2024 Young Rider Dream Program Journal: Caroline Colby (NH)
Photo by Susan J Stickle
Growing up in a small town has given me the determination to make the best out of all opportunities. Getting to be a part of TDF’s Young Rider Dream Program is an unbelievable opportunity that I am eagerly looking forward to.
Caroline's Day 1 Journal:
Overview:
Bit fitting at High Meadows Farm with Stephanie Brown-Beamer
Lunging lesson & watched a ride with Olivia LaGoy-Weltz and John Wagner
A lesson with the Hasslers at Poinciana Farm
Tour of Poinciana Farm with Jane Cleveland
Watched Jane Cleveland’s three-year-old stallion with John Amber
If I had to pick a common theme for today, it would be young horses. Throughout our entire day, we as a group kept discussing young horses, and then at every stop, we got to see incredible young horses in person. At the beginning of the day, we watched Olivia LaGoy-Weltz ride a client's young horse, and John Wagner ride one of his. We also talked with Scott Hassler about the qualities to look for when looking at young horses. At the end of the day, we watched the owner and founder of Poinciana Farm, Jane Cleveland, ride her three-year-old stallion.
The most educational part of my day was at the beginning. I don’t know if it was because the coffee had just started doing its job, but I learned an incredible amount while listening to Stephanie talk about bits. Bits have always been a part of the horse world I know little about. I never really put in time to educate myself and make sure that the bit I was using allowed the horse to achieve its full potential.
Learning about bits with Stephanie Brown-Beamer
On the way to Poinciana Farm, we talked as a group about how we wanted to know what goes into looking for a young horse or the next horse. Coincidentally Scott Hassler greeted us with a two-page printout of the “Qualities of a Dressage Horse” he had made the night before. He talked about what he looked for when he was overseas looking at prospective horses. This list includes rideability, soundness and durability, three good gaits, and many more qualities.
We finished the day with Jane by touring Poinciana Farm and discussing all her ideas that went into the building of her farm. We decided as a group to stay at Poinciana to watch her ride her three-year-old stallion. John Wagner helped her with him, and he made a very good point about how much groundwork can help when you start working a young horse under saddle. The vocal cues a horse learns when being lunged can be transferred when ridden so that the horse can put together how the leg means to go.
Tour of Poinciana with owner Jane Cleveland
Caroline's Day 2 Journal
Today was a day for the books. Today, I think I learned more than I ever have.
I want to say a huge, huge, huge thank you to Reese Koffler-Stanfield. Reese spent her day with the Young Rider Dream Program and she really made today a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our group intended to meet three or four professional equestrians, but with the help of Reese's amazing social skills, we were able to speak with 16!
I cannot possibly share every highlight from every person I was able to speak with today but I have gathered my favorite few. A phrase and philosophy that was mentioned today by multiple trainers, including Jennifer Willams and Adrienne Lyle, was that working a horse five or six days a week did not have to be a requirement. Both trainers talked about seriously training three or four times a week with a day of stretching and a day of hacking spread in between. It was refreshing in my eyes to hear these top trainers say this because many people think train, train, train but what good is that truly doing us?
Watching Adrienne Lyle teach lessons
Another phrase that has been mentioned a lot the past two days is to “have a goal" and “work hard for this goal” and “focus on a goal.” Lee Tubman shared another perspective, and I loved hearing it. He said that one of his biggest pieces of advice was to not pass up opportunities. He shared that, in a way he had passed up opportunities to reach certain goals, even when the opportunity he passed up might've been the better one in the long run. He helped me come to terms with being ok with side tracking to accomplish something else, or taking a pitstop on the way to reaching the original goal.
A category in the dressage world that I know little about is Para Dressage. Rebecca Hart explained her process of riding, and Para riding in general, and her efforts finding her next Para horse. She explained how both of her current horses were trained as able rider horses and how one of her horses actually listened to a vocal go aid better than a physical one. She also explained the 1 - 5 scale the para riders are divided on to make competing fair to all.
Great opportunity to meet Para-Olympian Rebecca Hart!
Caroline's Day 3 Journal
The Young Rider Dream Program started our day bright and early by watching Charlotte Bredahl coach her student before she entered the U25 class. We then followed Charlotte to Bell Tower Farm where we watched her coach another professional, Kristina Harrison-Antell, and her two super cute horses Finley and Felix. We talked a lot about the pirouette and exercises to make this movement stronger. One of these exercises was to start with a square and focus on making the corners VERY square. This will allow the horse to bend its body into the turn but not let the hind end fall in. It also gives the rider a stride or two until the next quarter turn to rebalance the pair.
Our group spent the afternoon with Bill McMullin and Bill Warren—we talked all about judging, including the requirements to become a judge, training programs and certain rules for dressage judging. They both had good pieces of advice when they were asked, “What is one thing you would tell your 20-year-old self?” Both Bills agreed that they wished they had taken more opportunities when they were younger, which seems to be a common answer to this question. One Bill talked about how he wished he spent more time in Europe.
We then were able to meet with Katherine Bateson where we were able to talk about her past and some advice. Katherine mentioned how it is very important to make sure that your trainer, coach and mentor all have your common goals and values. Her biggest piece of advice for all of us was to not burn bridges, which again has been a common answer. She talked about how the horse world is small and an impression can follow you for a long time.
We ended our night under the lights at the Friday Night Freestyles at Global. It was amazing to watch these riders and horses dance to music. I would like to thank Adequan for allowing the Dream Program to enjoy the VIP tent during our week in Wellington.
With Judges Bill McMullin and Bill Warren
Caroline's Day 4 Journal:
We started the day at Five Rings Farm and WOW! That farm is impressive. We had the pleasure of watching Genay Vaughn ride her mare. She led us through her warmup routine along with tips about how to prepare mentally during her rides. We then were able to sit with Genay and eagerly ask her questions. She helped me with my question “As a senior in high school who will be coming down to Wellington for school, do I want to board at school or live at the barn?” Genay helped talk me through how you can find a balance between experiencing college and being a good rider.
Later in the day, we were able to watch a TDF Century Club ride. It was so inspirational to see that an older pair of horses and riders can still do it. This sport is amazing, unlike a lot of others because there is really no age limit. There are riders and horses of all ages, and it is so nice to see.
Taking notes during Genay's training session at Five Rings Farm
Caroline's Wrap-Up
We started the day at Five Rings Farm and WOW! That farm is impressive. We had the pleasure of watching Genay Vaughn ride her mare. She led us through her warmup routine along with tips about how to prepare mentally during her rides. We then were able to sit with Genay and eagerly ask her questions. She helped me with my question “As a senior in high school who will be coming down to Wellington for school, do I want to board at school or live at the barn?” Genay helped talk me through how you can find a balance between experiencing college and being a good rider.
Later in the day, we were able to watch a TDF Century Club ride. It was so inspirational to see that an older pair of horses and riders can still do it. This sport is amazing, unlike a lot of others because there is really no age limit. There are riders and horses of all ages, and it is so nice to see.
