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My love for Saddlebreds started years ago when I took a few lessons on them. As life took me away from horses, and I raised a family, I never lost my love for them. I was lucky enough to be able to buy Red when I was 50 years old.

My journey into dressage was kind of a winding road due to my commitment to riding and showing American Saddlebred horses. My eyes were opened, and I was inspired to retrain my horse, Sable, and start my young horses through the methods of dressage.

In August 2010, Courtney Anderson lost her left hand in a ranching accident, when she was only 18 years old. While she was ponying a mare to another pasture on the ranch where she was working, the mare spooked and Courtney found her hand caught in the rope, unable to free herself. Much of her hand was damaged far too extensively to consider other options. However, six week post-op, they couldn’t keep her away, and Courtney was horseback gathering and working bulls. Needless to say, since the accident Courtney has become quite adept at thinking outside of the box to accomplish her goals.

Afton Stables is a dressage farm on the Charlottesville side of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Afton, Virginia.  We have a small herd of mostly warmblood horses, and one draft horse.  That draft horse is Eoghain.

When I said I wanted a draft horse, Belle isn’t what I imagined. I did not intend to actually bid on her, but spontaneously hit her bid button while sitting on my couch at home. And then, no one bid after me.

All Jazz'Dup, or Jazz as we call him, is my 15-year-old Warmblood x Draft cross. He is the epitome of the Draft breed to me: kind, gentle, patient, and always willing to try. Dressage doesn't exactly come naturally to a big drafty gelding like Jazz, but he sure puts in the effort and I'm thankful everyday for this absolute love of a horse.

Dressage horses, they say, are developed like fine wines. Likewise, some wines and spirits are infused with a love of all things equine. By L.A....

By Madeline Mangnall Condy This is my 4-year-old mustang Lady, aka "Picassa" (a sort of homage to the late Picasso, whom I was a big...

This story is part of our series, “Clear Eyes, Sound Mind, Halt, Salute.” Focusing on equestrian mental health, these articles come from riders across the...

Arabians are our YourDressage Breed of the Month for July!  One of the oldest horse breeds on earth, and the influence for many other...