Photo by Tamera with the Camera
Day One Journal:
Today was an incredibly educational and inspiring day. We began at Betsy Juliano’s Havensafe Farm, where we met Scott Hassler and watched him teach Jen Baumert on Opus. One of my biggest takeaways from his lesson was how deeply he respects the horse and always refers to the horse’s nature and biomechanics, especially the mechanics of the back in the trot and canter. A moment that truly inspired me was when he said, “Your warm-up is research,” and emphasized asking the same question every ride: Where is the horse at today? That idea changed how I think about preparation and will help me in the future to listen to my horse better.
We then watched Beth Baumert work with her daughter, Jen, on Catalyst. Something insightful that Beth said was that if a movement feels like a 6 or 7, it’s good enough, but if it’s a 5, redo it. That gave me a clearer standard for quality in my riding.
Barn aisle chat with Canadian Olympian Jacquie Brooks
Later, we met with Jacqueline Brooks for a Q&A and spoke with Betsy Juliano about sponsorships. Betsy helped me understand that sponsors care not only about results, but also about your philosophy, communication, and how you present yourself daily.
In the evening, we attended the Dressage Infusion Masterclass at Adequan Global Dressage Festival with Olympians Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour, Kyra Kyrklund, and Jan Brink. Watching Cathrine ride a horse she had never really sat on was incredible and showed what true feel and adaptability look like. I was fascinated by exercises such as using a polo wrap under the belly to engage the horse’s core and help the rider sit deeper into the saddle, as well as riding a rising trot in a 2-up, 1 down rhythm to slow the horse with weight. One thing that seemed very simple but surprised me was when patting the horse with the outside hand instead of the inside when being told my whole life I should be doing it the other way around.
Seeing riders of all ages and levels today reinforced what’s possible in dressage and strengthened my goal to ride with intention, feel, and respect for the horse.
Day Two:
Day 2 of The Dressage Foundation’s Dream Program was another full and inspiring day immersed in learning, conversation, and observation with some truly incredible people in the sport.
We began the morning at Roseview South Farm, owned by Judy Sloan, where we watched David Marcus give Molly Maloney a lesson. Although many of the concepts were familiar, hearing them explained in new ways made them resonate differently. One phrase that stuck with me was, “The outside rein is your friend in the canter work.” David also shared an interesting perspective on teaching flying changes, introducing them earlier on a young horse rather than waiting until counter canter and other advanced canter exercises are deeply established. Another valuable reminder was that sometimes going to a rising trot is necessary to help the horse’s back relax and truly swing; sitting isn’t always the answer.
Afterward, we watched Molly give Judy Sloan a lesson on her nine-year-old Grand Prix Lusitano. I loved Molly’s emphasis on “recycling the energy from behind into the front end” and, even more, her reminder not to lose your Training Level horse within your Grand Prix horse. Her words reinforced the importance of patience with both the horse and me, and trusting the process rather than rushing results.
Watching Molly ride one of her own Grand Prix horses was fascinating. Her investment, focus, and passion for her horses were so clear and inspiring.
With Lee and Sarah Tubman
Later, we headed to the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to watch the CDI3* and CDI5*, where we met and spoke with several talented professionals, including Ali Brock, Sarah Tubman, and Lee Tubman. Sarah’s advice to “stick to a system and not jump to the next best thing” really struck me. It made me reflect on my own journey and realize that I still have so much growth left where I am now. Their reminder that our greatest difficulties often come right before our biggest breakthroughs was incredibly motivating.
Overall, today reinforced my belief that growth comes from patience, consistency, and being brave enough to try and not being afraid to advocate for yourself along the way.
The Dream Program watched Oliva LaGoy-Weltz receive a lesson from Richard White
Day Three:
Day three of The Dressage Foundation’s Dream Program began at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival in the VIP tent, where we had the opportunity to meet Ellie Brimmer. She explained the many committees she serves on and gave us a deeper look into the structure of the sport, including an in-depth discussion of Para-Dressage. Hearing about the behind-the-scenes work that supports dressage as a whole gave me a greater appreciation for how much dedication it takes off the horse to keep the sport moving forward.
Afterward, we watched the U25 rides and the Small Tour, which was incredibly educational and inspiring. We then had the chance to speak with Lauren Chumley and Ali Potasky, and our conversation focused heavily on young horses, something that truly resonates with me and aligns with where I hope to take my career. Ali’s words, “They all go at their own pace, but you have to have accountability,” really stuck with me. Lauren also emphasized that sometimes “you have to push the line a little bit,” which reminded me that progress requires both patience and courage.
