My Journey with Monet’s Masterpiece
By Madeleine Vonfrankenberg
The journey to earning my USDF Bronze Medal has been a dream many years in the making. In fact, it began before I ever imagined riding down centerline.
My parents bred Monet’s Masterpiece when I was young, with the hope that he would one day become a promising dressage horse. Born and raised on our family farm, Monet has been part of my life from the very beginning. As I grew up, my focus was primarily on eventing, and naturally, that’s where Monet and I started our partnership.
Together, we found success at the lower levels, earning recognition and awards within the United States Eventing Association (USEA)’s Area IV. Yet even during our eventing days, Monet’s talent for dressage stood out. He always seemed to shine brightest in the dressage arena; he was focused, expressive, and proud of his work. Over time, it became clear that he wanted to be a full-time dressage horse, and I decided to listen.
Transitioning from eventing to dressage was both exciting and humbling. There were plenty of ups and downs, moments of frustration, and lessons in patience. Monet has always been a horse with opinions, immensely intelligent, and sometimes challenging, but he has also been my greatest teacher. He’s taught me the importance of feel, timing, and consistency.
After years of training and learning together, all of our efforts culminated this August when Monet and I achieved our USDF Bronze Medal. Reaching that milestone with my homebred partner made the accomplishment even more meaningful. It wasn’t just about the medal; it was about the journey, the relationship, and the years of growth we’ve shared.
Looking ahead, our next goal is to earn our USDF Silver Medal. We’ll be heading to Ocala, Florida, this winter to continue training and showing, as we keep building toward that dream. I know we still have much to learn, but I’m grateful for every moment we’ve shared on our journey together.
Monet may have started as my parents’ hopeful young prospect, but he’s become so much more — my teacher, my partner, my best friend, my rock, and the horse who’s made my lifelong dressage goals a reality.
