Mari Monda Zdunic and Frenesi are shown after winning the silver medal in dressage at the National Sports Festival in 1981. Margaret Kaiser photo.

A graduate of Duke University, Mari Monda Zdunic is a top dressage competitor having earned USDF gold, silver, and bronze medals, Olympic Sports Festival silver, bronze and team medals, along with numerous USDF top ten horse of the year honors from the United States Dressage Federation from Training through Grand Prix levels, open and all breed awards. Mari competed in the Olympic Trials in 1980, Gladstone, NJ; and the 1981 World Championship Trials. She is equally admired for her spectacular exhibition rides which have thrilled spectators from coast to coast. An associate of Mr. Chuck Grant for fourteen years, Mari is continuing his fine work since his death in 1990, as owner and trainer of Shine-A-Bit Farm.

Mari has been key in the promotion of nontraditional dressage mounts. She has trained and shown the first North American Arabian, Connemara, Appaloosa, and Paint Grand Prix dressage horses; those being Gahalla owned by Paul and Delores Lavins, Grosse Point, MI, Tre Awain DeValera owned by Three Creek Farm, St. Charles, MO., and Billie Joe Freckles, last owned by David and Anne Gribbons, Long Island, NY, and Double Darin Cody owned by Amy Mueller of Saginaw, MI.

Mari has also been deeply involved in the advocation of the American Quarter Horse in competitive dressage and for high school exhibitions. Mari and her horse, Shine-A-Bit III (AQHA) have performed exhibitions at the Washington International Horse Show, as well as at the Quarter Horse Congress, and was honored Grand Prix horse of the year for the United States Dressage Federations all breeds quarter horse awards in 1988. Mari also trained Royal Inspiration to a three time American Buckskin, Amateur Championship - rode and owned by Eva Haron, South Lyon, MI. Another familar mount for Mari has been Prussian Dudley, a Saddlebred/ Trakhaner cross gelding who really enjoyed his time in the spotlight.

Always the consummate professional, Mari takes pride in students who ride and train, the end goal being to make your horse go "skipping down the road!"

For book and video inquiries contact Mari Monda Zdunic
Comments or questions? Would you like your horse trained by the most honored dressage trainers in America?
Contact: Mari Zdunic or Ray Moses
Copyright ©1996, 1997 by Shine-A-Bit Farm; Brighton, Michigan - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Reproduction of text and/or photos for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited