Kim McGrath: Learning, Teaching and Achieving

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Lori Ovanessian It has been said that those who dare to teach must never cease to learn, and dressage rider and instructor Kim McGrath will never stop learning. As Kim leads a successful career in the Grand Prix arena and manages her Sunset Hills Farm training operation in Redlands, California,
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U.S. Dressage Team Wins Historic Silver in Tokyo

By George Williams The road to Tokyo has been rough and tough. I think most of us recently have been a bit astounded at just how fragile our world can be. Who would have predicted when Tokyo was awarded the 2020 Olympics that a pandemic would sweep the world, delaying the summer Games for a
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Deirdre Sabo: Dressage in Her DNA

By Laura Scaletti Portraits by Kristie Nichols Deirdre Sabo has known she was going to be a professional dressage rider since she was in kindergarten. While her classmates had plans of becoming astronauts, teachers and policemen, Deirdre knew her path in life would be astride a horse performing half passes and piaffes. “When other kids
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2021 US Equestrian European Young Rider Tour

By George Williams The immigration officer read through my letters from US Equestrian and the Compiègne show organizer before handing me back my passport and allowing me to pick up my bags at the Schiphol Airport after my flight arrived in Amsterdam on a Tuesday morning in May. A COVID test, or, in my case,
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Ben Ebeling: An Olympian in the Making

By Ruby Tevis  Portraits by Melissa Fuller It’s no secret that equestrians are the oldest Olympians. With an average age of 38, equestrians can be twice the age of athletes from other sports. Making it to the Olympics takes grit, talent and a little bit of ‘the right place at the right time’ — and
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Kat Fuqua: Following ALL Her Horse Dreams 

By Britney Grover Portraits by Shawna Simmons Some people took up new hobbies like gardening or knitting during the global pandemic in 2020. Kat Fuqua took up dressage shows. Even knowing how Kat excels in the hunter ring from ponies to USHJA International Derbies, breaking records and earning hundreds of division championships, her dressage debut
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Bianca Schmidt: Going Farther Than Gold

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Over the last few years, Bianca Schmidt has burst onto the dressage scene with a fierce drive to succeed. Not only has the 19-year-old rider triumphed at the North American Youth Championships, Bianca became a USDF Gold medalist as just a teenager. Now, she’s looking forward to returning
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Rockin’ Mental Tools in Riding and Competition

By George Williams “It’s all because your mama don’t dance and your daddy don’t rock and roll!” The Loggins & Messina lyric is definitely catchy. I’m not sure why it popped into my head when it did. However, it immediately became my mantra to help me maintain a calm and focused mind when the young
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North American Youth Championships and the Importance of Friendly Rivalry

By George Williams Every year as the days get longer and summer is almost here, I start looking forward to what has become an institution: one of the most instrumental dressage competitions we have in North America, the FEI North American Youth Championships (NAYC). While it’s gone by different names over the years, it has
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Tillie Jones: Cheering at College and Down Centerline

By Ruby Tevis Portraits by Melissa Fuller Tillie Jones has a lot on her plate, but she juggles her many endeavors with grace. The Nebraska Wesleyan University sophomore has been able to enjoy the traditional college experience as a proud member of her school cheerleading squad, a sister in the Delta Zeta sorority and a
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