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Wednesday, January 09 2019 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Jessica Greer: Colorado Dressage Trainer Is Never Done Learning

Jessica Greer

By Alannah Castro

Portraits by Kristie Nichols

For as long as she can remember, Jessica Greer has been horse obsessed. Like so many young girls who are born with the horse bug, she spent her childhood looking for any and all signs of horses wherever she went. A surprise on her ninth birthday, however, would set her on the course for a lifetime of equine affiliation.

“My mom is really artistic, and she made a gigantic card out of poster board and drew a horse on the front of it. I opened it and it said, ‘Your birthday present is riding lessons. Your first lesson is on this day,’” Jessica said, laughing. “She told me I could have as many lessons as I wanted for as long as I wanted. That was like the kiss of death.”

A quick learner, Jessica was able to pick up riding concepts rapidly. Her mom, concerned that her daughter would rush into jumping, suggested that she learn dressage first. Her answer: What’s dressage?

“This was the age before the internet,” Jessica said. “My mom told me to go look it up in the encyclopedia. When I looked it up, I saw a picture of a person in a shadbelly on a horse. The description was that the rider rides the horse using invisible aids. I was like, ‘Wow! How do you do that?’ I took a dressage lesson, and I never missed jumping and I never went back.”

Jessica riding Harley with the gorgeous Colorado landscape in the background
Photo by Kathleen Bryan

Launching Her Career

After competing for several years and moving up the levels, Navarro, a 1995 Dutch Warmblood, came into Jessica’s life. She credits him with launching her career. Owned by Joy Lanzano, Navarro was imported from Holland in 2000 and, though she wouldn’t end up riding him until 2005, Jessica met him early on. “Joy and I were both at Paragon; I was a senior in high school. When I was 19, I had to give my horse away and didn’t ride for a year. By 20 I’d had enough of not riding, but I needed a horse and couldn’t afford to lease or buy. I was connected to Joy again and since she remembered me, we arranged a deal where I would ride Navarro for free.”

Jessica began riding Navarro at second level in 2005, and moved up an entire level each year. “I ended up training and showing him through Intermediaire-1, and he was doing most of the grand prix movements,” she said. “I showed him in a few CDIs and we placed second in one of them. He had such a big heart, and he was the first horse I trained and showed to the FEI level. He enabled me to do this as a profession.”

Jessica competed Navarro through 2013, after four years at the FEI level, when Navarro was 18 years old. He now enjoys a happy retirement in a big grass field and will be 24 in the spring.

As Jessica gained clients and built her business, she trained several other horses to the grand prix level. She currently has two horses of her own that she is developing, and she has continued to show several of her clients’ horses. One of her mounts, Harley, came to her in a very unique way.

“I had a young Holsteiner, who was jumper-bred, that I bought with a partner, and he was really good at dressage but not super excited about it,” Jessica said. “I had my friend jump him and he was amazing. I thought, This is what he needs to do, and my friend and I traded horses. He had a horse that he was showing 1.60 meters, and he told me, ‘This horse, in his mind, he’s won the Olympics. He doesn’t need to do this anymore.’ So we traded.”

Jessica and Navarro, who Jessica credits with launching her career
Photo by Kathleen Bryan

Harley has a personality to match his jumping ability, according to Jessica.

“He is the king of the farm,” she said. “He knows everything that’s going on, and everyone knows Harley. It’s Harley’s farm, and everyone else is just living here.”

Jessica’s other mount, affectionately called Larimar, is a 4-year-old that she has big hopes for in the future. In the meantime, Harley has had to learn to share. “They are so jealous of each other! They each think they own me,” Jessica said. “They can’t stand each other. It’s like sibling rivalry.”

Life in Colorado

Jessica’s daily routine is filled to the brim with horses.  Between teaching, training, clinics and horse shows, her schedule stays packed. “I live at Paragon Equestrian Centre. Normally I’m up at six in the morning, and I’m down at the barn by 8:00. I’m on my first horse by 8:30, and I ride all morning,” Jessica said. “Then I teach later in the day, and I generally am done around 6:30 in the evening. We rotate night check duties, so some nights I’m back down there around 8:30 at night.”

As a native Coloradan, Jessica indulges in other outdoor sports as well. “I love hiking and camping — pretty much anything outside,” she said, chuckling. “I’m a total outdoor nerd, although I don’t like the winter. Our barn is heated, and I’m not a fan of cold weather sports.”

Jessica stresses the importance of continuing education, whether that’s working with a trainer as a professional or gaining judging certifications. “You have to have someone that’s pointing out what you need to work on. I feel like the moment you think you don’t need anyone coaching you, that’s when you’re no good to anyone,” Jessica said. “You have to keep growing.”

Jessica and Larimar

Judge’s Perspective

A graduate of the USDF ‘L’ Judging Program, Jessica has utilized her knowledge of the judge’s perspective to help her clients, who currently range from third level to grand prix, develop their competitive edge.

“When I was younger, I’d go to horse shows and ride a test and I never really understood what the judges wanted,” Jessica said. “I really wanted to educate myself on what judges were looking for and how they arrived at a score. In the hunter ring, you’re in a class with 30 people and you get placed, and you never really know why somebody won. Dressage is unique in that the judge’s give you comments and tell you what to work on. I wanted a better understanding of it.”

Ultimately, there’s no other life that Jessica would choose. Her commitment to her horses and the equestrian lifestyle fulfills her. “In the past, I had a more traditional life,” she said. “I ran my business, but it was very separate. I owned a house and I took weekends off. Three years ago, I leased a farm with a business partner, and then I went to Germany to train Harley for three months. I came home, and that’s when I moved onto the farm.”

