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 7 adult amateur shares about her imported Friesian, and how despite a non-linear journey, they are still working toward their goals together.
By Amanda Johnson
Saddle up for a story about how an adult amateur ended up with a 17.1-hand Friesian!
My childhood horse was a perfect Friesian mare named Empariss. I didn’t know much then about dressage, or really horse breeds at all. I was just mesmerized by the hair and beauty! The breed was the real-life fairytale horse of any little girl who started just playing with Barbies and horses.
Empariss took care of me and was the perfect beginner mare. We did our first dressage test at the International Friesian Show Horse Association (IFSHA) National Show. I still remember that Axel Steiner was our judge.
Fast forward to college, and I saw a video of the lots on offer at the Friesian Stallion Show in Holland. The video was of a two-year-old stallion, and I was amazed by his powerful trot and beauty. So here came Haike Ut’e Leanen, an imported three-year-old Ster stallion.
I had big dreams for him… But, as they say, the dressage journey is not linear. This really is true, in my experience, with a young Friesian. Their bodies change so much while they are still growing. We had to work with several trainers and explore different training programs to find the right fit. We learned not everyone understands the way Friesians need to be ridden.
My younger self was not aware of the variety of body styles within the Friesian breed, or how that affects their ability for the sport. Haike is very big compared to most, not only in height, but also in bone. With him, I have seen firsthand how a heavy-boned body can affect a horse’s dressage journey.
After working with three different trainers, we landed at Sunset Hills Dressage with Kim McGrath. Thanks to her, Haike has found his groove, and is happy being a dressage horse and going forward.
Haike is now 15 years old; he is not an easy ride, and it is a full-body workout each day. However, this breed is kind, forgiving, and, in my opinion, when they are going correctly, there is nothing more stunning to watch. We continue to train up the levels, and while our progress is slow and trying at times, it is also very rewarding.
