Day One Journal:
Our first day with The Dressage Foundation’s Dream Program was full of amazing trainers, facilities, and information.
We began the day at Havensafe Farm, owned by Betsy Juliano, where we watched Scott Hassler give Jennifer Baumert a lesson on her horse, Opus. Scott shared valuable insight into his training philosophy, which centers on working for the horse, respecting each horse as an individual, and building training around their strengths and challenges. He encouraged riders to “research” their horses to truly understand how they are feeling, reminding us that “your horse knows you better than you think.” One phrase he repeated often was “coach him through it,” highlighting positive guidance rather than force.
Afterward, we spoke with Betsy Juliano about sponsorships and professional relationships. She stressed the importance of professionalism and visibility, noting that “The more people you can expose your riding to, the better,” and shared advice on building strong, mutually beneficial sponsor relationships.
We then watched Jennifer receive a lesson from her mother, Beth Baumert. It was insightful to observe the clear communication and mutual understanding between mother and daughter, as well as between the two trainers.
Next, we had a Q&A session with Canadian Olympian Jacqueline Brooks. She was very upbeat and emphasized balance as the foundation of upper-level work, saying, “In any sport, what gets ugly is the loss of balance, and you find the beauty when you find the balance.”
With Beth and Jennifer Baumert
After lunch, we headed to the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to watch the FEI jog. This was an incredible experience, as it was my first time witnessing a CDI jog and feeling the intense atmosphere of a major international competition. We also watched Charlotte Bredahl give one of her students who is competing in the CDI a lesson. The lesson focused on correct training and giving the mare time to settle.
After a short break, we headed back to Global to watch the Dressage Infusion Masterclass with Kyra Kyrklund, Cathrine Dufour, and Jan Brink. The three Olympians brought in many beautiful horse and rider combinations of different levels and backgrounds. They focused on fundamentals and exercises for improving the overall quality of the ride.
The first day could not have been more filled with education and new experiences, and was a beautiful way to start our week!
Day Two:
Our second day with The Dressage Foundation’s Dream Program was just as star-studded and informative as day one!
We started off our day picking up Reese-Koffler Stanfield, one of our chaperones for the day! Reese is a co-host of the Dressage Today Radio Show, and as a long-time listener, this was very exciting for me.
We then visited Roseview South Farms, where we watched a lesson with David Marcus and Molly Maloney, a 2013 participant in the Dream Program. It was amazing to meet someone who went through a similar program and was currently living their dream. David and Molly shared similar training philosophies. Their thoughtful approach to training emphasized patience, solid basics, and not rushing progress. Molly quoted David at one point, saying, “Don’t lose the Training Level horse in your Grand Prix horse.”
After that, we headed over to the Adequan Global Dressage Festival to watch the CDI3* and CDI5* FEI Grand Prix from the VIP tent, at a table generously donated by Adequan. Having never watched a Grand Prix test in person, I was beyond amazed by the talent and harmony radiating off these riders.
Valuable advice from Ali Brock
At Global, we spoke with many inspirational riders, trainers, and directors, including Jennifer Williams, USDF Region 5 Director Heather Petersen, Allison Brock, Olivia LaGoy-Weltz, and Sarah and Lee Tubman. Our discussions centered around building opportunities as young professionals and finding a balance between your career and personal life.
With Ali Brock, we discussed how to get your foot in the door and what she looks for when taking people on. “Your reputation and resume matter” she stated to us. She has an open communication policy and is more than willing to help people find where they fit best.
Sarah Lockman-Tubman and Lee Tubman offered inspiring advice on how to balance being professionals while also making time for life outside of work. Sarah says, “You pay your dues for a while, but it won't be forever.” Both bring positive energy and joy to this sport and its future generations.
Today was full of informative discussions, beautiful rides, and inspiring people all around. I'm excited to see what the rest of the week holds.
At the VIP Table for Friday Night Stars! With big thanks to Adequan!
Day Three:
Today was another education-packed day with The Dressage Foundation!
We started at Global for breakfast, where we shortly met up with Elli Brimmer, a US Para-Equestrian and highly active member of the USDF and the USEF. She serves on several committees and shared that the awards committee is her favorite due to the positivity involved.
