Every body is an equestrian body, which is why we celebrate inclusivity on YourDressage. As we share the stories, struggles, and triumphs of plus-size equestrians from across the country, our friends at Horse Dazzle and Kerrits Equestrian Apparel have graciously partnered with us to sponsor a #DressageForEveryBody2026 giveaway for three lucky readers!
By Kara Lawson
My name is Kara Lawson. I am a licensed veterinary technician in the state of Maine, as well as a business owner.
When I’m not working in the clinic, I am a traveling equine and canine laser and rehabilitation therapist, kinesiology tape practitioner, and am certified in myofascial decompression, therapeutic stretching, and nutrition. I work on a wide variety of equines and canines, and even some other species, treating both acute and chronic injuries.
I own three horses: a retired Quarter Horse, a new-to-me senior-aged Hanoverian, and an off-track Thoroughbred (OTTB) who is the star of this article.
Hard Scuffle, also known as Wallace, was originally presented to me as a lease prospect five years ago. I rode him for one season, quickly falling in love with his quiet, calm demeanor. He wasn’t the most handsome dude in the bunch; he came with an old injury to his right hind leg, and a very prominent hoof mark scar from a kick to the head. But, he was kind and goofy.
I decided at the end of the season to buy him. He hasn’t been the easiest, and at times I thought maybe I had made a mistake.
He was constantly contracting small bumps and scratches, like many sensitive-skinned Thoroughbreds. He had chronic and severe ulcers, and he lacked a solid right lead canter.
Fast forward to last year, and Wallace and I were taking lessons and competing. We had slowly started making our way up the levels when things suddenly went sideways. At an off-site lesson, a spook landed me on the ground. Despite immediately being sore from the fall, I remounted to finish my lesson. Following the lesson, I realized that something was not right.
I went to work the next day, ignoring the pain. When it still didn’t abate, I finally admitted that maybe I was injured, and decided to go to the emergency room. There, X-rays determined I had fractured my spinal processes in multiple lumbar vertebrae. Suddenly, the future I had mapped out for myself seemed much further away.
But horses have always given me a reason to keep moving forward. Staying in the equestrian world was not only my hobby, but my career. Instead of letting the accident define what came next, I decided to focus on the things I could control. I worked on losing weight, stayed as active as my body allowed, and tried to keep a positive attitude-even on the difficult days. Most importantly, I held onto my love of horses and the dream that I wasn’t finished yet.
Against my doctor’s wishes, I lasered and rehabbed myself, and was back in the saddle in just three weeks. Wallace and I finished the season by earning the Second Level scores necessary to be awarded my Maine Dressage Society Silver Medal.
After my injury, though, I was afraid of Wallace again. It was as if we had gone back in time about four years. Each year, I give him the winter off for a mental break, so, fortunately, the timing of that planned break worked out.
During that time, I rode an absolute sweetheart of a horse who is in my trainer’s program. She is an older schoolmaster type that anyone can ride. She, along with my trainer Gail, really helped me develop my confidence and rider position while Wallace took his winter break. It was both a mental and physical journey.
By the time spring arrived, getting Wallace back in shape had become a task for my trainer’s assistant, a brave younger woman who excels with green and fresh horses. Together, we got him going again, and before I knew it, he was back in shape, and a happy boy.
This year was different; I had almost met my 55-pound weight loss goal, and I was confident from my winter riding an angel of a horse. I was ready to make this season happen.
We competed through First Level at USEF-licensed/USDF-recognized competitions, and tackled Second Level at schooling shows. At home, we are schooling higher-level movements, and are confident and really enjoying our partnership. It’s like a switch flipped in us both, turning on a complete trust in the other, and an understanding that things happen.
Today, I am actively riding two horses, continuing to work toward moving up the levels, and enjoying the journey more than I ever have. I still have goals I haven’t reached yet, and that’s what makes this story exciting. I’m not at the end of my journey. I’m right in the middle of it.
We will show Second Level at USDF-recognized shows and Third Level at local arenas next year, and see where our journey takes us!
I’m proof that you don’t have to fit a certain mold to be an equestrian, and that sometimes a setback can become the beginning of a completely different kind of success. I am lighter by 55 pounds, stronger in ways a scale could never measure, riding two wonderful horses, chasing the levels I once dreamed about, and genuinely having the time of my life.
I suggest that anyone looking to better their health – and have more successful rides – surround themselves with a great team. The importance of having the right people in your corner can’t be overstated. I am so beyond thankful for my instructors, friends, family, and significant other. They have been with me every step, encouraging not only my weight loss, but my riding career, my business, and my confidence.
