Tell us a little about yourself (your location, awards/other certifications you hold, etc):
I am an L Graduate with Distinction, as well as a USDF Bronze and Silver medalist and Bronze Freestyle Bar recipient. I currently live, work, and train in Connecticut. As an adult amateur and Human Resources professional, I work diligently to balance my corporate career with the development of several horses up the levels of dressage. I have competed and trained in Wellington, Florida, as well as the United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Belgium during my time working abroad.
How long have you been involved in the sport?
I have been riding for almost 35 years. I began riding at a Three-Day Eventing barn in my hometown of Duluth, Minnesota, where I competed as a member of the United States Pony Club and my local GMO at the time, North Woods Dressage Association. At age 15, I discovered my passion for dressage and have never looked back.
How long have you been a USDF member?
As a child, I vividly remember getting my first paper USDF Card and sticker in the mail over 25 years ago!
What made you decide to participate in the USDF L Education Program?
I wanted to find a way to give back to the sport. I reflected on how valuable judges have been throughout my dressage career, and I hope to provide helpful insight, constructive feedback, and, most importantly, encouragement for others as they learn and compete in dressage.
How long did it take to complete the program, start to finish?
I started the New England Dressage Association L Education Program in the fall of 2021, and it took me exactly one year to complete the program. As I prepared for my final exam in the fall of 2022, I traveled to Wellington to scribe for several days. I also had the opportunity to sit with several judges in Minnesota, Michigan, and Connecticut to complete my sitting hours.
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 am hopeful to pursue the USDF/USEF ‘r’ program. I have one more riding score to earn before I can apply, but I can hardly wait to continue my judge’s education.
Do you serve as a judge for schooling shows in your capacity as an L Graduate? If so, on average, how many per year?
This year, I judged seven shows and already have six booked for 2024! I feel fortunate to have been able to judge a variety of local dressage, GMO, and Interscholastic Dressage Association (IDA) shows this past year. The highlight of my year was being able to sit on the judges’ panel at Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids Youth Festival this past summer.
What impact did the program have on your dressage knowledge?
The L program changed how I look at the overall development of the horse and how I approach my training. It also has given me a new perspective on what the judge is looking for when you are in the ring. In addition, no test and horse are the same. I believe it is invaluable to learn from others either as an apprentice or scribe. We truly are never done learning in this sport, whether you are riding or judging!
Name three things you took away from the program that you think every rider should know.
- It is so important to read the purpose of the test and all the directives for the movements in the test. I think of this as the recipe for the test; if you were a chef and at a baking competition, you would not go into the event without reading the recipe…
- The training scale is your friend! It is the roadmap to developing the dressage horse and evaluating your test.
- Similar to riding, it is important to look for positives and be constructive on what could/should/needs to be better. We are all in pursuit of perfection, but the journey is where excellence lies.
Have you served in any other official capacity with USDF (council/committee member, council/committee chair, PM/GM delegate, board member/Regional Director, etc.)? Please describe.
As a member of the New England Dressage Association and the Connecticut Dressage Association, I try to volunteer as much as possible. Last year, I was able to volunteer as a demo rider for the Connecticut Dressage Association’s 2023 Test Clinic with “S” judge Lisa Schmidt. It was an amazing learning experience, both from a riding and judging perspective.
Tell us about your horse(s).
I enjoy buying young horses and developing them to their potential. I currently have two horses.
My current competition horse is Outer Banks GSF (Orleandro x Weltstern), fondly known as “Billy” around the barn. He is eight years old and was bred by Greenstone Farm in Virginia. I bought him at three weeks old, and he has been a blast to ride and train. He definitely is the barn’s class clown with his playful antics. We are currently training and competing at Fourth Level.
This past spring, I acquired an up-and-coming young horse in the Netherlands named Tik Tok JCS (Ziyech x Charmeur). He was bred by Stal Jaclastan and will remain in the Netherlands for raising before being imported to the US for sport.
Contact:
Email: matthewrbeasley@yahoo.com
Phone: 203-517-7738
