We are celebrating the Adaptable Arabian as our September Breed of the Month on YourDressage!
Did you know that dressage riders who partner with a member of this ancient breed are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as the Arabian Horse Association is a participating organization?
Here, a rider from Region 9 tells us about Quinn, the special Arabian who stole her heart and led her to a passion… dressage!
By Katie Keenan
My name is Katie Keenan, and I am a dressage rider in Region 9. My equine partner is my Arabian gelding “Quinntessential Charm,” barn name “Quinn,” who came into my life 19 years ago as a yearling stud colt at my boarding barn. He reminded me of the Arabian stallion that I grew up with, and happened to be for sale. A good horse is never a bad color, but I am a sucker for a bay, and lucky for me, he was bay!
So, my fiancé, now husband, purchased him for me as a wedding gift. How awesome is that?!? Thanks, babe!
Quinn and I rode the struggle bus for several years as we searched to find our “thing.” Along the way, I had my first real riding accident on Quinn. To this day, I do not know what triggered it, but that accident rattled me to the core, and I swore that I would never ride him again. But never say never! My husband, who is not a rider, started riding him here and there, with no issues at all. It was making me so mad, so I decided to take him back!
We went on to explore obstacle challenges and endurance riding. We even completed a Limited Distance (LD) endurance ride, finishing in the top ten. Quinn is a fabulous trail horse, and I know that he would have continued in the sport because I asked, but I also know that horses will speak if you listen, and he was telling me that it wasn’t his cup of tea. So, we dropped back to relaxed trail riding and camping with friends, which we still enjoy to this day.
Dressage has always been a discipline that I wanted to try. I was able to take a few random lessons from a great instructor who traveled through our area, but it was rare for our schedules to align.. Soon after, a friend called to tell me about an instructor who had recently moved to our area of central Mississippi, and she was offering lessons. So, I called, and Alex Johnson of Festina Lente Sport Horses entered our lives.
The first question that I asked her was if I could lesson in my endurance tack. Her response was, “Good riding is good riding, tack color doesn’t matter.” Quinn and I arrived in a blaze orange biothane bridle, breast collar, and dressage saddle, and so began our dressage journey.
I wanted to learn dressage to become a better rider, both for myself and my horses. I have been riding since I was two years old, but it wasn’t until lessoning with Alex that I felt like I was truly learning how to ride – and ride correctly! I learned about the four natural aids, plumb lines, riding forward, curved lines, straight lines, twenty-meter circles… this was my new vocabulary! “Seat, leg, and into the hands” became my new mantra.
Riding is hard! It’s even harder when you have ridden so long without understanding these basics and decide to rewire your and your horse’s entire way of going at ages 40 and 18, respectively. Alex had a gift for making things easy to understand and the process fun, even on the hard days. Lesson days are still my favorite days.
Quinn and I worked hard at home and lessoned weekly. I never had plans to show… until I did.
I hadn’t shown since high school, so Alex piloted him through his first schooling show, teaching him and me the ropes. Then, I began showing him as well, and we earned some pretty respectable scores! This sport is challenging, and while the ribbons are fun, I truly value the judge’s feedback. That’s where I find our homework. Quinn really seems to enjoy the sport, and I am happy that he is happy. We show fairly regularly with the Southern Eventing and Dressage Association (SEDA). It is a great and welcoming community, and while we are still only schooling, I do plan to try a recognized show at some point in the 2026 show season.
I am a lifelong lover of the Arabian horse; they have my heart. They have big personalities, are friendly, willing, fun, and smart – so smart! Sometimes, too smart. Quinn’s favorite thing to do is to let himself out of his stall so that he can snack at my birdfeeder. We do not always remember to put the extra latch on his stall, but Quinn never forgets to check!
At shows, he is an excellent ambassador for his breed. Many have approached us to ask if he is an Arabian and if they could pet him. Of course, I always say yes. He is super friendly and loves the attention – the best bay potato that ever was.
Quinn and I started this journey two years ago as a tense and hollow mess. With each lesson, Quinn really began to blossom, and I am happy to say that those days are behind us. I am so thankful to Alex for her patience, willingness to teach and share her knowledge, and for her friendship. I also cannot forget Belcavallo Farm. They gave Alex a place to teach and train, and in turn, a place for me to learn dressage. I’m equally thankful for my amazing vet, Dr. Rachel McCurdy, for her continued commitment to keeping my horses healthy and sound into their golden years.
Thank you, YourDressage, for choosing me to share my story and for featuring this amazingly adaptable and athletic breed! Arabians really do it all.
