Submitted by Cassandra Cummins-Bennett: Now I am an adult amateur! Riding as a Jr/YR with my mom on the ground beside me was great, but I stopped riding to work on my career for 10+ years. At 35, I became an AA riding and showing my moms horse while she underwent breast cancer treatment. Now I am hooked! I absolutely enjoy sharing my moms horse, Eclipse EE with her. All I can say is now there are 2 proud adult amateurs in our household and weare having the time of our lives together!
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!
I work full time as an occupational therapist with kids with Autism, and this is my Irish Sport Horse, Dante. We are very new to dressage-he used to be a first flight, lead hunt horse in his previous life before knowing me, and I was just a pleasure/hunter rider. His injuries ended his hunting career and life put us together…so here we are, learning the ropes of dressage, finding it fascinating! This is us from last year’s schooling horse show, our very first horse show of any kind, ever, receiving quite amazing feedback from the judge. We are both adult amateurs 🙂 with history of being broken, trying to find our happy ways while dancing to the dressage rhythm 🙂 – Joanna H.I tried for 11yrs to show with multiple different horses, who all decided to come up lame or have some ailment that kept us out of the dressage ring. In 2025 I was able to achieve ALL my bronze medal scores in 2 show weekends, on a mare I trained on my own.
Now we are schooling FEI and hope to start working on our silver medal while balancing my vet tech career as well as launching my own business. It’s hard work balancing it all but we are enjoying our journey wherever it takes us. 💕💪 – Betsy J.Photo by Three Redheads and a Moose – Katie L.Photo by Lisa Michelle Dean Photography – Amber W.And then there’s me with my mother’s 3rd generation homebred, JAG Khasanova “Khody” (JAG Khalahari x JAG Lady Pegasus+//) at our first show together this month! 💖🦄 His first show ever and my first rated show since 2018 when I got my last score for my USDF Bronze Medal. Seems like a lifetime ago now. Life is mostly about work, family, taking care of the horses, and sometimes getting to ride as an AA. 🙂 We still have his sire and dam (dam is just turned 30 in January!) Photo by Christina Stewart Photography – Megan T.My mother, Kathy Gilker, just completed her Dressage Foundation Century ride last year at 72-years-old with her 28-year-old purebred Arabian mare, CA Destiny Gro+. She mentored myself and my twin sister (Jessica Ho) growing up and instilled in us a love for good horsemanship and Dressage! She has always had a DIY mindset. She also STILL hasn’t even fully retired from her job yet (runs construction business) AND still takes care of her horses! She currently has 9 horses, most of them are our retired dressage horses. What I admire most about her is that she often put her own horse dreams on hold for my sister and I and I will never forget the sacrifices she made for us. ❤ Her generosity has also helped a couple trainers establish and/or grow their own businesses as well as helped so many riders get involved with horses if they didn’t have a horse of their own or have the finances. Photo by Custom Taylored Photography – Megan T.AA working corporate life by running clinical trials as full time job to support Player by making sure has a life to envy. I bought him in 2021 with aspirations to get my Bronze Medal, which we achieved in 2025, and we continue to work at our proficiency for 3-3 this year. He is a very patient and tolerant partner, and keeps me safe while also making sure I’m asking for movements correctly. Outside of work and the barn, I am in the gym five to six days a week to make sure I bring my best possible self into the arena each ride. I have a BS in Equestrian Science, but changed paths after graduation in order to afford horses as my passion instead of as my career- and still loving this decision! – Aleigh H.58 yo Commercial banker by day horse girl for life! With my US bred KWPN-NA Jupiter at Regionals! #adultammylife – Marianne S.Used to be a trainer years ago, now a hard working non-pro! So happy to be on my dressage journey because there’s always something new to learn! ❤️❤️ – Brianna Y.Royal Konig aka Cupcake is the most amazing Oldenburg who is the ripe young age of 23 and still going strong! He has taken 3 riders to GP. I’m the lucky AA lady that leases and has the honor of learning from this incredible schoolmaster. Two scores towards my silver medal have his name on them. I can’t help but smile with every ride. Such an incredible, talented, honest, athletic and giving horse. He will go down in the history books as one of the greats! 👑🙌🌟💖 PC: Lhanze Kohr – Christine L.English professor by day. I’m in a chronic loop of “coming back” after injury, cancer, another injury, and so on. My relatively new mare is also coming back from being a mama and semi-retired. Together, we use the principles of dressage to get stronger, be more correct biomechanically, and develop our relationship. We don’t have an end goal. Being our best selves until we can’t— that’s the only goal that matters. Dressage does that when we do it right. – Ctprof Lng DressRecently got back into dressage after vet school with my Arabian gelding Aulways Out of Socks! I was not looking for a barely broke 4 year old when I met him, but one look and I couldn’t say no. We worked up through training level and then an injury as a 5 year old took him out of commission for 3 years. After a long and slow rehab process, we are now back to work! Currently schooling 2nd level and excited to work our way up. I have never had a horse that wasn’t already trained, so we are learning a ton together. He tries hard and really loves his job! – Kim D.Rode all disciplines my entire life and landed in dressage in my late teens. Feel in love and never switched back. Became a nurse to support my horses and found the other love of my life and had kiddies. Took 12 years off to raise a family and sold everything. Now, in my mid 40’s, I’m getting back in the saddle and getting my potential new horses vetted today. A journey it has been but so excited to be back home and doing what my heart has always loved…riding. – Jennifer R.Special education middle school math teacher here! My horse is my partner in sport but also my mental health counselor! Fezzik is an ex-Amish cart horse that I took from Intro C to, this season, second level. – Judy L.From bareback rides on a farm at age 12 to competing at the upper levels of dressage, my journey with horses has been a lifelong