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76 SIDELINES MAY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE D R E S S A G E

Five Questions for Nadine Buberl

By Jan Westmark

Dressage rider Nadine Buberl was born 27 years ago in Meiningen, Germany, and started her riding career as a vaulter at the age of six. “After several years of vaulting I decided that learning to ride would be more fun. Being a rider was always my dream. After school I would work at a barn to earn riding lessons in addition to what my mom could afford,” Nadine said.

In December of 2009, Nadine had the opportunity to come to the United States to work as a trainer and rider for Dr. Cesar Parra at his Piaffe-Performance farm. Nadine now splits her time between the farm’s two locations in New Jersey and Florida. “Having the opportunity to live in the United States has allowed me to experience a new culture, and meet many new people,” she said, adding that she is still a German citizen. “I love working with Dr. Parra and I have

also enjoyed the opportunity to get to know the amateur riders that are a part of the Piaffe-Performance team. Our wonderful sport of dressage is made up of many types of people and it needs them all to be a successful sport.”

Sidelines: How did you start riding with Cesar Parra?

NB: I graduated from the German Master Rider Class and while I was in school I met Claudia Arnold. Claudia had worked with Dr. Parra for three years. Claudia is a beautiful dressage rider and we quickly became friends and she put me in contact with Dr. Parra. After interviewing me in Germany, he gave me a chance to come work and train with him and the rest of the Piaffe-Performance Team.

Sidelines: Have you always ridden dressage or did you ride in other disciplines also?

NB: In the German Master School you must show excellence in teaching, dressage, jumping, work in hand and double longing. My background is in all the major equine sports: eventing, jumping and dressage. Since working with Dr. Parra I have been working exclusively in dressage.

Sidelines: What do you like about being in the United States?

NB: I love riding with Dr. Parra and the Performance farm team. I have learned so much about dressage and being a whole person. The focus is on how you must be a whole person frst, to excel at riding dressage. Dr. Parra is always hosting notable people in the international dressage community at his farm and he is always working at improving, and he shares these experiences with the rest

of the Piaffe-Performance team. That includes working students, professionals and amateurs.

Sidelines: What are some of your show highlights?

NB: The biggest highlight for me has been watching the progress of the horses and riders over the time I have been with the Piaffe-Performance team. Traveling between New Jersey and Florida has helped me to see and measure these changes with shows. At the Wellington Classic CDI I was awarded high score for the show on Wellington’s Sandro Star. Being able to watch this super horse grow to be able to win such an honor was my highlight so far this year.

Sidelines: What are your riding goals?

NB: When I have the opportunity I look forward to showing Grand Prix. I look forward to earning gold medals for Germany and the United States.

Sidelines: What do you like best, training, teaching, or showing?

NB: The best part of being in the horse world is being part of a wonderful team. At Piaffe- Performance the riding, teaching, training and showing all work together, without one you can not have the other. So I would have to answer by saying all of these things are my favorite.

Sidelines: If you didn’t ride, what do you think you would want to do?

NB: I fnd teaching, riding and training takes a great deal of creativity and body awareness. So if I didn’t ride, I picture myself in the creative arts, as a ballet dancer. I think that in my riding and training I help the horse to learn how to dance ballet.

Photo by Sharon Packer