This July, we are highlighting “Small But Mighty” breeds on YourDressage!
Riders who choose a pint-sized partner as their dressage mount are eligible for special awards through the Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards program, as there are a number of pony breed organizations that are participating organizations.
By Justine Williams
Owen and I started our dressage journey together a little less than four years ago. I had taken a nearly twelve-year hiatus from horses and riding, and had only just started back riding again when I took another break for my pregnancy. Shortly after having my daughter, I wanted to get back to riding regularly and decided to search for a horse of my own.
My path to finding Owen really wasn’t linear, or planned. I also had no truly specific criteria in my horse search! However, when I saw the sale ad for Owen, I had to see him – and I did, the very next day. After meeting Owen, I knew he was the one I had been searching for!
Owen is an eleven-year-old, 14.2-hand Connemara pony gelding. We began our partnership at Intro Level, and quickly progressed through Training Level to First Level. Last month, we competed together at Third Level, a first for both of us.
We have been so fortunate to have worked with several exceptional trainers who have helped us climb the levels. We started out our partnership in North Carolina, under the wonderful Jeanne Karver. Jeanne was really the one who facilitated our match and set us on the path to dressage success.
Unexpectedly, about two years ago, major life changes moved my family to West Virginia. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that, at the time, I thought that would be the end of our dressage journey. Living in rural West Virginia meant that dressage opportunities and training were much more limited. For this reason, I decided to board Owen at a phenomenal facility just over the border in Pennsylvania: Timber Ridge Equestrian Center.
There, we continued to learn under the watchful eye of skilled trainer Robin Birk. Once we began training with Robin, our partnership truly soared. She took us from just beginning First Level to schooling Third Level in less than a year. About six months after the move, we went out at Second Level for the first time together, earning all the scores needed for our Bronze Medal at that level at our first show!
While Owen and I love showing, he can sometimes be a bit quirky in the show ring. With patience and exposure, Owen truly shines his best. We have found that a regular show routine, allowing him to explore the showgrounds and take in all the excitement, works well for him. Our goal is to one day show at a larger national venue, such as the US Dressage Finals or the National Dressage Pony Cup!
We had planned for our Third Level debut to be last summer, but unfortunately, Owen had an unexpected accident, sustaining a severe, career-threatening tendon injury. Fortunately, after about nine months of careful and steady rehab, he was able to return to full work, and we were able to make our Third Level debut last month – earning our first Third Level score for our Bronze Medal! Our plan is to hopefully earn my Bronze Medal this summer, and continue progressing up the levels.
I am incredibly grateful for this pony, but the path has certainly not been easy. I am a full-time physician with two young children, and my husband operates three cattle farms full-time in West Virginia. I drive two hours, one way, to the barn for lessons and training! It is certainly a commitment to keep up with my dressage goals, but I am motivated to help Owen reach his greatest potential, and to continue to progress in my riding.
Owning and riding a Connemara pony has been remarkable, and I encourage anyone who is looking for a dressage partner to consider a pony, especially a Connemara! Owen is incredibly smart and hard working, truly trying his best every ride, and I am lucky to get to learn and progress through the dressage levels with him. Owen and I have worked our way together from Intro to Third Level, and he has been exclusively shown by me, an adult amateur. My hope is that we continue to progress to one day make it to the FEI levels!
Our partnership has taught me so much, not only about dressage but about life in general. Our trajectory has been far from linear, but the path to success isn’t always flawless. My trainer, Robin Birk, has often told me that, “In dressage, sometimes it’s two steps forward and one step back.” However, at the end of the day, a steady and thoughtful partnership is the ultimate goal.
Over the course of our journey, we have overcome both small and large roadblocks. We struggled to maintain our canter leads once we introduced flying changes, and it took several months of patient work to establish a controlled canter again. Later, we overcame Owen’s serious tendon injury, requiring prolonged rehab and time off, but we persevered, returning to full, competitive work.
Although we both love showing, sometimes, once we are in the ring, Owen temporarily forgets he is a dressage pony. Instead, he opts to throw in some rodeo tricks! My job in the partnership is to reassure him, and promote confidence on our path to success. At the end of the day, I could not be more grateful for my stocky little grey Connemara dancing partner, who truly tries his heart out for me.