passion shaped by dedication, resilience, and love for the sport. Like many riders, I started simply—riding bareback most of the time, learning feel and connection before anything else. But it was my experience participating in the RCMP Musical Ride that truly inspired me. Watching and riding alongside those powerful, elegant black horses sparked a deep appreciation for precision, harmony, and the art of dressage. Today, as a veteran and small business owner, time at the barn is more than a hobby—it’s where I feel most grounded. My partner in this journey is Double Down, affectionately known as “Bieber,” a brave and generous Irish Sport Horse who has taken incredible care of me every step of the way. Together, we had an unforgettable season last year, finishing Champion at Third Level, Champion at Fourth Level, and Champion in Freestyle. Each achievement reflects not just hard work, but the partnership and trust we’ve built. Now, we’re setting our sights on the next chapter: developing toward Prix St. Georges. It’s an exciting challenge, and one I’m grateful to pursue with a horse who gives me his all every day. At the end of it all, it’s simple—I just love my big boy, and every minute I get to spend with him. – Sophie S.I started riding at 9 years old, but it was purely unskilled riding. From neighbors horses to retired horses at military bases and begging my University for a chance to train. Finances and life meant a 27 year break. When I suffered a mini stroke after the stress of losing everything due to COVID when my business shuttering, I decided to follow my heart and dreams and I got back in the saddle. My trainer is a Grand Prix award winning rider and with her support and encouragement I am chasing my Dressage Dreams!! – Andrea R.Adult amateur from region 5 here (front end developer by day, struggling ammie by night). Me and my 4 year old PRE mare are slowly getting to know each other while she’s actually being started by my trainer. Even though she’s young, she’s such a wonderful partner for me, as she’s one of the sanest horses I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. 🩷 – Veronica M.She was my first horse and my heart horse. While she was a failed racehorse, she was exactly what I needed for every stage of adult life thus far. She was with me through two babies and became their first rides in the saddle. Together, we survived one round of cancer (her), a stroke (me) and she was dream come true I always wished for. Though she wasn’t bred to do dressage, what she lacked in talent she made up for in heart. Even at 19 at our last show together (regionals 2025), she produced the best show of our lives. Weeks after regionals, after a very short intense round of cancer again, I decided it wasn’t fair to ask her to armor up a second time and even though it broke my heart, I said goodbye. She gave me more than I ever deserved. – Rachael L.After a 25 year long break, including starting and running my own law firm, I return to riding 15 years ago when my daughter started taking riding lessons. I was still in love with a sport. I bought my horse Baltic in 2015 as a four year-old in Germany. I had never shown above third level. Baltic and and I have gone from baby steps to schooling the Grand Prix. We hope to make our debut at I-2 this season. – Lisa B.I’m an adult amateur who made the leap from hunter/jumper into dressage just four years ago—and this horse has been the journey of my life.
I bought a 3-year-old feral warmblood gelding from Europe who arrived skin and bones. Just one month later, he coliced and underwent surgery, followed by four long months of rehab. There were moments I didn’t know if we’d even have a future together—but he kept fighting, and so did I.
I started him under saddle myself (with the help of my amazing trainer), and just four months later we found ourselves riding in a clinic with Janet Foy—an experience I’ll never forget. In 2025, we stepped into the show ring for the first time at Training Level and earned two scores over 70%.
He turns 5 this May, and we’re heading into our next season with big dreams and full hearts. I couldn’t afford a made horse, so I’ve poured everything I have—time, patience, blood, sweat, and tears—into this one.
He’s not just my horse. He’s my partner, my teacher, and my heart and soul. 💙 – Nicole F.My story isn’t filled with ribbons, medals or high points…but it’s a story nonetheless, and the people and horses in it are extremely special. I work hard so I can play harder. I’m a vet tech, groom, working student, and an adult ammy that tries her hardest. There are two horses in my life that have been/ are extremely important to me. My heart horse Bingo (rest in peace buddy), and the Arabian mare I currently ride, Missy. Bingo was never easy to show. In fact, I don’t think he liked the idea of this whole dressage thing…going round and round in fancy circles seemed like a bore, so why not add some flare? That horse taught me to be brave, courageous, and to never give up regardless of the score we got. To his credit he really tried his heart out and he was perfect in so many other ways. He had so much left to teach me. He was a one of a kind and I miss him so much.
After he passed my trainer offered me to ride her little mare, Missy. We were both a little skeptical at first, thinking it wouldn’t be a great match, but I needed something to ride. We agreed we would just try it out for a month and if it wasn’t a good fit we’d look for something else. Fast forward 7 months later…we’ve become very attached to each other, and she’s helped boost my confidence in the show ring (and overall) in ways I didn’t think possible. The scores aren’t quite there (YET!), but who cares? I’m going out into the ring and for the first time, smiling and having FUN in ways that I didn’t have with my first horse…and that’s all I ever wanted with showing.
I owe it ALL to these two horses, and my impeccable trainer for where I’m at. I wouldn’t be the adult amateur I am without them. I am so excited for the future and watching our scores to continue to improve and cultivating my bond with this little pony even further. 💕 – Darrien C.I’m incredibly fortunate to be a SAHM to teens which grants me time to ride/train 5 days a week. I bought my fantastic partner a year after the devastating loss of my previous horse. I earned my silver medal our first weekend out in PSG. I was also socked with three consecutive chronic illness disorders that are not valid for para certification, and I’m forever grateful to my horse who has proven to be a steady, safe and patient partner. – Sara N.-K.
