Submitted by Deena Thornhill: Cooley Caliber and I finishing our last 4th level score in mid July 😂 Calib my unicorn and I hit the center line of the PSG in April and I couldn’t be more elated. This horse has gone from broken knee, to founder to colic surgery and back 🌸 he is brave and loves life. My true companion my best friend my everything 🩷🩷; Tara Jelenic photo
Adult amateurs, it’s your time to shine! We are featuring all things adult amateur throughout the month of April.
We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of themselves and tell us a little about their journey for a chance to be featured in an upcoming gallery on YourDressage, and received an overwhelming response!
Did you know… dressage riders who are designated as an adult amateur with USEF are eligible for amateur exclusive year-end awards, including Master’s Challenge, Vintage Cup, Adequan®/USDF Adult Amateur Awards, All-Breeds Awards, and more!
Extended hiatus while our daughter did United State Pony Club, sometimes owning every step of the Training Level test feels like winning the Olympics…because you’ve shared those few moments of whispering to each other in total understanding, it’s the journey! Bethany P. Photography – Stacey B.Riding has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I began showing in 4H before discovering my love for dressage, and eventually competed my OTTB mare, Evening Serenade, up to Third Level. She gave me a remarkable daughter, Derecho, and since her birth in 2017, I’ve had the joy of raising and training her from the ground up. Together, we’ve moved through the levels and are now proudly showing at Prix St. Georges. Last year, my husband and I welcomed our beautiful daughter, Chelsea, and returning to the show ring with her cheering me on has been an unforgettable experience. Juggling motherhood, a full-time career, and life in the saddle has pushed me in ways I never imagined and shown me the resilience and strength that every mother knows is possible. Riding, raising horses, and raising a child has truly been a journey of growth, perseverance, and pure joy. -Cassidy D.-P.Young rider here (adult ammy by umbrella?)- College student by day (with 4 part time jobs) and a rescue horse that I restarted myself. Hoping to show him in first and second level this year (maybe third if we’re lucky) and get scores for medals. Just said goodbye to my heart horse (also a rescue) that taught me how to ride. I would say she’s looking down at the two of us smiling, but she was a red mare, and tolerated me at best😂 This is my current rescue – Claire J.This special guy has become my heart horse as a 43 year old rider who didn’t get her first horse until she was 30. McClain (show name International Velvet) was rescued as a 3 month old “mutt” from a slaughter auction in Texas and brought to California in 2018. I adopted/purchased him 2 years ago this April and have been working on dressage, jumping, and trail riding. We showed first level last year at a couple of rated shows and are starting the season having earned 2 scores to qualify for RAAC at a local rated show this last weekend (1 more score to go!). I’d love to share more about this special guy and what he means to me and my home and barn family. Thank you, happy riding! – Erin H.I was a horse girl deferred. After two decades building my career as an project manager and architect in NYC, I moved upstate for a quieter pace and planned on “just leasing a horse for some relaxed saddle time”, I had no intention of showing. No one will be surprised when I say that didn’t stick . What started casually evolved into a committed partnership with my exceptional horse, Iggy, and thanks to him and my barn family we are within reach of our Bronze medal. Along the way, I’ve rediscovered a part of myself I hadn’t accessed in years. I had found a way to bring my professional skillset into the sport – with my barn owner, I’m organizing a new USEF/USDF-rated competition in East Chatham, NY and am developing a software platform to help riders track scores, analyze performance, and more effectively reach their goals. The tool I’m using to earn my bronze and then hopefully my silver! What began as “just riding again” has become something much bigger… a competitive pursuit, a growing professional focus, and a return to the horse world where I feel I belong. Thank you USDF for the opportunities! – Kim and Iggy 🥰🦄Adult ammy coming back into riding after a little time off after my horse fractured her femur at the end of the 2025 season. I was really hoping to earn my bronze this year but instead I get to work with many different horses and trainers to build my riding while she recovers. I have recently started on the path to become a technical delegate while and increasing my volunteering at shows while I wait for either my horse to recover (very unlikely) or until I find another opportunity to get back in the ring. – Paige E.I was featured last year with my Haflinger, Tucker, who unfortunately passed away last summer. I now have a tiny grade pony-maybe a Morgan or Welsh cross-total green bean! I’m learning to be the confident one, as he is a bit anxious, but we have made good progress over the winter and hope to head out to some schooling shows in the next few months. He has huge shoes to fill, but he is definitely growing on me! This is Bailey-likely around 6 years old. – Susan S.Adult Amateur here! After having both of my mares experience lameness issues the past couple of years, I took the plunge and became a USEF ‘r’ Dressage Technical Delegate! I was licensed last year. 