Submitted by Ami Arwidmark; photo by John Borys Photography
It’s back!! This July we are running our Dressage For Every Body campaign on YourDressage, and we’re teaming up with our friends at SmartPak again to offer some incredible prizes for our readers and writers!
Each year that we’ve run this campaign, we’ve used it to highlight size inclusivity in dressage, and to give a voice to those who have felt like they don’t fit the stereotypical image of a rider. We’ve featured stories of resilience, courage, kindness, and confidence, and we want to continue to encourage and inspire riders of all sizes, because #EveryBodyIsADressageBody
We recently asked our social media followers who consider themselves plus-size or were plus-size at one time to share a photo of themselves and their equine partner for a chance to be featured in our Dressage For Every Body galleries or to share their story, and win some awesome prizes! The response was overwhelming and we look forward to sharing their stories all month long!
Horses don’t see size, they feel love! ❤️
– Skylar C.Proud owner of this 13 yr old OTTB I am working up the levels. Down almost 30 lb in a journey to be healthier. We have a three year relationship and growing- the best guy.
– Kara L.I just love this boy! – Kris L.Me, B, and the flying baguette! 🥖 You know, that extra roll under your belt? Yeah, that. I’ve always been too small for “plus-size” and too big for “athletic”. Not that there should be separate categories anyway. We all ride for the same reason don’t we? 🤷♀️ I know riders who are smaller than me that I could out stack in the hayfields and riders bigger than me who could complete a marathon where I can barely complete a 5K. But it stops all of us if the clothes don’t fit just right and if it’s not cold enough to get away with wearing a sweatshirt or vest to hide our perfectly imperfect bodies. No matter the size, we’re in it for the ride and the love of the horse. As long as we continue to work on ourselves as riders, our horses don’t give a sh*t what we look like -Madeline B.With Leonardo Z, as a plus sized owner.
– Linda P.I am 72 and 182 lbs, 5’6″. I try hard to loose it or at least stay stable. But it never impacts my riding ability at all. I do weight training and pilates and am very fit even after a shoulder replacement earlier this year. I have a new horse and he doesn’t care about my weight, nor does my trainer. I was at 2025 June Hits Saugerities as a spectator and saw many in my age group with same body type having a great time and pinning well. I just cannot worry about it any more and GLP-1 drugs are not of any interest to me. – Jill M.Me and my gorgeous OTTB at our first USDF show this spring! While I’ve been ill and my horse rehabbing a minor injury, we did a walk-trot test I’ll forever be proud of. In this “stall rest” time together, we’ve gotten back to the basics and foundations of dressage and have grown so much from it already. We love doing dressage! And will take our learning experiences back to the Eventing area when we are ready 😊
– Taylor C.I’ve been riding since I was 6 and always had an appropriate body size until my 30’s. Of course it was work but now as a senior riding it’s 5x more work for half the results. Gerald is a gentle giant Belgian Sport Horse and at 17.2h he makes my butt look great!! 😍😍😍
– Jennifer V.Love that this comes back every year! I loved being part of this and love that USDF is so inclusive, I just wish this positivity could be ALL year round!💜 My Righ guy💙🐴13yo eventer and jumper – Erica H. Read Erica and Righ’s stories in Righ’s Our Guy, and The Comeback Beats the Setback!I love this initiative because it’s so important to normalize that riders come in all shapes and sizes. Provided they are mounted appropriately, size/weight should never be an issue, yet it seems one of the last areas in which people feel perfectly comfortable criticizing and shaming others. After being targeted by a renowned internet bully and her followers earlier this year, I found myself hesitant to publicly share pictures of me with my horses. It’s very sad that strangers feel they have the right to comment negatively on the thing that gives so many of us peace and joy. So with that being said, I will share here. Not because I’m a good rider (I’m not), not because I have any great achievements in the saddle (I don’t), but just because riding makes me happy. It made me happy as a 125-pound teenager struggling with an eating disorder. It made me happy as a 200-pound+ mom with small kids at home. It still makes me happy now, at a weight somewhere in between. – Canadian Dressage NewsSubmitted by Kristin D.Submitted by Shelby B.My partner Ricoh – Krista F.Karmen and I at Region 10!!! We love western dressage!
– Nicole A.Submitted by Lisa D.Submitted by Krystin L.I love this! A wonderful nod to the Healthy At Every Size (HAES) philosophy. I’m coming back from breast cancer and, shortly after, a bad arm break. It’s been a long road but I have the perfect partner, Fionnuisca.
– Ctprof Lng DressDrains Marlo Tommy (aka Bubbie) and I.
– Linda P.After my last cancer diagnosis and treatments I really packed on the pounds and then stress of raising kids and life challenges helped add more and maintain the weight no matter what I did to lose it.
It was tough just riding but seeing pictures of me was beyond the reality of what I looked like and I lost my confidence and faith in myself.
I have since lost a lot of weight, gained some of my confidence back. Got myself with a good instructor to help me with my riding.
I still have a long ways to go in both weight loss and building me back up but we are on the right track. (It is a real struggle!)
This picture is at the Western Dressage WDAA Worlds show in Guthrie OK 2024.
– Shar L.
Note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Submitted by AShley S.
Note, USDF strongly recommends all riders wear protective headgear when mounted.Submitted by Shaelynn M.Submitted by Tara K.Me and my mare, I’m 4 years back from taking 10 years off while I was having kids and getting ready for my first recognized show ever. My daughter and I are both participating in pony club as well
– Mary M.This is Stry. Behind the vertical, but at least his head isn’t in the air. 🤦♀️ I was always skinny in my younger years. Things change after you get older and have kids. SIGH….
– Tara L.I’m 5’2” 170 and 57yo, considered medically obese 🙁 after a fall with a mTBI, I have been taking dressage on a mule for almost 6years now. Everything about us is unconventional. – Audra B.A photo tells a 1000 stories.
– Sandra K.This me and the horse I lease. We do a bit of everything from dressage to having fun with spears. – Kelly H.Me and my mare Bellatrix in our dressage show debut- we both don’t fit the stereotypical size
– Diana K.Ignorance is Bliss
– Nicki P.Hi, I’m 5’2”, 67 yrs young and compete in WDAA Western Dressage. I have battled the same xtra 20# (according to medical charts) for over 35 yrs but I’ve been able to keep myself within 5# of my current weight (150#) for over 20 yrs. I’d like to lose 5-10# only because that is where I feel the best. With age has come some wisdom. I no longer desire the beach bunny look I had to starve to achieve in my youth, barely eating more than an apple/day. I now strive for health and longevity to be able to continue my lifelong journey with horses. – Kim D.Me and my boy Rory
– Jean M.I am someone who, even at my lowest weight, has always existed in a bigger body. Which comes with challenges – finding nice riding clothing and saddles can be tricky, and I’m the first one to say that I’m too big for certain horses. I’m still out here doing the things with my OTTBs, though!
This is me with my best boy of 16 years, Bobby, who’s been my jumper, ranch horse, and has helped me learn the ropes of upper level dressage. It’s so nice to see people that look like me doing what I want to do!
– Adrienne B.❤️💪🏻🏆
– KT T.Love this! As a rider who had to have boots and jackets custom made, I never fit into a regular size rider world.
Photos from my last competition…Dressage at Devon. Won the Dressage Seat Equitation, and also rode as an AA at PSG/Inter1 in the CDI3*. Bucket list show before I retired from riding…never give up on your dreams ❤️
– Lori G.
