Tell us a little about yourself (your location, awards/other certifications you hold, etc):
I live just south of Nashville, Tennessee. I have earned my USDF Silver and Bronze medals. I was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame for my sport of dressage in 2015.
How long have you been involved in the sport?
15 years
How long have you been a USDF member?
15 years
What made you decide to participate in the USDF L Education Program?
One year when I attended the Lendon Gray Winter Intensive Training Program, we had a judge come and speak to the group, and I decided then, with encouragement from Lendon, to pursue becoming a judge.
How long did it take to complete the program, start to finish?
I think a year to a year and a half.
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 always very interested in furthering my dressage 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?
Yes, I judge 10 to 15 shows a year.
What impact did the program have on your dressage knowledge?
It has greatly increased my knowledge of the sport, especially from a judge’s viewpoint.
Name three things you took away from the program that you think every rider should know.
Every rider should know what the scoring numbers stand for, recognize and try to accomplish the purpose of each test you ride, and understand the biomechanics involved in dressage.
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.
I have not served USDF in any other official capacity.
Tell us about your horse(s).
I have had four horses thus far in my dressage career, two of which were backyard ponies, Rowdy and Opie, although not for not very long due to health issues. Then I was gifted Bella, a chestnut Oldenburg, when she was just turning six. I trained her from Training Level to Intermediate 2, and we were training the Grand Prix work. Unfortunately, at age 14, she had to be put down due to a genetic suspensory disease. I am currently training my fourth horse, Califa, a lovely dark bay 10-year-old Pura Raza Española (PRE). Unfortunately, due to Califa breaking a side bone and recovering for a year, we are only showing Fourth Level currently.
Contact:
Email: trueloveskiss123@gmail.com
Phone: 615-218-7943
