Meet the L Graduate – Polly Limond

July 22, 2021

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Polly Limond is a USDF Bronze and Silver Medalist, and Silver Freestyle Bar recipient. Having trained and competed several horses successfully through Intermediate Level, she has won regional and national awards on self-trained horses, and coached several students to Great American/USDF Regional Championships, Regional Adult Amateur Competition Championships, and lifetime rider medals. Polly has been riding, training, importing, and breeding dressage horses in the San Diego, CA, area for over 35 years. She graduated from the USDF L Education Program with Distinction in 2008 and is also a USEF ‘S’ Working Equitation judge.

How long have you been involved in the sport?

I have been involved in dressage for 40 years.

How long have you been a USDF member?

I have been a USDF member since 1984.

What made you decide to participate in the USDF L Education Program?

I became involved in the program to further my education and my eye as an effective coach.

How long did it take to complete the program, start to finish?

I was lucky to have the entire program hosted in my hometown, so I was able to finish in about one year.

Do you plan to further your dressage education and to continue to apply what you learned in the program to become a licensed official?

I have applied what I learned in USDF’s L Education Program to my current status as a USEF ‘S’ Working Equitation judge.

Do you serve as a judge for schooling shows in your capacity as an L Graduate? If so, on average, how many per year?

I currently judge about six to seven dressage schooling shows, in my local area, per year, but my current status in working equitation keeps my schedule quite full.

What impact did the program have on your dressage knowledge?

The USDF L Education Program was an absolutely invaluable experience that I would recommend to everyone interested in the sport. I gained a clear understanding of balance, tempo, and correct rhythm, and would suggest to every rider to read the purpose of the level at which they are competing and ask themselves, every day, if they are fulfilling that purpose in their daily rides. And don’t forget that each level builds on the last, it’s a foundation that must be preserved as you advance!

Tell us about your horse(s).

I currently own a 7-year-old, 15.2 hand Lusitano gelding that I imported from Portugal in 2018. He is a lovely, comfortable horse who takes good care of me as I age! We are currently preparing to compete at Level 6 Working Equitation and are schooling Fourth Level movements.