Tell us a little about yourself:
I am located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and am a USDF Certified Instructor Training through Second Level, USDF Bronze and Silver medalist, and have coached many students to their Bronze and Silver medals. I train, teach, host camps and clinics, and write articles.
How long have you been involved in the sport?
I have been riding and training horses since childhood but was introduced to dressage when I was 14 and began training dressage exclusively in 2000.
How long have you been a USDF member?
23 years.
What made you decide to participate in the USDF L Education Program?
I love dressage because there is always more to learn. I am always looking for opportunities to improve my understanding so I can help my horses and students. The more tools I have, the better.
How long did it take to complete the program, start to finish?
It has been a while since I completed the program, but I believe it was more than six months but less than a 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 enjoy teaching and training more than judging, so will pursue adding higher-level Instructor/Trainer Certifications when they are offered in my area.
Do you serve as a judge for schooling shows in your capacity as an L Graduate? If so, on average, how many per year?
Because I prefer training and teaching, I only judge one to two schooling shows per year.
What impact did the program have on your dressage knowledge?
The program was incredibly helpful in understanding biomechanics and the perspective of judges. I also love the positive versus negative indicators and use these ideas in my teaching and training.
Name three things you took away from the program that you think every rider should know.
Biomechanics; knowing and understanding the purpose of the level and directive ideas on the test sheet; recognizing all the elements that judges use to arrive at a score.
Tell us about your horse(s).
I have trained all breeds, including some very talented warmbloods, but I especially love working with non-traditional breeds. I have had great competitive success with Haflingers, Friesian crosses, and Morgans. My current horse is an Appendix Quarter Horse schooling Intermediate 2. He is the most wonderful partner, showing up cheerful and eager to please every single day. I am a believer that any horse with average gaits and a willing temperament can excel at and benefit from dressage training.
Contact:
Email: jgdressage@gmail.com
Phone: (765) 914-1770
Website/Social media: jennifergrantdressage.com
[…] By Jennifer Grant […]