Tag: USDF Rider Medals

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.

Originally, dressage wasn’t my main focus, but I quickly became enamored by the sport. Once I was “bitten” by the “dressage bug”, that was it, and I completely focused on training him up through the levels. 

The mighty Friesian! We are celebrating this fairytale-looking breed as our May Breed of the Month on YourDressage!  Join us all month long as...

The first time I saw Explosion In Gold, I leaned over to my trainer and whispered, “What is... that?” It took two weeks for me to decide to keep him.

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

By Julie Hall Like the words from the 1960’s song Age of Aquarius, “When the Moon is in the Seventh House, and Jupiter aligns with...