🙂 I’m currently balancing working full-time in my corporate job, being a TD and bringing my Friesian Arabian cross mare Rose Marie back from a torn suspensory. My 26 year old Arabian mare is back in full work after battling a strange case of laminitis a couple of years ago as well. We haven’t been in the show ring much the past couple of years, but both horses are now doing well and I hope to be back down centerline this fall. I’ve had many people ask how I balance it all…and it’s not easy! The key is planning and being super organized! I have specific days I ride and I try to stick to the plan! – Christina H.This is my horse Icarus Blue and I at our last show! I am a recent graduate from the Emory & Henry equestrian program and a member of the 2025 IDA national’s champion team! Right now as an amateur I am taking time to ride and compete before I start to work as a professional next year. I got Blue 4 years ago as a jumper, but since our partnership started I have done multiple disciplines with Blue including hunters, equitation and dressage! Blue is the first horse I have showed in the dressage ring, and it is an honor to teach him dressage as I myself grow with him as a rider. We are halfway to our bronze medal and last year we were champion in our local GMO at first level! We were also champion at the state level for adult equitation over fences. I am so lucky to be partnered with such a multi-talented horse. My goal this year is to focus primarily on dressage so I can qualify for regionals for the first time and finish my bronze medal! – Meaghan C.Pictured with my incredible mom, Carmen—my constant, my biggest supporter, and the one who believed in my horse dreams long before they ever felt possible ❤️
From the very beginning, she’s been right there beside me through every early morning, every long day, every win, and every setback. I was so fortunate to train professionally, full-time with Jennifer Kaiser throughout high school and into my late teens—years that shaped not only my riding, but who I am today.
After a serious accident in 2020, everything changed. My path took an unexpected turn, and I stepped into working alongside my parents in our family flooring business. It wasn’t the direction I had planned, but it’s become such an important part of my story.
Through it all, I’ve continued to ride and compete—holding onto the passion that’s always been a part of me—while balancing the demands of a full-time business. It hasn’t always been easy, but it’s taught me resilience, perspective, and a deeper appreciation for every moment I get to spend doing what I love.
None of it would be possible without her. Forever grateful 🤍 – Raegan C.I started riding at age 5 but took off 11 years for medical school/residency/fellowships. As soon as I took my first “real” job, I started riding again, and now 9 years later, I have a farm and 9 horses that my husband and I manage ourselves. My coach found me perfection in horse form, my Trakehner mare, Kalaska. We have gone all the way from training level to now competing I-1. She’s taken me to levels I used to only dream of, including wins at USDF finals and AECs. – Anna W.After a 20 year gap from horses, my husband and I decided to get a couple of horses. Then he fell in love with the Straight Egyptian Arabians and we started a breeding program. My horse chose dressage so at 62 yrs old I had to learn what all this is about while also teaching my horse. Talk about a challenge. This guy has been a blast to ride! I have a full time job and fitting lessons in became so important to me. But the rewards of bringing up a baby and then showing in a new discipline has been heartwarming. He tries so hard for me and he has done well in the lower levels with the expert help and patience of Alexis Losey. Sadly he is on the injured list this year and I have no other horse to ride. This is excruciating on all levels. – Allyson N.Middle school reading specialist by day, always a horse girl! Life is full, a little chaotic, and completely centered around two amazing girls and the horses we’re lucky enough to have on our own property. Pictured here is my 6-year-old OTTB restart project I purchased off the track as a 3 year old and now showing 1st Level. – Jennifer P.Throughout undergraduate and graduate school I was able to show with my Mom’s Gypsy Vanner! We made it to second level. I would love to get my medals but right now battling work/life balance. I loved showing the dressage equitation and got all my equitation awards! We also won “best tail” at a dressage