Submitted by Janet Nierzwick: After many years of riding dressage and at the well seasoned age of 63, I am proud to say that my Danish WB cross and I rode our first ever victory lap at the 2023 National Dressage Pony Cup in the small horse division at PSG.
(Photo credit to Winslow Photography)
USDF is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year! In November & December, we are shining the spotlight on riders who have also reached this milestone. Follow along all through November and December for inspiring and heartwarming stories of trials and triumphs, and fabulous photo galleries!
These are my horses ridden in my 60’s: Rubin Raphael Intermediate II (GP was in 50’s); Jackpot Royal 6 year old finals (photo attached); Richthofen 7 Int II. – Judy E.I am 55 in this photo and this is my baby girl! – Deanna H.56 years young in this one and finally made it to FEI. earned my silver medal and excited to make everything better and keep climbing! – Deanna H.I am 59 enjoying my heart horse, Fritz, who I have had for his entire life. I’m having the time of my life with him!! Photo Credit: Meghan Benge – Tricia C.I am 64 and my boy Marky is now 16 so our combined age is 80 😁 I have had my amazing boy since he was 3. – Maria M.At age 84 I did my century ride on Valioso, age 22 on August 6 My next goal is earning my bronze medal I have 3 other Lusitanos as partners in my quest Until last November I had not ridden for nearly four decades – Mary Beth K.I am 58 years old. This is my sweet Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck). I don’t know how I got so lucky as to call him mine (or perhaps I should say that I am his) 🥰 He has made so many dreams come true! 💕 – Susan O. Read Susan and Puck’s story in Good Luck PuckI have been riding for 50 years! I am 57 soon to be 58. Started in Groton Pony Club, evented, HJ in college, did all around in the paint circuit and found my way to USDF 8 years ago. Just finished my 5th year at Region 8 championship placing 5th in AA 1st Freestyle on my registered Paint, Sheza Pure Color. Boy do I have a story to tell 😂💃🏻🦄💯 – Kerry M.The lovely Ricky Z and I! I believe I was 51 at the time and he was 13? Friesian Stallion love!!🖤❤️🖤❤️ – Emma D.I’m 58 and although I don’t own my own horse, I still show in the local dressage schooling shows on a sweet, smart 21-year-old lesson horse. I’ve been riding for around 20 years and had my own horse when I was younger. We were just starting to show at 2nd Level when I quit. I started re-riding again in 2009 and have been doing it ever since. I’ve been riding this lesson horse for almost 4 years and we’ve worked our way up from Training Level through First Level, and should reach my goal of riding a 2nd Level test in a show next year! Hats off to all of us vintage riders still out there doing their thing in the ring! 🙂 – Laurie T.51 and loving this golden decade with my golden boy, APSL approved Lusitano stallion Esbelto CL whom I’ve raised from a 2 yr old- former USDF HOY winner and multi talented athlete 💗 – Nicole C.I’m 60 and this is my little buddy Ducatti MF who is the sweetest thing on legs. – Carol C.I’m 53 and my mare is 15. Earned my bronze medal last year, and sights on silver next year. Confirmed 4th level, and nearly ready for PSG. I’ve done 2 different freestyles that have earned me a spot at Nationals. My mare, Ava “Rara Avis P” is my everything. I started my dressage career 30 years ago after eventing. I took a 10 year break to raise my kids, and now appreciate my riding time as an empty nester that much more! My horse, as well, started late as she had 4 foals, and started her riding career as an 8 year old. This is one of the few sports that one can say that you get better with age!! I love that we can be competitive in our 50’s. Thank you for spotlighting the oldies but goodies! – Carrie D.I’m 60 and this is smooshy my heart horse he’s 12 and I imported him from Spain – Terry L.This is Stella, my beautiful, young and very smart Oldenburg mare! – Carol L.I started riding horses when I was 50. Fast forward to September 9th of this year(2023) when I rode down the centerline to the music of ” When You’re Smiling” on Daens Velvet Hope aka Luna earning our Century Club beautiful ribbon! I am 77 years old and Luna is 23. What an awesome experience! Two years ago I bought Stella, a 5 year-old Oldenburg mare and look forward to many dressage rides with her! – Carol L.– Diana H.With my amazing trainer Rachel Owens at Liberty Acres Dressage, LLC! – Cindy D.Antros – he taught me everything I know and earned me my silver medal. He’s 19. – Terry L.I am 55yrs old and came back to riding after over 20yrs. I was a hunter/jumper girl back in the day but my true love has always been dressage. After finally leaving an abusive marriage and learning to put myself first, I found the horse that was born just for me 13yrs ago. He is my heart and soul and makes me smile every single day. We started at Training level and have since moved up to third, with bigger goals on the horizon…he is my Weather or Not, aka “lion”. – Michele F.Age 59, showing my pony – Denise V.My best boy Bonaparte 🧡 earning our Bronze age 58 🎉 Buffalo, NY – Betsy L.Me on my 5 yr old TB Tyylikas Tansija competing in the finals at The Run for the Ribbons expo last year. I was 58 and after a few rough starts with our dressage we made the finals and ended 6th. Very proud of both of us♥️♥️ – Susan W.67 years young; active L graduate since 1997; always worked with and showed rescue horses with success; taught Pony Club, WAHSET, 4-H dressage, plus lots of adults of all ages; developed an Equine science program, including dressage classes at OSU; always, always tried to make the best decisions on behalf of the student-horse partnership. – Linda C.-M.Two thumbs up for one of our best personal tests that secured the R6 AA second level championship for us that year. Wi Degro (aka Winn) and I have a combined age of 70 and are still having so much fun. PC: Alyssa Hamedi. – Christine L.My heart horse Hanoverian stallion Arklicht imported as a weakling He and I achieved our Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals together – Carolyn D. Note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Pictured here our recent quest for our silver medal scores at PSG. I have had my mare, Ava, from a weanling and done the lion’s share of training with help from amazing coaches like Leah Nelson, pictured here. We missed our scores by fractions of a point four times riding for international and Olympic judges. We came away, feeling quite happy since we haven’t shown in three years and it was our PSG debut. My horse is 18 and I am 65. Both of us have never felt better. We ADORE dressage. – Teresa K.My beloved 20 year old Hanovarian mare, Wilhelmina and I, at 73 accomplished my dream getting our PSG scores for my Silver Medal this past August!! My long journey – a roller coaster of highs and low, but i never quit. We are still going strong together to perfect our movements!! – Maryanke A.
Very impressed with the dedication and beautiful horses!
[…] part of our celebration of riders age 50 and over, we are sharing two under utilized awards offered just for this group of […]