Adult amateurs, it’s your time to shine! We are featuring all things adult amateur throughout the month of April.
Dressage riders who are designated as an adult amateur with USEF are eligible for amateur-exclusive year-end award divisions, including Master’s Challenge, Vintage Cup, Adequan®/USDF Adult Amateur Awards, All-Breeds Awards, and more!
A Region 2 adult amateur switched from eventing to dressage after a bad fall resulted in a serious concussion, and hasn’t looked back!
By Lily Kovach
My name is Lily, and I am a full-time case manager and avid adult amateur equestrian. My horse is a nine-year-old Oldenburg chestnut mare named Quintessa AF, but I like to call her “Q”.
Quintessa came into my life after I lost my Off-Track Thoroughbred eventing partner, Marty, at the height of COVID-19. Q was a scraggly, unbroken three-year-old, and I was excited to start my partnership with her. Working in healthcare during the pandemic was an extremely stressful time, and Quintessa seemed to come into my life when I needed her most. Quintessa became available when her breeder decided to sell their farm and move away; the timing felt like kismet. Going to visit Quintessa at the barn was my escape from the hectic atmosphere of the hospital, and it helped me overcome my grief over the loss of Marty.
I had initially purchased Quintessa with aspirations for her to become my next upper-level eventing partner. Not long after purchasing her, we entered the Future Event Horse Championships. With promising results, the following year she competed at the Young Event Horse Championships and in the U.S. Event Horse Futurity. Quintessa seemed to be doing well and enjoying her job eventing.
We all have dreams and ideas of what our riding goals are, but sometimes these do not come to fruition. Other times, our goals are forced to pivot, and this was one of those times. Unfortunately, I took a bad fall at a competition, resulting in a serious concussion. Following this accident, neither Quintessa nor I have ever regained the confidence to jump.
Luckily for me, this fall was a blessing in disguise. And, after this mishap, it seemed to be fate that I embraced what many eventers dread: dressage! I had evented since I was young, and when I competed in eventing, dressage seemed like the phase to “just get over with.” But now, I finally understand the art of it. Quintessa has strong dressage bloodlines, and after we made the switch, she made it clear to me that dressage was the job she enjoyed most.
Once I made the transition and found the perfect match of a trainer to help me pursue this new venture, I learned just how fun dressage can be. Like working in healthcare, dressage can be challenging, and you are always learning. You must learn from your mistakes and strive to perfect what may not have worked in the past. Like working with patients, you must work with your horse as a team to be on the same page. Communication is key! And, like people, Quintessa will let me know when I am doing something wrong, or if I need to tweak what I am asking for to get the correct answer.
My favorite way that dressage and healthcare are alike is that they are both very rewarding. My schedule can be demanding, but I make sure to prioritize riding – even on days when I am exhausted. There are times I find myself changing into my riding clothes in the car and going straight to the barn from work. When I’ve had an especially exhausting day, going to the barn may look like a hack around the property or handgrazing Q in my scrubs while I unplug from the world.
There’s no shame in being a “weekend warrior” when your job demands more of your energy at times. I am also lucky that I have a supportive partner who understands the dedication it takes to embrace the adult amateur lifestyle. My PTO days are often filled with horse shows and clinics, but I wouldn’t trade this lifestyle for anything else!
Quintessa and I are currently competing at Second Level, and schooling the Third Level work, with plans to debut in the show ring at Third Level this year. I aim to earn my USDF Bronze Medal with her, and feel very proud as an adult amateur that I have been on this journey with Quintessa since she was just a baby.
While I feel like this is a great achievement, the greatest feat of all is just being able to go see her after a long day at work. When I get to the barn and Quintessa nickers at me, I can’t help but smile. To my fellow “adult ammies,” I say, “Never give up on your dreams!” The great thing about being an adult amateur is that what you do with your horse does not define you. There are no timelines or pressures. Whatever you choose to do, if you are doing it with your horse, you are already winning.
