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Friday, October 21 2011 / Published in Weekly Feature

Five Questions for David Blake

David Blake is in the enviable position of training and riding with Steffen and Shannon Peters on a daily basis since he operates his David Blake Dressage Training facility out of Arroyo Del Mar in San Diego, California, a world-class training center led by the Peters.

“Scott Hassler introduced me to Steffen in 2006 and I began trailering my six-year-old Holsteiner gelding to Arroyo Del Mar for lessons in preparation for the Young Horse Championships in Lexington, Kentucky.  After the Championships, Steffen would give me lessons at shows and I would go to San Diego as often as possible for lessons,” David said.  “In the spring of 2009 the Peters officially asked me to move into Arroyo Del Mar so I moved there with my wife, Andrea, and two horses.”

David said, at the sake of sounding cheesy, it has been a dream come true for him.  “It is such a beautiful environment for both the horse and rider.  I get lessons from Steffen, especially in preparation for shows, but the daily lessons I get from watching Steffen and Shannon have made an incredible impact on my riding,” he said, adding that the little details he has picked up from watching riding at that level have been insurmountable.

David and Lord Albert competing at Gladstone Photo by Andrea Blake

 

Sidelines:  You competed at the 2011 Collecting Gaits Farm/USEF Festival of Champions in Gladstone on your horse Lord Albert, what was that like?

DB:  It was my first time there and it was such a wonderful experience.  I felt very honored to be in a class of incredible horses and riders, some of the best in the world.  In our Prix St. Georges class we were both a little tense and nervous and ended up 13th with a 67.3%.  In the Intermediaire I class we ended up 6th with a 69.47%, which was thrilling.  Places 1-5 included some soon-to-be world famous horses and the 2010 Intermediaire I Championship winner.  We ended up 9th overall in the Intermediaire I Championships and couldn’t be happier with our first trip there.

 

Sidelines:  You had great support getting to Gladstone, who helped you?

DB:  There were many fundraising parties for us, in addition to some very generous donations from a few of our clients, and that helped get us to Gladstone.  We were surrounded by such loving and generous people, it really was amazing.  It was such a huge relief to be able to concentrate on my riding with Albert and stay focused on that.

 

Sidelines:  How did you become partners with Lord Albert?

DB:  Lord Albert is a nine-year-old Hanoverian gelding who was imported to be a breeding stallion when he was four, but proved to be too difficult and naughty for his owner and anyone else for that matter.  He was brought to Arroyo Del Mar in hopes that he could find a partner but was too unruly there as well.  They suggested I come try him and right away I had a connection with him.  We rode a lot of bucks together but somehow always seemed to pull it together for the show ring.

 

Sidelines:  When did you and Lord Albert really connect?

DB:  In 2007, Albert and I won the West Coast Regional FEI Five-Year-Old Championships and qualified for the Young Horse Breeding World Championships in Verden, Germany.  We had only been together for about six months at that time and he had one more test for me before we really connected.  The day we arrived at the show grounds, Albert took off with me while I was hand walking him and I ended up breaking my collarbone and dislocating my shoulder.  I knew it was what he did to “win” and get his riders to give up on him.  I knew if I gave up on him during that show our partnership would never happen so I rode him the following day.  We ended up ranked in the middle of the class and both went home with a new respect for one another.  Albert just seems to get better and better every year and I plan on showing him at the grand prix level next season.  Albert is now the most reliable and the sweetest horse I have in the barn.   We understand each other and have a great relationship built on mutual respect.

 

Sidelines:  What is it like having your wife as your business partner?

DB:  Having my wife run my business with me by my side is the most recent highlight of my career.  She has been instrumental in my success and it makes me feel blessed every day to have here in my life.  Andrea and I knew each other in high school but never dated.  We went our separate ways after we graduated and met up again 10 years later.  She has a twin sister who married my best friend from high school in the Bahamas in 2006.  We reunited on the island and have been together every day since.  Andrea had never been around horses until we started dating and it wasn’t until we moved into Arroyo Del Mar that she actually worked with them.  She was my groom for the first six months at Arroyo.  It was a sink or swim type of situation and she did great.  We now have a groom and an assistant so she can concentrate on what she is really good at, which is marketing and sales.  I’m very lucky to have her working side by side with me; I know not many riders have that.

-By Jan Westmark-Allan 

 

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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...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
AI only and EVA negative
Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

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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