Vanessa Simon

Hi! My name is Vanessa, I am 20 years old and I live in Lakewood, CO.  I am so thankful and thrilled to have this opportunity to go to Europe and see all of the amazing riders. It will be a once in a lifetime adventure.  I just completed my sophomore year at Pitzer College in Claremont, CA. My major of the moment is Human Biology and I hope to go on to graduate school in Public Health.  I began riding at a local barn when I was 8 years old.  By the time I was 12, I had gravitated from saddle seat and hunt seat riding to dressage. I had an Arabian/Dutch Warmblood named Kentucky Rain at the time and he never ran out of energy.  But when we reached higher levels, he just couldn't handle the concentration.  After owning a horse that would rather be jumping than doing dressage, I got Que Cir Que from a barn in Colorado.  I have had Cir Que for 5 years. He is a 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding from Quattro B. Together, we have progressed from 3^rd level to Intermediaire 1.  In 2004 we went to the USEF Junior Dressage Championships in Pebble Beach, CA.  In 2006 we went to Virginia for the NAYJRC Championships and had to adjust to the extreme heat very quickly.  With my trainer, Sandra Hotz, we have come a long way. This year Cir Que has been recovering from a tendon injury.  I hope to move Cir Que back to school with me in the fall. We hope to compete PSG and I-1 in the California show circuit next season.  I have also been involved in the USDF Youth Executive Board for about 5 years. We have been involved in creating scholarships for youth riders to support their attendance and involvement in USDF at the annual conventions.  I hope to learn a lot about the European riders and how their system of riding compares to the riding we have in the US.