My grandparents were visiting recently and brought home videos from when my brother and I were growing up. In my favorite, I am about a year old and walking my parents golden retriever. In the next scene, I’m sitting on my mom’s quarter horse -- first with my mom, then with my dad. I realized I have always been an animal person.

I started my horse career at the age of ten when I went to summer camp at Blue Heron Farm, hunter/jumper farm in Poulsbo, WA. Before the camp, I had ridden my mom’s horse and my pony but only for fun around our property. At this camp my passion for riding was found. After taking lessons for a year, I was fortunate to get a 4 year old quarter horse gelding by the name of “More Whiskey.” Wanting to improve my jumping and, after my first Pony Club Camp, I decided to take a dressage lesson or two. After the first dressage lesson I was smitten and have never looked back!

Whiskey and I made it to third level with the help of my trainer Jill Seely. I then found a Shire/National Show Horse mare by the name of “Shireland’s Winsome.” Winsome was a very green-broke 7 year old mare who had never been off the farm. It was quite the experience trying to teach her how to canter! Winsome and I won the Region 6 Northwest Dressage JYR Championship and competed successfully through second level. We also evented and went to numerous Pony Club and Area 7 Young Rider eventing camps where we had the chance to ride with top dressage and jumping coaches from all over the US.

When Winsome and I were nearing the end of our partnership (she is now a fantastic amateur’s horse in Gig Harbor, WA) I was fortunate enough to become the owner of Rubina. Ruby taught me more than just dressage, she taught me about determination and to never give up. One of the most difficult horses I have ever sat on, Ruby had been trained by a large German man who muscled her everywhere and therefore she never learned collection. The first week I had her I could not even get her on the bit! While she did tricks, I took her back to second level to teach her thoroughness and how to carry herself and to build a partnership.

Ruby and I worked hard and in 2003 competed at the USEF Junior Dressage Team Championships at Dressage at Devon. This is a competition for the top 12 riders in the US ages 14-18 that are competing at the FEI Junior Level, essentially fourth level. Once there you are placed on teams of four and compete as a member of those teams. My team, team Independence, won the Gold Medal.

In 2006 Ruby and I were members of the Region 6 North American Young Rider Championships team. This team consisted of the top four riders age 16-21 from region 6 competing at the FEI Young Rider level/Prix St. Georges. We got to Virginia but the morning of the jog, Ruby came up lame. I stayed at Young Riders caring for my horse and helping out my team and was honored to receive the sportsmanship award for the entire competition (consisting of dressage, show jumping and eventing). When we returned home and went to Dr. Revenaugh we learned Ruby had pulled her deep flexor tendon. Ruby is now back to full work but cannot compete at the FEI level; Michelle Anderson of Bend is now Ruby’s rider and mother. Ruby is teaching Michelle how to ride as well as the same lessons she taught me about determination and not giving up!

Throughout the years I have been able to train with some of the world’s best trainers. I participated in 8 USDF Advanced Young Rider’s Clinics with Conrad Schumacher. I have also ridden with Barbara Koot numerous times. Barbara is a rider from Holland who is on the prestigious Dutch Trainers Platform which gives continuous training to the top Dutch dressage and jumper trainers. Jill Seely and Kari McClain provided me with my early dressage education as well as Brook and Kelly Irving. I have cliniced with: Janet Brown-Foy, Kathy Connelly, Jeremy Beal and Debbie McDonald (at the USDF Symposium in 2002).

After Young Riders I came home and finished college, earning my Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing from the University of Washington, Tacoma. While going to school I taught lessons at Blue Heron Farms in Poulsbo and Kellenbrook Farms in Gig Harbor, WA.

In 2007 I was honored to receive a place in the Dressage Foundation’s European Olympic Dream program for young riders. Four young riders from around the country were chosen through an extensive application process to observe the European Young Rider Championships and travel to the barns of Carola Koppleman, Ingrid Klimke, Heike Kemmer and Hubertus Schmidt. At these barns we observed their training and riding techniques, watched them teach lessons and discussed their methods with each trainer. Being able to observe the best in the world for ten straight days brought my expectation and riding to a whole new level.

In March 2008 I began working for Jennifer William’s at Summervale Farm in Roy, WA. The majority of her business is selling horses so I got to ride a variety of horses from green three year olds to FEI horses. I also was able to compete on some of these horses. I learned so much from Jennifer and I hope to bring her to Bend for clinics in the near future! The past year I have continued teaching in Gig Harbor as well as clinicing regularly in Bend and Portland, Oregon.

I had the opportunity to travel to California in March, 2009, with Jennifer and compete with my coming five year old Hungarian mare, Welsie. It was an amazing experience. I was able to watch Jennifer’s lessons with Steffen Peters as well as watching Steffen ride. At the shows I was able to observe the top riders and learn from them. I hope to return to California each winter to further my training and compete.

I am excited to be in Bend where I continue riding, teaching, training and promoting sales horses. In the near future one of my goals is to compete in the Brentina Cup, a competition for young adults age 20-28. From there I hope to compete at Grand Prix and represent the US internationally.



About Natalie