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Wednesday, March 01 2023 / Published in Sidelines Feature, Sidelines Spotlight, Weekly Feature

Marie Meyers: A Small Team With Big Dreams

By Ruby Tevis

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.”

With her jumping horse, Marie set out overseas to become completely immersed in her education. “It was a little bit of a shock to leave home and my family in that way when I was so young,” Marie said.“Looking back, I wish I knew more at the time so I could really understand everything that was being taught to me. It was a remarkable few years, and even better when I found Dimitrius. I sold my jumper, bought Dimi as a 3-year-old, and we flew back to California together. I knew he was something special, but I never expected he’d become my Grand Prix mount for the US Equestrian Team.”

A Special Partner

Back stateside with her new horse, Marie spent some time training with Hilda Gurney and was then introduced to Robert Dover. “I went to see a horse for sale and he was riding at the farm,” Marie said. “I remember watching him and thinking, Wow! His riding was like nothing I’d ever seen at that point.”

Mesmerized by Robert’s connection with horses, Marie asked him if she could bring Dimitrius to train. “Robert saw the horse as an individual, and he really understood how horses think,” she said. “It’s what Dimi needed. Nowadays, Dimi would be considered an average horse, but back then he had really nice gaits.”

Though Dimitrius had many talents, Marie describes him as a difficult ride. “He found many things easy, but he was not an easy horse to ride. He was difficult in his character,” she said. “Robert helped me navigate that. I learned how to be very quiet with my hands. I learned how to sit and what a horse needs. I would’ve never finished him if it weren’t for Robert. He helped me so much bringing Dimi to Grand Prix.”

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.

“We were very lucky to have Herbert Rehbein as our coach for Stockholm,” Marie said. “To be around somebody who’s in a league by himself as a rider and horseman was an amazing experience. We’d had Robert coaching on the tour the year before, and his familiarity with the European circuit was invaluable to our preparation. It’s a complete honor to represent your country—there’s no doubt about it—but there are huge sacrifices you make, too. It’s not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of determination, but there’s nothing else like it.”

Friends in Business

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. It was while Marie was off teaching a clinic that her husband, Frank, received several phone calls from 16-year-old horse enthusiast Marisa Festerling. “Practical Horseman had just run a story on Marie,” Marisa said. “The article asked what was on

her Christmas list, and Marie said she wanted a jacuzzi in the shape of a horse head. I thought that was pretty great, so I wanted to come take a lesson with her. This was before cell phones, and I didn’t know she was gone at a clinic, so I kept calling Marie’s house!”

Thanks to Marisa’s persistence, Marie called back and invited her over for a lesson. “She had her old horse trailer, and Grandpa driving it,” Marie said. “She had this horse that really didn’t like dressage very much, so she came over for three lessons in a row. I told her she needed to stay for training, but she couldn’t afford it, so I offered her a job and that’s it—she never left!”

Now preparing to celebrate 30 years in business together, Marie and Marisa make the perfect team. “It was effortless with Marisa. Despite our age difference, we are so similar in many ways. We both have a work ethic like no other, and she’s always been a pleasure to teach,” Marie said. “When you’re with someone so long, you build a level of respect and trust that makes working together so seamless.”

As a working student, Marisa started her education with none other than Dimitrius, who was retired from competition after the World Equestrian Games. Alongside developing her young student, Marie was also developing her next Grand Prix star, Extraordinaire, a gelding she purchased as a 4-year-old.

Pressure is a Privilege

No stranger to difficult horses, Marie found her experience with Extraordinaire as quite the opposite of Dimitrius. “Dimi was short backed, very light and a real ‘ladies horse,’ but was emotional. Extraordinaire had an amazing mind but was as long as a train,” Marie said. “He was extremely gifted, but he was a hard ride because of his size.”

Competing in his first Grand Prix at just 8 years old, Extraordinaire was poised for a young international career, beginning with his invitation to the 1992 Olympic Festival. Just as training Extraordinaire was different, competing him also proved to be an opposite experience for Marie. “With Dimitrius, you were happy if you could survive and he didn’t try to kill you,” she laughed. “With Extraordinaire, I just had to concentrate on doing the movements and the test—he wasn’t spooky at all!”

In 1997, Marie was welcomed to the European Tour once again, this time with Extraordinaire. The tour represented a full-circle moment for Marie, competing in England at the Hickstead CDI. “At Wimbledon, there is a quote on the wall from Billie Jean King that says ‘Pressure is a privilege,’” Marie said. “It’s a privilege for sure.”

This privilege—the privilege of being on the US Equestrian Team—would be one that Marisa would eventually experience for herself. As Marisa progressed from working student to assistant trainer, she had the opportunity to develop Big Tyme, a talented Belgian Warmblood gelding whose size lives up to his name.

