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.
Day Three: Coming Soon!
Day Four: Coming Soon!
Day Five: Coming Soon!
