Submitted by Francine Bagli: First time riding in the Dixon Oval at Devon on my mare Scarlet in the Materiale Champion class as a five year old. A dream come true! I bought her as a weanling. I'm 55 there. Live your dream!
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!
My 19 yo Irish Draught Sport horse mare and me, 51 years old. – Lisa O.I am 62 and happy to be there. My horse ‘ Its A Ginger Thing ‘ is a WDAA World Championships, Western Dressage Supreme Champion, High Point AQHA , USEF Horse of The Year. – Balanced Riding Stables NOTE USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mountedMe and my WelshX pony Trystan. We competed 1st level this year. Im 62 and we are in Colorado. – Edie N.Amy – 59 and Jin – 7 – Faithful FarmBack to it at age 57. I took a 25 year hiatus raising my kids and working. I had my horses in the back yard as pets. This is my 8 year trakhener mare. She’s perfect! With some amazing coaching our partnership has blossomed! This is my once in a lifetime horse! – Naureen K.I turned 60 in 2023. This is my dance partner Nina and we competed at I1 for the first time this year. – Lynn V.I celebrated my 50th birthday and the 6-month anniversary of my spinal fusion surgery while competing at the 2023 US Dressage Finals. Wouldn’t do it on any other horse! Thanks Deacon (Dark Knight)! – Lysa H.One of my Lusitano’s Iraki LAM, at Desert Dressage this year. Love being able to do this at 55, we are all living the dream. – Julia T.me (age 52) and my wonderful Haflinger, Stanley (age 21). We currently compete at training and first level and are aiming toward second level by the end of 2024. What we lack in youth, we make up for in enthusiasm. – Sally C.I am 57 riding my 5 year old Friesian Sporthorse Tempi. Training Level and 1st Level 2024. She is such a doll! Born on our farm. – Karen E.63 and loving my girl in our new discipline. Western Dressage. Completed FEI level 5 in 2023. After a fun journey through traditional dressage through PSG. We are now working on obstacles, and working equitation (just learning it). She is 17. And we are having the best time together❤️ . Celebrating a journey of horsemanship. – Kris H. NOTE USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mountedHalf Arabian OKW Annika+ and myself age 50. She was amazing! – Stacey S.Horse and rider of “a certain age.” Gideon, my wonderful Hanoverian, aged 27, and me, aged 63. So fortunate to have him, and all the horses I’ve known, ridden, owned and loved, in my life. Never taken for granted! – Donna M.50 and 21 , both of us coming out of retirement in this photo…55 and 26 now, and letting him go this week due to complications with EOTRH. He will forever be my favorite dancing partner❤️ – Joei L.My dad – Stephen Hensen (76) and his mare Ghaylia! – Kate O.I’m 61 riding my 4 yr old Baroque Pinto Friesian cross, Hawke! Competed in my very first dressage competition this summer! – Debbie E.I am 66 years old, 7 levels fused in my lumbar spine, one level in my cervical and a full hip replacement- I’m an old bionic woman! I’ll continue riding and competing in dressage until my body stops allowing it!! This is my 2016 Rhinelander mare, Diamond Dance- we are riding 4th level now- I’ve trained her myself. I have my bronze and silver medals. I love that us senior riders are being recognized!!💜 – Liz J.Over 50 and still trying for my silver with Helios Rb ♥️ – Kris B.Soon to be the big 6-0 here with my Dutch Warmblood Celester 💙 – Susan G.I’ll be 62 next week and have been riding since my freshman year of college. My Swedish Warmblood mare Coco is 28 years old (I bought her as a just broke 4 year old) and still in active work 5 days a week (including 2 lessons a week). Photo is from a clinic we rode in last year. – Fran C.In this photo I am 70 and Murino, my trakehner is 21. Five years ago.. I have been riding dressage since before the USDF was started! – Cynthia S.Star Dancer CCF and me at the Western Dressage World Show! She is 23 now, and born on our farm! – Lori N.I am 57! Xiberoa is 16. Xiberoa and I got our 2nd level score towards our Bronze at Almost Heaven dressage this past summer! – YRC Dressage 60 and over – Carol R.– Terri D.Western dressage with Shadow. I’m 68 Shadow 16 – Suzanne R.WAY over 50, & living my equestrian dream!! 🏅Gold Freestyle Bar partner, Watson. – Marianne H.Moriah Matisse (Moxie), 11 yr Morgan, and I (age 51) competing at 1st Level this summer. – Sara E.My sweet Para girl, Ciave aka Bernice and I got to do the victory lap for the first time in this photo. We are the 2023 All Breeds Champion Holsteiner and Grade IV Para-Dressage Rider of the Year Reserve Champion. Happy camper at age 72. 😀 – Laura M.50+ & loving the ride! – Micki T.
As an upcoming 69 yr old ..I’m still in the saddle as happy as I was 50 years ago