24 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
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Colorado Dressage
By Lauren R. Giannini
When it comes to dressage, Colorado resident Janet Foy has
been there and done that – for about 35 years. Her frequent fyer
miles, approximately 100,000 per year, bear testimony to the
popularity of this multi-credentialed judge – USEF “S” and FEI 4*
and USEF Sporthorse “R” breeding – as a trainer and clinician.
“I love teaching – it’s my favorite thing,” admitted Janet, who is
booked for an average of 20 shows, 25 clinics, two or three judge
training programs, and one or two symposiums each year.
Janet’s background includes riding western and hunters in
Colorado, plus a degree in advertising and marketing from the
University of Colorado. In 1973 Janet was named the “Girl of the
West” for the Pikes Peak or Bust rodeo. Marriage to a Rhodes
Scholar and a move to England triggered her passion for dressage.
“No western in England, so I joined the Oxford Riding Club and
went to Talland Riding School, which was run by Molly Sivewright,
a British dressage team member,” Janet recalled. “I fell in love
with the challenge of dressage and eventually did my British Horse
Society Assistant Instructor exams. If it hadn’t been for Oxford, I
probably wouldn’t have gotten back into horses. I had a good job
doing PR for a flm production company, and I was a member of
the Junior League and did a lot of volunteer work.”
The PR world’s and Junior League’s loss turned into a blessing
for horses and riders. Janet has learned from some of the best.
“Early in my career Hilda Gurney taught and inspired me – she has
10 lifetimes stuffed into one, an amazing woman,” recalled Janet.
“She’s had her hand in so many people’s careers and education.
She’s a hard worker, very demanding, but what is not well known
is her big heart. She’s so generous with her time and horses. She
let me take lessons on her grand prix horse, Ahoy.”
Kay Meredith and Robert Dover (now U.S. dressage Chef
d’Equipe/technical advisor) infuenced Janet when she was
making her frst grand prix horses. “Both were very famous. I had
Janet Foy’s Passion For Teaching
met them when I qualifed to compete at the head-to-head USDF
Insilco championships in Kansas City,” Janet said. “Kay is the
ultimate teacher. She really explained how to get things done and
the whys of doing certain things. Robert was there for me with
three grand prix horses. He taught me so much about standards
and being professional. It would take a novel to tell you all that I
learned. He’s still a great friend and someone I truly admire and
respect.”
Toward the end of Janet’s riding career, she was greatly
infuenced by the Steiners. “Clinics from Betsy and Uwe are well
remembered in Colorado (as are the clinics with Hilda, Robert and
Kay), and Axel helped me so much with my judging,” Janet said.
“I have great memories of those years – a lot of fun, laughter and
hard work.”
About seven years ago, Janet sold her last horse. “I no longer
ride,” she said. “I don’t like trail riding. I don’t like plonking about. I
found riding was very frustrating, because I travel so much and it
got harder to get ft and keep the horses going properly.”
Janet makes up for not riding by exercising her passion for
teaching and helping people to a better understanding of the
horse and rider partnership. She’s also committed to educating
riders about the importance of a suitable mount for their size and
skill level and goals. “I feel I’m a matchmaker, fnding the perfect
‘husband’ for the student,” she explained. “But I’m also realistic with
them. Riders must look for horses with the right temperament, the
Janet Foy (in the background) works with student Lisa Peterson
and Willow: The picture-perfect cover of Dressage for the Not-
So-Perfect Horse.
Photo by Tiffany Busch Photography, courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books
(horseandriderbooks.com)
Janet Foy with longtime students, Julie Forman and Solo, Kathy
Simard and Wild, in Denver.
Photo by Tiffany Busch Photography.