When I began The Art of Dressage, I received several questions about who I was. I have procrastinated answering these questions for several reasons. One, I wasn’t sure how this whole blog/website would work and putting yourself over the world wide web is a bit scary. I thought as I built my blog, I would then include some more information about myself. Second, I wasn’t sure how readers would react to me. Would they see I am somewhat young and then totally disregard what I have to say? I have learned very quickly through my time in the “real world,” age is completely relative. It just depends on the person.
I’m sure for some of you it is at bit strange reading from someone you don’t know, especially when my style of writing is a bit informal. I try to write like that on purpose, so what I post is more like a conversation than a lecture. I guess I am also secretly hoping you will talk back.
So here is a little about me. My first name is Elizabeth, my husband has forced me to keep my last name off of the blog for now because he is afraid of crazy people. I began my appreciation of horses probably soon after I could talk and began taking riding lessons at 8 years old. That was when my mom couldn’t stand listening to the whining anymore and I was finally at an age where someone would attempt to teach me. She was also really getting tired of stopping the car at every horse on the side of the road so I could try to feed it grass, bread, crackers or whatever else I could find in our car that might be acceptable for a horse to eat. Yes…stopping on the side of the road is a bit dangerous and feeding a horse you don’t know not the best idea, but we didn’t care and remember the whole ”whining” part I referred to earlier.
Amazingly enough the very first horse I rode, was at a farm that would become one of the first dressage barns in our area. This was a friends farm and after my first ride, I was hooked. I took lessons and rode hunters for several years after that. My first dressage test didn’t come until about the age of 13. I then meddled in the combined training world for several years, because when you are a teenager jumping is the “cool” thing to do. I now realize due to all of my jumping related falls and eating lots of dirt as a teenager, I experience a bit of back trouble now and then that is so “uncool”.
I had a mare where combined training was her element. She did decent dressage tests and had clean jumping rounds and therefore did very well. As I moved into my 20s, life became more and riding became less, however, I did begin to develop a deeper appreciation for dressage. I tried my combined training mare as a “dressage” horse and she carried me through First Level. I soon began to realize that competing at Second Level was out of our grasp. Collection and impulsion did not come easily to my slightly built downhill, draft cross. Many days I felt like I was trying to make an elephant into a ballerina. Amazingly enough on her good days, that big girl could dance! Usually that happened when I was at home and no one was watching. Ahhh… what a shame!
Me and "Kerry" my dressage partner
The past few years, I took a break from dressage, due to life again, new job, new husband, finishing my second degree, and we bought our very own farm. Whew… it makes me tired thinking about all of it! Anyone that owns a farm knows, a farm is a full time job in its-self. I still kept riding, but mostly trail riding and pleasure riding. I decided this past fall that my life had calmed and of course how dare things be quiet for me! I really wanted to get back to a sport I loved. I missed my friends, the learning, and the challenges. I missed not only the physical skill building, but also the mental aerobics that dressage challenges us with. I enjoy building the relationship with my equine partner and attempting to have two minds from completely different species work together. When you think about it. It is amazing our horses are able to understand us at all.
That is where I am now. I am an adult amateur rider like many of your out there. I am very lucky to have a fantastic trainer, who has given me a good foundation that I look forward to building upon. I also now have a very talented mare to be my partner in our “dressage journey.” By the way amazingly enough, that mare is from the farm where I rode my very first horse. I am constantly surprised by what the universe has in store for me.
Hopefully now knowing my story will help you feel a little closer to your blog host. I am always interested in people’s stories because everyone has a different journey with lots of paths. If you would like to share a story of your own feel free to comment!
