Tag: USDF Rider Medals

When I walk into the barn in the morning, I am greeted by not one, but five sweet Irish faces. To say I am a fan of the breed would be an understatement. I love the temperament, and the versatility of  them all. It’s so important to find the right job for a horse, and for Archie, that is all of them! 

Dunton’s Irish Magnum is a 2007 Irish Draught Sport Horse. Her bloodlines are considered to be that of a traditional Irish horse. She is a mix of Irish Draught, Connemara pony, and Thoroughbred.  A traditional bred horse is any combination of those three breeds, but with no warmblood influence in any way.

The mighty Irish Draught Horse! We are celebrating them as our January Breed of the Month on YourDressage! Dressage riders who choose Irish Draughts as...

Peter’s new job is to help me regain my fitness and get back into the competition ring.  I’m back up to riding four or five days a week most weeks, and even if I need to take frequent breaks, he is right there with me, with his wonderful attitude and work ethic.

Legatto is such a gentle old soul, working with anyone from beginners to experienced riders. In September of 2019, Legatto and I started training at Fourth Level, a level I could never have dreamed of riding. Both Legatto and I loved the new challenges, and as such, signed up for our first sanctioned show at Fourth Level, in October, only a month into riding together.

Sweet Seniors! In October on#YourDressage, we are celebrating the special horses in our lives that are ages 20 and up through photo galleries and...

As we built our partnership, we accumulated a number of accomplishments, but I would have to say our greatest accomplishment was obtaining all six USDF Rider Medals and USDF Freestyle Bars together - all before I turned 21. We are one of only a small number of US riders to accomplish this feat in general, let alone an even smaller group to do so at such a young age and all on one horse.

My first and only horse came to me through a series of incredibly lucky and unlikely events. For anyone who was ever a fan of the classic horse girl book/movie National Velvet, you might read this and notice the shocking similarities. At the age of twelve all I wanted to do was eat, sleep, and breathe horses.

At the end of 2020, I did something I only dreamed of. I donned my first ever shadbelly and rode down centerline for my first ever FEI test. *Cue more happy tears.*

Growing up, I always wanted a Kennebec Morgan. My mom had worked out at the Kennebec Morgan Farm in the 70s, and told me stories of her happy memories with all the different horses. I was obsessed.