show! – Laura H.Started riding at 29 years old, and thought I sort of knew how to ride until discovering dressage at age 45, when I realized I knew nothing! Luckily, I had a very patient partner, who made the journey with me. 10 years later, we got our bronze – him at age 27! – Jennifer C.Learn to ride when I was 14. Tried to go through the NAYC Young rider program, but my purebred Arabian just wasn’t cut out to compete against the big fancy warm bloods in region seven. Quit riding for 25 years. But somehow horses found me again. I was a television news journalist for most of that time until deciding I needed to change careers to be a photographer – first for growing families and then for horses. I photograph all kinds of horses in a mobile studio set up…. creating art of horses that gives their owners goosebumps I hope! Doing that, I saved up my pennies to import my amazing horse, Kexet, from Sweden three years ago. We earned our silver with distinction the first year. And we just got our gold medal last year (backstory: the judge who gave me my first training level score at 15 years old, also gave me the final score I needed for my gold medal 30 years later) ! On top of that I added equestrian stationery to my career path. I am now a Letterpress Printer using a 1906 antique press to print all my paper products, focusing on equestrian themes. I’m in the middle of building a mobile stationery store that I plan to take dressage shows as a vendor! As an adult amateur, I dove in headfirst back to dressage. Horses surround me physically, mentally and creatively filling my cup in every way. I’m taking the L program in the hopes of judging one day too. Being an adult amateur is the absolute best. The ability to come first full circle in your life with this sport is one of the greatest gifts it gives you. Adult amateurs are the backbone of dressage and proud of it! Www.equus-arte.com – Julia K.Worked off lessons and ride time on whatever I could get my hands on my entire life… took 5 or so years off horses and thought I was done. Been back in the saddle for about five years and have since acquired 2 horses, one of which I have started myself from the ground up. He has been so incredibly rewarding to work with. Here is my Anglo-Arabian, GA History Maker aka Desmond Doss, at his dressage show debut at just 3 years old last fall. He is a rockstar. – Cassie K.Adult amateur here that didn’t feel like I had a place in the sandbox without a fancy dressage pony! I have an appendix that was bred for barrel racing…met a wonderful trainer with an eye and she changed both of our worlds! My first dressage show I felt my horse was inadequate compared to the big warmbloods passing by. Oh boy if I could go back now I would tell myself to stand proud!! Now we are working up through second level and know good riding and connection is needed more than the big fancy horse. I owe it all to my trainer who has believed in us both and continues to push us through the levels. There is a lot of money in dressage but sometimes hard work is all it takes! And all is welcome! – Alex A.I’m a full time ER doc, mother, and wife to a full time cattle farmer. I took 12+ years off from riding for school/my career, and ended up buying my pony 6 months postpartum. We started at intro level together; last year we hit our goal of showing Second level, and just three weeks before our planned third level debut my pony sustained a career threatening tendon injury. Fortunately, slowly and surely we rehabbed him and brought him back, and we are now getting back on track for our third level goals! Hoping to get our bronze medal this year! I live in a very rural area and drive 2 hours, one way, to the barn to ride. I am extremely fortunate to work with a phenomenal trainer Robin Birk at Timber Ridge Equestrian Center who has helped us reach our goals and beyond ❤️🐴 – Justine J.Growing up with horses, I took on trail riding, barrel racing, western pleasure, hunters, and eventing before finally falling for dressage. As an engineer by training, I now run a research and education foundation supporting the feed and pet food industry. Also a trail runner who at 52 has figured out how to use riding horses as part of my race training regime. Great training, a supportive barn group, a fabulous husband and parents who still bring the RV to shows when they can so I can stay on grounds help make riding and competing two horses possible. I have achieved bronze and silver medals with distinction, but am still working on the elusive dream of gold. I’ve always enjoyed the training process and purchased my 3rd young horse to bring along 1.5 years ago.
Its the journey and looking forward to barn time and rides at the end of each workday that give me joy when my job gets overwhelming. My horses make me better at my job and keep me sane. – Lara M.Rvt by day, adult ammy any time I can! It has been an amazing journey so far! I started in dressage a few years ago after my hunter/jumper decided no more and a few broken ribs and wrist, I needed a change! Dressage has been a blessing.
