COMMUNITY - FLEXIBILITY - HARMONY - EMPOWERMENT - COMPASSION - SPORTSMANSHIP

Diane van den Berg's equestrian career began in Montreal, Quebec, where she competed in the Hunter and Jumper disciplines as a junior under the guidance of the legendary Sonny Brooks and accomplished hunter rider Cheryl Lanctot. After relocating to the United States in 1984, she owned several top Grand Prix jumpers, earning numerous victories and championships. Highlights included major wins on the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF), East Coast and Indoor circuits, as well as Top Ten finishes at the FEI World Cup Jumping Finals. During this time, she also trained with internationally respected horsewoman Kip Rosenthal.

In 1988, Diane made Central Oregon her home. She continued competing successfully throughout the Northwest before purchasing 30 acres in Sisters, Oregon, where she established Keystone Farm, a training and breeding operation dedicated to developing quality sport horses. Her breeding program earned national recognition, producing award-winning Hanoverian and Dutch Warmblood horses, including nationally ranked mares and First Premium foals.

A pivotal moment in Diane's career came in 1990 when she attended a dressage clinic with FEI trainer Gerhard Politz. Inspired by classical dressage principles, she began an intensive course of study that would shape the rest of her professional life. In 1992, she purchased Darius, a Grand Prix horse trained by Gerhard Politz, and spent extended periods training in California under his mentorship. Diane later expanded her education by working extensively with Gerd Reuter of Euro Performance Horses while participating in clinics with many of the sport's most respected dressage instructors, including Robert Dover, Henk Glijn, Gwen Blake, Felicitas von Neumann-Cosel, Pamela Goodrich, and Lorraine Chappell. In the Hunter/Jumper disciplines, she continued her education through clinics with George Morris, Claudia Cojocar, Jeff Campf, Richard Keller, Kathy Kerron, Bernie Traurig.

With Darius, Diane earned her USDF Silver Medal in 1997 and successfully competed through the FEI levels, including Intermediaire II. At the same time, she maintained an accomplished Hunter/Jumper career. Aboard Luck of the Draw, she earned numerous championships in the Equitation, Adult Amateur, and Amateur-Owner Hunter divisions throughout the Pacific Northwest and the California winter circuits.

In 1999, Diane began developing Three Canyons (now Shevlin Stables), a premier equestrian facility in Bend, Oregon, which opened in 2000. She personally designed and managed the construction of the facility, creating a first-class environment for training,and developing sport horses. During this period, she also founded Euro Pferde Centre LLC, specializing in the import and sale of elite European Warmblood sport horses for dressage and hunter/jumper riders. Working alongside Gerd Reuter and renowned German breeder Detlef Saul, she traveled extensively throughout Germany and Lithuania, selecting horses and advising clients on sport horse purchases.

Following the sale of Three Canyons in 2010,  Diane shifted her focus toward teaching, training, clinics, and mentoring. Through Diane van den Berg Dressage LLC, she accepted a limited number of riders while concentrating on helping trainers and equestrian professionals strengthen their own programs. 

2023 brought Diane back to Three Canyons, then renamed Shevlin Stables. Drawing on decades of experience across Dressage, Hunters, Jumpers, breeding, horse development, facility design, and European imports, a new venture has begun:  Diane van den Berg Training at Shevlin Stables.  Diane's program emphasizes classical flatwork, correct horsemanship, and the systematic development of both horses and riders for the Olympic Disciplines.