Nathalie Eikel-Baughman is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist and USDF L Graduate with Distinction. She is a German native and has been in the US since 2008. She is married with two kids and owns a show barn in Glendale, AZ.
How long have you been involved in the sport?
I started riding dressage at age 4 in Germany.
How long have you been a USDF member?
I have been a member since 2008!
What made you decide to participate in the USDF L Education Program?
It’s a fantastic opportunity to further your dressage education and I’m aiming to become a USEF/USDF Licensed Dressage Judge.
How long did it take to complete the program, start to finish?
It took about a year and a half to complete the program.
Do you serve as a judge for schooling shows in your capacity as an L Graduate? If so, on average, how many per year?
Yes, I’d say about 3-4 a year.
What impact did the program have on your dressage knowledge?
A huge impact for sure. It helped me further my complete dressage education and taught me also a lot about rules and regulations in the sport of dressage here in the US!
Name three things you took away from the program that you think every rider should know.
Everything about the basics, the USDF Pyramid of Training and its meaning, and everything about the American rules and regulations and dressage levels for the shows!
Have you served in any other official capacity with USDF (council/committee member, council/committee chair, PM/GM delegate, board member/Regional Director, etc.)?
I was a board member with the Arizona Dressage Association.
Tell us about your horse(s).
My horse is a five-year-old 17.1 hand imported Holsteiner from Germany, his bloodlines are all straight jumpers, but I do think I’ve found a diamond in the rough for our awesome sport of dressage!
