daughter Stephanie, had the stables humming like a well-oiled machine, and Kit was very well housed with a large day yard and wonderful stabling at night. The cleanliness was impeccable.
Kit settled in and bloomed. Dirk had the expertise to recognise his talents and build on them.
Dirk started Kit in the collection of semen and with much patience, kindness and understanding Kit understood his duties and enjoyed them. I was there at this time and witnessed a vet come for a lesson on the AI method that Dirk uses, because of his outstanding success in this area.
Kit's training and competition performance has gone from strength to strength with Dirk riding him. Kit arrived as a stallion with limited foundation, but after being re-schooled by Dirk is now training in FEI and showing a flair for Piaffe and Pissage. He has been campaigned by Dirk, and the steady stream of ribbons arriving in the post demonstrates that he never comes home without a winner's grin!
Jenna McGilvery, Ambassador Park Warmblood Stud, Queensland
I am very lucky Dirk's commitment to his clients, whatever their background or wherever they come from, means that he has travelled to Darwin several times a year to give dressage and judging clinics. Likewise, I have been warmly encouraged and welcomed to visit AEA Burong in my regular trips to Dressage With the Stars, to learn more about the breeding and development of dressage horses.
What do I look forward to most from my lessons? An honest and fair assessment from a horse person who has studied and produced FEI horses and riders his whole life. Dirk is both challenging but also supportive, and will inspire you to improve yourself and ultimately your training. Dirk's coaching works well and challenges you to take that next step. I have never finished a clinic feeling lost, or unable to continue with what I have picked up, but at the same time I have not felt that I have been left unchallenged (not in the least!).
As they say, Dirk walks the walk and does not just talk the talk! Yes, importantly, academically he is highly qualified, but everyday he is still working with many different horses as a rider and breeder, and his advice isn't from a 'memory' of riding or regurgitating the ideals of books written on riding - but rather, tested and proven knowledge from actual experience with thousands of different horses (from birth to FEI) and riders.
I am very lucky Dirk's commitment to his clients, whatever their background or wherever they come from, means that he has travelled to Darwin several times a year to give dressage and judging clinics. Likewise, I have been warmly encouraged and welcomed to visit AEA Burong in my regular trips to Dressage With the Stars, to learn more about the breeding and development of dressage horses.
What do I look forward to most from my lessons? An honest and fair assessment from a horse person who has studied and produced FEI horses and riders his whole life. Dirk is both challenging but also supportive, and will inspire you to improve yourself and ultimately your training. Dirk's coaching works well and challenges you to take that next step. I have never finished a clinic feeling lost, or unable to continue with what I have picked up, but at the same time I have not felt that I have been left unchallenged (not in the least!).
As they say, Dirk walks the walk and does not just talk the talk! Yes, importantly, academically he is highly qualified, but everyday he is still working with many different horses as a rider and breeder, and his advice isn't from a 'memory' of riding or regurgitating the ideals of books written on riding - but rather, tested and proven knowledge from actual experience with thousands of different horses (from birth to FEI) and riders.
Sarah Fisher, Northern Territory
Helen Farrell, Victoria
I started having lessons with Dirk to improve both of my horses so I could sell one of them. But in a short while they had both got so much better than I had imagined that I have kept them both and continued to keep going! Dirk has helped me tackle and get over many problems to further my horses' training and my riding has also considerably improved along the way. If we come across something that I or my horse is not confident at, I just leave the horse with Dirk for a week or so for training and when I come back the horse is happier and has a better understanding and we can move on from there!
I enjoy going to Burong for the excellent facilities and friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Seeing the professional way they train and exercise their horses is also inspirational and the breeding side of it and the auctions are interesting too.
The lessons are realistically priced and always good value. They continue to be a great help to me.
I enjoy going to Burong for the excellent facilities and friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Seeing the professional way they train and exercise their horses is also inspirational and the breeding side of it and the auctions are interesting too.
The lessons are realistically priced and always good value. They continue to be a great help to me.
Helen Farrell, Victoria