By Julia Pohlman
My name is Julia Pohlman and I am an adult amateur rider from Region 4. I settled in the suburbs of Minneapolis in 2020 after finishing college, and, in 2021, began taking dressage lessons following a riding hiatus during college.
I went to my first USDF-recognized show in August of 2021, absolutely loved it, and have never looked back! My current horse’s name is Avicena De Los Lomos, affectionately known around the barn as “Vinny”. Vinny is a nine-year-old Pura Raza Española (PRE) gelding that came into my life in late 2022, following the retirement of my first horse. Vinny is owned collaboratively between myself and my grandmother, Marilynn Pohlman.
When I began looking for my next dressage partner in 2022, I was definitely not looking for a Spanish or Iberian horse, and had even said going into my search that I wanted a warmblood. After several months without any luck finding the right fit, I connected with Tyra Vernon in Ocala, Florida, who has a strong history of showing Iberian breeds at the CDI level. I inquired with her as to what horses she had for sale at the time, and Vinny was one.
Vinny checked so many boxes on the list of characteristics I was looking for in a horse that I was on a plane to Florida to meet him within days of my initial inquiry. I was immediately taken by his calm, sweet temperament and, within the short span of that first visit and ride to trial him, I absolutely knew he was the one for me. As an adult amateur rider who was early in my dressage journey, his safe and forgiving nature was exactly what I knew I needed to be able to continue to learn and develop with confidence.
I started showing Vinny in 2023 and, despite only knowing him for a handful of months before those first shows came around, we had a really nice first season together at First Level.
We began to trust each other more every ride and started to solidify our partnership. I was so hopeful to be able to qualify for the US Dressage Finals presented by Adequan® that year, but it just didn’t happen for us.
Going into 2024, I really felt like I had some “unfinished business” regarding qualifying for Finals, and was ready to put the work in to have a great season. We had such a great summer of showing, and I felt better than ever ahead of the 2024 Great American/USDF Region 4 Dressage Championships.
Sadly, the night before we were to leave to head to St. Louis for Regionals, my beloved first horse and previous dressage partner, Jax, passed away. Losing him was devastating, and I really didn’t know how I was going to pick myself up from that grief and try to focus on showing in St. Louis.
With the incredible support of my trainers, Kjirsten Lee and Heather Salden-Kurtz of Salden Training, along with my amazing barn family and local dressage community members, Vinny and I made it to St. Louis to show for the week. The grief was really overwhelming for me in the days that followed, but Vinny showed up for me in every single ride, supporting me with his steady demeanor, and carrying me through every test that week. He allowed me to focus on the details and feel really present in the ring.
We qualified for the 2024 US Dressage Finals in all three of our championship classes, and took home the Regional Champion title in the Adult Amateur First Level Freestyle.
It was a surreal dream come true, and felt like an incredible way to honor Jax’s memory. I will forever be so grateful for everyone who saw me through that difficult time, especially my sweet Vinny.
We made the trip to Lexington, Kentucky for Finals in November, along with some amazing fellow barn mates, and I absolutely felt we closed out every bit of that “unfinished business” feeling that I carried from 2023. We enjoyed every second of it.
We ended up earning the 2024 Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards Second Level Adult Amateur Champion and Reserve Champion First Level Adult Amateur Musical Freestyle titles from the United States P.R.E. Association, as well as Reserve Champion Second Level Adult Amateur Adequan®/USDF Year-End honors. These awards felt like the cherry on top of an incredible year.
I would recommend considering a Spanish or Iberian horse to anyone; they have so many natural strengths that lend themselves to be very skilled dressage horses, and often have the mind and temperament to be a solid and kind partner to anyone lucky enough to be their person.
To anyone – fellow adult amateur, Junior/Young Rider, or even professional – looking to pursue their own year-end award accomplishments, or a qualifying invitation to an upcoming US Dressage Finals, I would say remember to always invest in your and your horse’s education and training. Having regular lessons and clinic opportunities, as well as having Vinny in professional training with Heather, is absolutely the foundation from which I was able to accomplish these goals.
Accolades and awards aside, I always feel I have already won when I’m going into the ring with a horse I love and value as my partner, and I am so fortunate to have a horse like Vinny in my life to give me that win every single day.