Next, we traveled to High Meadows in White Fences to watch Olivia LaGoy-Weltz ride with Richard White. Richard’s teaching was centered completely around the basics. He repeatedly said “step by step,” emphasizing the importance of feeling every single stride and never rushing through a gait. His reminder that “it’s not one step running into the other” changed how I think about tempo; slower does not mean lazy, but rather adjustable and attentive. He also spoke about separating the aids before putting them together, making things clearer and easier for the horse to understand.
Later, we had the privilege of speaking with Robert Dover, who shared his journey and some of the history of dressage. His quote, “The gates to brilliance are surrounded by sweat and tears,” deeply resonated with me and reinforced that my goals are achievable through hard work and perseverance.
We ended the day watching the CDI 5* FEI Freestyles, which was such a fun and inspiring way to close. I’m already excited for Day Four.
Day Four:
Day four marked our final day in Wellington, and it was an incredibly insightful way to conclude The Dressage Foundation’s Dream Program.
We began the morning speaking with Dr. Hilary Clayton, and I found our conversation about her research studies absolutely fascinating. Being able to ask her opinions on topics such as different types of tack, footing, and tools like the Equiband saddle pad gave me a deeper understanding of how science and training intersect. Beyond the research, she also shared valuable training wisdom, encouraging us to find ways around problems in our riding rather than meeting them head-on. One concept that truly fascinated me was her explanation of how the rein back tilts the horse’s pelvis similarly to piaffe, and that piaffe can actually be developed from the rein back.
Next, we met Bill McMullin and Bill Warren, where we watched several CDI3* FEI Grand Prix Special tests. They walked us through how each movement would be judged and explained the reason behind the scores, which was extremely eye-opening. They also expanded on the USDF “L” Education Program and the USDF Instructor/Trainer Development Program, reinforcing why these educational pathways are so important, especially for young professionals.
Bill McMullin’s quote, “The transitions tell the truth,” really resonated with me. When paired with Molly Maloney’s earlier reminder not to lose the Training Level horse within the Grand Prix horse, it reinforced just how critical the basics are at every stage of training.
Later in the day, we were invited to TYL Farms by Adrienne Lyle and Christian Simonson, who generously showed us around the barn. We then watched Adrienne give Katie Duerrhammer a lesson, filled with practical exercises that I’m excited to incorporate into my daily riding. One piece of advice that stood out was to push your horse to build confidence, but only when you are 100% certain they are capable of the task.
Overall, this entire experience has been truly unforgettable. I’m incredibly grateful for everything I’ve learned and cannot wait to bring these lessons home and apply them to my training.
Wrap-Up:
Wow, what a trip this has been. These past few days with The Dressage Foundation’s Dream Program have been filled with learning, inspiration, and moments that I will carry with me for a long time.
Two key training takeaways truly stood out to me. The first was the consistent reminder to never lose sight of the basics, no matter how advanced the work becomes. Hearing phrases like “the transitions tell the truth” and being reminded not to lose your Training Level horse within your Grand Prix horse reinforced that correct fundamentals are the foundation of everything we strive for in dressage. The second takeaway was learning to work with the horse’s biomechanics rather than against them. Whether it was understanding how rein back influences the pelvis like piaffe, using rising trot to help the back relax and swing, or simplifying exercises by separating the aids, I gained a new appreciation for thoughtful, horse-centered training.
This program will have a lasting impact on my future dressage journey. It gave me clarity in my goals and confidence in the path I am on, especially in my desire to work with young horses. Listening to so many professionals emphasize patience, accountability, and consistency reminded me that progress does not come from rushing, but from committing fully to the process and trusting the system you are in.
One of the most special parts of this experience was the group I shared it with. Being surrounded by riders who were just as curious, passionate, and excited to learn made every day even more meaningful. From sharing reactions after watching top-level rides to laughing together between sessions, the sense of community added so much joy to the experience.
I am incredibly grateful to the donors who make this program possible. Being part of this opportunity was truly special because it allowed me to learn directly from leaders in our sport while feeling genuinely supported as a young rider. If a donor were standing in front of me, I would thank them for believing in the future of dressage and for investing in riders like me. Their generosity creates far more than opportunities; it builds confidence, direction, and lifelong inspiration.
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank The Dressage Foundation for creating and supporting this program. TDF’s commitment to education, growth, and the next generation of riders is truly impactful, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of such a meaningful and inspiring experience.
