Bettina Drummond receiving a golden whip from Col. Patrick Teisserenc
Photo by Valérie Charrieau-Khalili
France’s prestigious Cadre Noir presented Bettina Drummond with the rank of honorary écuyer, making her only the second American to receive such an honor — the other is George Morris. She’s also only the second woman to receive such an honor from the Cadre Noir; The first was French Olympic dressage rider Margit Otto-Crépin. In presenting her with a golden whip and “honorary écuyer” rank, the Cadre Noir cited not only her skill and talent as a rider and trainer but also her years of dedication in promoting the French system of classical riding. Bettina trains horses and coaches riders from her base in Washington, Connecticut, and also serves as the founder of and guiding force for the Association for the Promotion of the Art of Horsemanship in America (APAHA), an organization dedicated to supporting educational opportunities that advance horsemanship as an art form in the U.S.