We were then introduced to Lauren Chumley and Ali Potasky, both engaging and insightful. Ali received TDF’s $25,000 Carol Lavell Advanced Dressage Prize grant in 2023, and Lauren was awarded TDF’s $25,000 Dr. Anne L. Barlow Ramsay Grant for U.S.-Bred Horses for her US-bred mare. Both shared advice regarding young horses and their processes for turning them into upper-level FEI athletes. Both riders stated that following the FEI young horse classes can be a great way to keep them on track. Both riders maintained an extremely positive outlook.
Next, we visited High Meadows to observe a lesson with Richard White and Olivia LaGoy-Weltz. They focused on correct rider position, keeping the horse on the aids while maintaining self-carriage. Richard emphasized feeling the horse’s breath against your calf and creating the back that you want to sit on within every stride. One quote that stuck out to me was, “Your horse has to have body carriage as well as head and neck carriage; you have to be able to give with the leg, too”.
We then met Robert Dover, a six-time Olympian deeply committed to developing younger generations. He shared his journey in the sport, its evolution, and insight from his book The Gates to Brilliance. He states that the title came from a former coach who told him, “The gates to brilliance are surrounded by sweat and tears.” I thought that was beautiful and something that so many riders can attest to.
We ended the night back at Global to watch Friday Night Stars in the VIP tent, with our table donated by Adequan. We were able to watch six Grand Prix Freestyles, and each one held its own magic. This was a highlight that will be dancing its way through my dreams for a very long time.
With Chaperone Laura Ashley Killian and Dr. Hilary Clayton!
Day Four:
Today was our last full day with The Dressage Foundation's Dream Program, and it was just as impressive, educational, and wonderful as the others. We were joined by Laura Ashley Killian as a second chaperone, whose thoughtful questions and insight added to our experience.
We began the morning at Global for breakfast with Dr. Hilary Clayton, who shared valuable knowledge about everything on veterinary care, biomechanics, tack, and training. We picked her brain to our full advantage, from topics ranging from polo wraps, ice boots, tack fit, rider fitness, to exercises for our own horses. One of my favorite takeaways from her was her advice on cross-training: “Do exercises that are not part of dressage,” she states, with examples such as slowly walking down hills to encourage self-carriage.
We then were able to meet with Bill Warren, an FEI 4* and USEF ‘S’ judge, and Bill McMullin, a USEF ‘R’ Judge and USDF Certified Instructor. We talked to them about the process of becoming a judge and the process of giving scores. As a competitor, this felt like key information and offered a whole new perspective. We also discussed the process of becoming a USDF Certified instructor, something I have contemplated for years. I really believe this discussion was the push I needed to become more involved.
In the afternoon, we visited TYL Farms to meet Adreinne Lyle, Christian Simonson, and Katie Duerrhammer. We were given a tour by Christian, meeting the competition partners and seeing all the dedication that goes into keeping these top horses in amazing condition. One of my main takeaways from our visit with them was Adrienne's explanation for what keeps her going even when disappointment hits: “You have to love the process, that's what's going to get you through the highs and lows.” It was an encouraging reminder that even top riders and trainers in our industry face challenges, but it's the love for the horses and this sport that keeps them pushing through it.
Wrap-Up:
Returning to my regular day-to-day back home, I’ve realized how deeply this trip has reshaped my perspective on this beautiful sport. While it's hard to narrow down favorites, several key moments stood out that I have already incorporated into my own training and riding.
The first was from Scott Hassler’s philosophy about how the horse will give us all the information we need if we only choose to listen. He encourages riders to “research” their horse during each ride to understand their strengths and weaknesses and tailor training accordingly.
Another major takeaway came from two trainers who shared similar philosophies, focusing on the foundation of dressage. The first is from Richard White, on the idea of having correct and clear aids, as he taught Olivia LaGoy-Weltz. He stated that “if you're giving your horse an aid all the time to hold the gait or the rhythm, any further aids for an exercise or movement will get lost”. This echoed Molly Maloney’s quote from David Marcus, "don't lose the Training Level horse in the Grand Prix horse.” I think both of these quotes reinforce the importance of the training scale and always going back to basics.
This program was full of educational training philosophies, wonderful pieces of advice, and truly inspiring people, that I never would have had the chance to be exposed to without The Dressage Foundation. Growing up with limited access to educational opportunities due to location and finances, this was absolutely a dream turned into reality.
None of this would have been possible without the generosity of the sponsors who donate so much to not only this program but to TDF as a whole. Their support creates opportunities where they once didn’t exist and fosters a deeply supportive, uplifting community within our sport. I will be forever grateful and can never thank them enough.