From horse-obsessed child to weekly lessons to full-time professional, Jessica can’t help but keep getting closer to horses. “I want to be the best rider I can be, and to truly know my horses, living with them and being with them is the best way for me. I’m the one who turns them in and out, grooms them and blankets them. They are so bonded to me because I’m with them 24/7. It changes your relationship. You know them so well. I can’t imagine doing this any other way.”

For more information, visit www.jessicagreerdressage.com

Photos by Kristie Nichols, moonfyrephotography.com, unless noted otherwise

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Tagged under: alannah castro, Jessica Greer, kristie nichols

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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

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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 🦄

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Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses Annette Longenecker wasn’t just born into horses—in a way, she was born into her career. She grew up in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where her parents ran a farm. Her mother taught, and her father had a jump business and then created one of the first horse show software programs: Ryegate Show Services, Inc.

Riding all her life, Annette spent many years as a groom and loved it, but knew it wasn’t what she wanted to do as a career. After she finished college, Annette’s father recruited her to help process entries at Ryegate. Since her father, Lloyd Longenecker, founded it in 1981, Ryegate has provided show management and office staff for some of the largest shows in the country. Now, Annette has taken over from her father and directed the company as it focuses on managing memberships and rankings for organizations such as the North American League, WIHS Championships and Equitation, Rolex/USEF Computer Ranking and National Medal Series (THIS NCM and Ariat NAM). Ryegate also provides scoring software for use with video walls, and production teams for hunter and jumper shows.

“Besides running Ryegate Show Services and its various organizations, I can be found in the show office, running a scoreboard or judging jumpers at most shows,” Annette said. “I love getting to wear a few different hats at the show.”

When she’s not busy at a show, Annette lives in Annville, Pennsylvania, with her “fur-baby,” Maggie Mae, and enjoys spending time with her many godchildren. Though she doesn’t currently own any horses, Annette rides when she can at Rolling Acres Farm with Patty Foster, Ashley Foster-Worthington and Mary Lisa Leffler.

Read this month unbridled with Annette Longenecker by clicking the link in our bio. Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine! 🦄
📸Photo by Sheryl Sutherby

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A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself The spor A column from Liz Halliday-Sharp herself 
The sport of eventing is a demanding and mentally challenging discipline that requires a combination of physical and mental fortitude from both the rider and horse. While having a coach can be incredibly beneficial, self-coaching can also play a crucial role in a rider’s success.

I think that given the opportunity, most riders would like to be coached every day. The reality of life in the horse world, however, is that the majority of us need to absorb as much from the lessons we have on a limited basis and then practice those skills at home to improve.

When I am riding, I try to have a plan for the horses each day and focus on what I’m looking to achieve. It’s important to be aware of the steady improvements rather than trying to solve everything all at once. This is especially important when teaching horses new movements or exercises that they might struggle with, and we need to give them time to learn and understand what we are asking for.

I have a couple of quotes that I use regularly when I’m teaching, and these are mottos that I hold myself to in my daily work as well.

The first is, “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten.” This is a quote that was said to me many years ago when I was still motor racing and I keep it in the back of my mind each day. It’s easy to get stuck doing the same thing every day with your horse and bad habits are hard to break, from both riders and horses!

This leads me to my next quote, which is, “If what you are doing isn’t working, try something else.” It really is as simple as that! Many riders I see keep asking a horse to do something the same way over and over with an ongoing negative response and they wonder why things don’t get better. In these circumstances, I recommend that the rider change something, even if it’s wrong.

Read the full article by clicking the link in our bio! Don’t forget to keep your eye out for our April subscription!
📸Photo by Alex Banks Photography
The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here The✨April issue✨ of Sidelines Magazine is here and we are so excited to feature three-day eventer Liz Halliday on the cover! Big thanks to photographer Melissa Fuller for the beautiful photo of Liz and Cooley Nutcracker- Liz Halliday-Sharp - HS Eventing. Liz and her horses have taken the eventing world by storm - and find out how Liz is at the top of the sport as a female eventer! As the horse world gears up for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event 2023, it's the perfect time to enjoy our eventing issue!! We also feature eventer and woman entrepreneur Frankie Thieriot Stutes, who is not only an eventer, but also runs Athletux and FRANKIE CAMERON handbags and accessories. And don't miss our eventing story on Robert "Bobby" Costello, who will be leading the US Eventing team to the 2024 Paris Olympics- and US Equestrian has named Bobby the eventing technical advisor/chef d'equipe!! Liz, Frankie and Bobby all have GREAT stories - don't miss any of them and don't forget to get your tickets for the Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day event! We are also excited to introduce you to hunter-jumper rider Casey Lorusso Smith, who is not only a talented rider but also a psychotherapist and incorporates horses into her career. If you are up for adventure, then read the story on dressage rider Priscilla Baldwin who certainly doesn't let any grass grow under her feet! We also head to the west coast to catch up with hunter-jumper trainer Jim Hagman of Elvenstar Farm, we feature beautiful art by equestrian artist Tammy Tappan, and we get to know Miranda Jones and her family. Miranda is not only an attorney who spends a lot of time in the courthouse, but she's a rider and spends lots of time riding, and is joined by her daughters also! We are excited to feature Stephanie Lightner in our Unbridled column, and don't miss our columnists George Williams, Robert R.L. Jacobs and Margie Sugarman! It's a great issue - and you can read it online, but don't forget to go to the website and order a subscription and get every issue delivered to your mailbox!! Enjoy this issue and enjoy the ride: Link in bio!!
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