“We bought him as a 3-year-old, and he was supposed to be for me, but he was just too big, so Marisa took him on to develop,” Marie said. As a young partnership, Marisa and Big Tyme traveled to Verden, Germany, to compete at the World Breeding Championships for Young Horses. Big Tyme quickly progressed to the FEI level, and in 2011, Marisa’s dreams came true: a ticket to the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“I started as a kid who could barely ride around the arena, and Marie invested all her time and effort into me. She didn’t have to do that, but Marie is that kind of person. To win a team gold and individual bronze, it took 100% commitment from everybody—it was my horse, my family, my partners, it was Marie—I wouldn’t have gotten there without her, there’s no question,” Marisa said.

“Watching Marisa ride at the Pan-Ams is the biggest accomplishment of my career,” Marie said. “When it’s yourself out there, it’s all in your ballpark, but when it’s somebody you’ve brought along winning the medals, it’s a huge accomplishment for all of us.”

The Future to Come

Marie no longer considers Marisa her assistant trainer. “We’re equal partners now,” Marie said. “We both run the business. It depends who comes in the barn. I make her ride the difficult ones; I ride the easier ones, and I help some students and she helps others.”

Together, alongside business partners David and Alisa Wilson, Marie and Marisa are adding a new facet to their business—MWM Sales, specializing in importing horses and matching them with riders in the United States. “We really love selling horses,” Marie said. “Some people like sales and a lot of people don’t, but we both love flying over and looking at horses. We love helping riders find the horse of their dreams.”

In the competition ring, Marie has Double Dream, whom she trains with Guenter Seidel, at Grand Prix, and Marisa has De Russie preparing for his Grand Prix debut. With the Desert International Horse Park offering CDIs, the two don’t have to travel too far for international competitions. Showing beside Marie will be her young granddaughter, Athena, with her palomino pony. “She’s going to take over the business, if everything goes to plan,” Marie said. “Marisa has two kids, and her daughter is so talented, but she picked soccer. I’m really bummed!”

Marie is grateful for her journey in life, her lasting partnership with Marisa, and her husband of 42 years, Frank. “We don’t change people very much,” Marie laughed. “I enjoy working with my clients; some we’ve had for a very long time. I really do love riding every day. I get up and I’m so happy to ride, but I have Marisa, so I know when the time comes that I can’t ride, I can do sales, teach and work on the ground. Until then, it’s all about enjoying every minute doing what I love.”

For more information, visit mariemeyersdressage.com

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

Double D Trailers Info

Tagged under: california, Hickstead CDI, Lindsey Long Equine Photography, Marie Meyers, Marisa Festerling, Moorpark

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Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Gre Lisa Goldman-Smolen and Ivaro N strike gold in Great American $300,000 Grand Prix at HITS Ocala!! 🏆🥇

Crowds filled the stands at the HITS Ocala Grand Prix Ring on Sunday afternoon to watch the world’s top athletes compete in the Great American $300,000 Grand Prix. The day concluded with a thrilling five-horse jump-off featuring athletes 
representing four countries. In the end, it was Lisa Goldman-Smolen (USA) and Ivaro N who produced the only double clear effort of the day, claiming one of the biggest wins of her career. Scott Keach (AUS) and Noble De La Chapelle earned the second-place prize with the fastest 4-fault jump-off, while Aaron Vale (USA) and Obi Wan placed third as the day’s pathfinders.

“I'm still on cloud nine, I still can't believe it – I’ve used up all my luck for the year,” smiled Goldman-Smolen after her win. “I've been knocking on the door a long time in these bigger classes. I am so proud of my horse – he gave every ounce of effort.”

Sunday’s Great American $300,000 Grand Prix marked the conclusion of the 2023 HITS Ocala circuit. HITS CCO Joe Norick concluded, “We are so excited about the new HITS, with 2023 as the launch. New footing, many new arenas here, and a lot of our facilities across America are getting a lot of love and new footing. Our partnerships with Worldly Martin and others across America including our footing leader Bart Poles overseeing our operations – it really makes a big difference for us. Today is about Ocala and these three riders sitting next to me who supported us this entire winter. We want to be a proud destination for our exhibitors and our friends. We know we have to provide them a beautiful showplace to work from that's horseman friendly, and that's our go goal. 

Congratulations to all of the riders, horses, owners, and groom who participated in this prestigious class!!! 🎉
📸 @esi_photography 
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It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is. It's #STUDSunday and today's featured stallion is...

 ✨PF'S DIAMO BLUE✨
Diarado-Diamant de Semilly- Chacco Blue
17.0hh, Oldenburg International Hunter Derby/ Jumper Stallion
An outstanding Pedigree- Chacco Blue and Diamant de Semilly
WBFSH/ Rolex top ranking Jumping Sires 2017 thru 2022
Standing at Ryan Pedigo Sport Horses, in California

For more information, you can contact 
🖥Ryanpedigosporthorses.com
🖥Ryan.p.f@hotmail.com
☎️(714) 357-2714

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 🦄

@ryanpedigosporthorsespf_

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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

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #love #cheval #showjumping #horselife #photography #nature #pferde #horseofinstagram #caballo #riding #horsebackriding #pferdeliebe #caballos #horsepower #horsephotography #instagram #Sidelinesmagazine
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
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