I bought this red head Hanoverian in Jan 2025 and she has taught me to love riding again. My goal for 2025 was to make it to nationals and at least be in the top 20. We made it to 12th place! Just out of the ribbons. It was a spectacular 2025 and looking forward to 2026. We are working thru the levels and working towards our bronze. Also looking forward to doing a freestyle as well! – Karyn M.“Snax” (Jabberwocky Eden) is my amazing Oldenburg mare that won AA finals last year at training and first level.
I’m lucky to have my trainer Lauren Chumley who has been by my side every every step of our journey. We have already accomplished so many cool things including multiple awards at Regionals, Finals, USDF AA, USDF All Breeds, and Devon!
I work a normal corporate operations job and spend all of my free time at the barn with many early mornings and late nights to make sure our training schedule stays on track.
This year the goal is to try to qualify for the 5yr olds at lamplight as well as regionals and finals. My ultimate goal is to bring her along to show in my first Grand Prix and earn my Gold! – Mila P.Me and my sweet quarter horse mare, KD, have dabbled in a bit of everything, but we loved eventing. We were slowly moving up the levels until KD sustained a suspensory ligament injury two years ago. After 9 months of healing and rehab, we were given the clear to start working towards my eventing goals again, but with KD being 16, going back didn’t feel worth the risk of re-injury on the cross country field. But she wasn’t ready for retirement, and I wasn’t ready to give up riding her. So what started as a journey towards regaining suppleness, balance, and fitness (for both of us) after her injury, turned into a dream of competing in dressage. Now, we are going into our second season together with the hopes of keeping KD healthy and happy and for me to earn my training and first level rider awards. – Kristine M.Oh how I love this! I was about 6 when my equestrian mom took me to a horse expo to see her friends who were former olympians, this is where I met & saw Charlotte Bredahl do the most beautiful passage and side passes my 6 year old then hunter jumper self ever saw. I then grew up riding dressage and doing eventing in Ca with some amazing coaches but never made it to any level in dressage as it wasn’t my full focus. I have yet to make it back to the show ring as an AA and just seeing this post it reminded me I need to become a member again! I took a hiatus from it all when career and life changes happened. I did however still keep horses in my life as a barrel racer and western gamer…. Yup thats right! I went western and even dabbled in WP, reining and cutting & yes I was ALWAYS the one in the warm up ring that was noticed by how I rode and had control of my horse 🤣 Im really happy to know that some if the best barrel racers have adopted dressage techniques and drills into their training these days. I would like to think I was a part of that a bit. Now at 40 I am working on getting back into the arena with my two new horses I have a very large APHA and a friesian sport horse both in training at home with me. My hope is to showcase their versatility. The apha is supposed to be my western dressage and all around ranch horse but I may keep him in the classical, and my son will do western stuff with him. The Friesian SH is my classical mount and eventer possibly. She was my dream horse, Shes not under saddle yet but almost she isnt yet 5 and I’m taking it slow, who knows what the future holds for us! Im at the age now that the pressure isn’t to prove myself, but to enjoy the ride and I adore that I get to have two amazing horses by my side to do that with! – Leia N.I rode hunt seat as a child and young adult and learned enough to be dangerous about Dressage while stationed in Germany in the late 80s before deploying to Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Back in the US I married my husband, who was a professional Paso Fino trainer and assisted him daily training after working a full-time job as an IT executive for 20 years. Took time off from riding and working to raise our daughter, who is herself a national and world champion Paso Fino rider. My husband stopped training and is now a full-time realtor. Horses have become a hobby for us. Six years ago I decided to “go back to” Dressage after a heart attack and a diagnosis of Coronary Artery Spasm, and bought a four year-old KWPN mare with four months under Saddle. In a program we won the region three adult amateur championship at training level and were 2022 USDF KWPN reserve champion of the year in amateur and vintage cup. Had to sell her and give it up for parents’ health issues and my own CAS flareup so needed to back off of riding until I got healthy enough again. I’m currently back in the saddle and searching for my next very smooth Dressage horse with the hopes of getting my bronze and beyond. – Tara T.
