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Tuesday, August 22 2017 / Published in General

Lendon Gray’s Dressage4Kids: Education for All

Hannah Irons and My Lucky Charm with Lendon Gray
Photo courtesy of Dressage4Kids

By Britney Grover

Lendon Gray knows the value of horses — and of a good equestrian education. Lendon grew up riding various disciplines, and joined Pony Club when she was 7. After competing and winning on a national level, she became a successful event rider, even training with the Olympic team. Even while she pursued equestrian education, she excelled academically as well. When she was 27, Lendon began to specialize in dressage, becoming well-known worldwide. Dressage took her to the Olympics, world championships, the World Cup, and to national championships — including on her pony Seldom Seen.

Alexa Derr was in the first Winter Intensive Program, and has participated in TEAM and Horsemastership clinics. She’s pictured on Versace in her first Grand Prix. Versace was donated to D4K as a horse recovering from an injury. Alexa leases him from D4K and has brought him along very slowly so he can now compete at the Grand Prix level. Alexa has also held very successful fundraisers to give back to D4K.
Photo courtesy of Lendon Gray

From her experience with Seldom Seen and others, Lendon came to believe in the power of dedication. With a firm belief that if given the right education any rider and any horse can succeed, Lendon set out to make a difference and empower young riders, regardless of financial circumstances, to fulfill their potential. She created Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival and Dressage4Kids, which started as simply a competition and the name of a website but grew into the powerful non-profit it is today.

In addition to operating the Youth Dressage Festival, Dressage4Kids is the force behind other educational and scholarship programs. At the annual Weekend Equestrian Program, everyone and anyone involved with horses, regardless of age, discipline, or experience, is invited to attend an educational weekend of seminars. Next held in Waterbury, Connecticut, January 27–28, 2018, the Weekend Equestrian Program will host speakers on topics ranging from riding skills and horse management to drawing and photography.

A young rider at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival at HITS-on-the-Hudson Showgrounds in Saugerties, New York.
Photo by Amy Dragoo of AK Dragoo Photography

For the truly committed young rider, the Winter Intensive Training Program (WIT) takes place in Wellington from January to March and offers a full schedule of learning and competition opportunities. Led by Lendon Gray as the main instructor, the program is three months of intensive training, learning and even competition. Guest instructors have included Tuny Page, Michael Barisone, Robert Dover, Scott Hassler and others. From fitness routines to field trips to top farms, the Winter Intensive Training Program has proven life-changing to the young riders who have already participated.

Participants watch a demo ride performed by Liz Caron before the Parade of Teams at Lendon’s Youth Dressage Festival.
Photo by Amy Dragoo of AK Dragoo Photography

The TEAM (Training, Education And Mentoring) Program is open to all levels of dressage riders under age 25. Realizing that today’s youth become tomorrow’s international riders and trainers of the future, the TEAM Program serves as a stepping-stone in finding and educating dedicated young dressage riders. Members receive educational material via email, special rates at educational events, and are eligible to participate in TEAM clinics held throughout the country.

The Youth Dressage Festival includes individual and team competitions for riders from 4 to 21 years old. Championships have three phases: written, dressage and equitation. The Festival includes competitive as well as fun activities for all to enjoy. Due to the Festival’s success, events have been expanded to include the Youth Dressage Festival Midwest at Hampton Green Farm in Michigan, which was held June 25, and the Atlanta Youth Festival at the Georgia International Horse Park, to be held October 27–29. The flagship 19th Annual Youth Dressage Festival will take place August 11–13 in Saugerties, New York.

Nicholas Hansen showed in early Youth Dressage Festivals at a young age, then leased Ritter, a donated Second Level horse. He did the TEAM clinics and the Winter Intensive Training Program, the Robert Dover Horsemastership Clinic, and went on to win gold medals at NAJYRC.
Photo courtesy of Lendon Gray

From all of these programs and events, proceeds are funneled into scholarships, along with funds from sponsors and donors. Dressage4Kids aims to level the playing field of dressage by offering scholarships to youth of all levels and privileges. Whether a top youth rider is seeking the experience to compete in Europe, a young professional hoping to expand networking or develop their training and experience, or even a child desiring to be able to afford lessons, Dressage4Kids aims to provide scholarships to all. With this and all other programs involved, Dressage4Kids is not only changing the lives and shaping the futures of young dressage riders, it’s shaping the future of dressage.

 

 

 

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Tagged under: Dressage4Kids, lendon gray

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
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You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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