2024 Young Rider Dream Program Journal: Chloe Roth (SC)

It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of this incredible program. I am beyond excited for the opportunity to hear and learn from some of the masters of this sport. I am so grateful for the mission of TDF and their desire to equip individuals and invest in the future of dressage.

Chloe's Day 1 Journal:

Today was the first day of the Young Rider Dream Program. My mind is brimming with all the things I have seen and experienced. I cannot write it all down and keep this entry to an acceptable length so I shall just share some of my favorite highlights.

High Meadow Farm:

Stephanie Brown-Beamer - Taught us a fascinating lecture on the anatomical structure of a horse’s mouth (and the variety therein) and how bits should be fitting in the mouth.

• Find the right bit fit according to the anatomy of your horse’s mouth. 70% of horses are in bits that are too big (especially curbs).
• You have to think about the “working shape” of the bit (how it lays in the mouth when you pick the reins up).
• Get to know your horse’s mouth! Feel the bars!
• If the curb is too big, you get tilting in the bit which then pushes the tongue away from the bars and the bit ends up putting pressure on the bars.
• You have to be willing to be creative but do it in an educated way.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz - Demonstrated how she uses groundwork to observe how her horses are using their bodies without a rider in the saddle, what she looks for in young horses and some of her training philosophy.

• What you see on the ground translates to what you see under saddle.
• Whenever you get the chance to lunge your horse, make a study of his body.
• The horse needs to develop a good internal focus.
• When you are training young horses you have to be totally present.
• Have a relaxed, positive way of teaching your young horse.
• Don’t stick with one thing too long (in your training session)- it’s all about incremental progress.
• The hind leg has to have a place to go.
• You can’t be the glue holding your horse together.
• The biggest thing I want in a young horse is an amazing brain. Really steady, a good work ethic, and athletic but I don’t want them to use that athleticism in a dangerous way.
• Sometimes good is good enough.

Poinciana Farm:

Scott and Sara Hassler - An extremely informative demo ride. Scott handed each of us a list of traits that make the ideal dressage horse and spoke to us about each of them while Sara rode a lovely horse (Boitano) who exhibited those traits.

• Look for a horse that wants to naturally carry themselves in a round way as it will help you in the training process.
• Tension is our enemy.
• We have to be able to be bold without tension.
• A young horse first understands contact and then connection.
• The hardest thing to train in dressage is a good (supple, carrying, lifting) back.
•  A trot can be manufactured, a canter cannot.
• There’s life in the half-halt. The horse shouldn’t quit behind.
• As much as we’re addicted to our rein aids, we need to be addicted to our leg aids.
• You’re not going to be handed a string of superstars- you need to learn to identify them.
• My philosophy in training is to first understand the horse.
• You have to look deeper to know where to begin.
• The more you look deeper into a horse, the better you can train him.

Jane Cleveland - Gave us an incredible tour of Poinciana Farm (which she designed and owns). It was amazing to hear from her about all the thought and intention that went into creating this property. I appreciated every one of her practical and experienced insights she shared with us from shavings and feed to cooling the water (!) and footing. Afterwards, we had the pleasure of watching John Amber and, later, Jane ride her lovely three-year-old stallion.

Lendon Gray - We then closed out our evening with a lovely dinner at Beth Baumert’s home with Lendon Gray. It was a wonderful time filled with discussion and insightful advice for the future in this challenging and provoking yet beautiful sport. To speak with, hear from, and observe these wonderfully passionate, talented, extraordinary people doing what they love and doing it with a level of dedication that inspired one to grow to new heights, was truly encouraging. Magic doesn’t just happen on the back of the horse. It happens when someone takes the time to pour into you and share their greatest triumphs and hardest of failures, their life-lessons and the fortitude necessary to live that life. So, thank you. Thank you to all the people who took time out of their day to speak into me, into us. Your wisdom is valued and I shall take it forward through the rest of my riding journey.

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Chloe's Day 2 Journal:

I thought yesterday was busy.

I was wrong.

Today was . . . amazing, to say the least. First of all, we had the privilege of sitting at Adequan’s VIP table in the tent at Global. It was such a cool experience to watch the CDI horses riding their tests from that vantage point, so, many thanks to Adequan for giving us that opportunity.

One of the advantages of sitting at the Adequan table was how many people we had the chance to meet and hear from. In the afternoon, after about six hours of listening and watching, we went to TyL Dressage where we spoke with Adrienne Lyle and Betsy Juliano and observed as Adrienne taught Christian Simonson and Quinn Iverson. Afterwards, we drove back to Global and met with Sarah and Lee Tubman for another fantastic conversation. Around 6:15 we traveled home for dinner with Dr. Hilary Clayton who answered a million questions from us and shared so many insightful thoughts.

Looking back on today, I am so grateful for how intentional The Dressage Foundation is at introducing us to such accomplished riders/trainers/judges to teach and speak into us. For an example, just today we met:

Jennifer Williams, Kim Herslow, Reese Koffler-Stanfield, Heather Petersen, Hilary Moore-Hebert, Dottie Morkis, Rebecca Hart, Adrienne Lyle, Betsy Juliano, Christian Simonson, Quinn Iverson, Sarah Tubman, Lee Tubman, and Dr. Hilary Clayton.

Some of my favorite thoughts from today:

• Develop a lot of relationships. Show people that you are an honest person and build your brand around integrity.
• When training horses, often times less is more.
• This sport is all about mentality.
• Go and get in the trenches! You can’t be afraid of hard work.
• Don’t ride your test for your worst thing (don’t be only worried about getting that worst thing right), ride your test for all your strengths!
• Nothing is handed to you on a platter, you have to put in the work.
• It can be easy when you’ve been successful to not want to hear the advice from someone who hasn’t done what you’ve accomplished ,but you have to remember that everyone has something to teach and give.
• Doors are going to get shut but you have to be persistent and find the next opportunity.
• The only way to learn how to handle pressure is to put yourself in high-pressure situations.
• Don’t suddenly change what you’re doing when you get to a show. A systematic routine that the horses are used to will drive confidence for them when they’re off property.
• There are always things that go right and things that go wrong, you have to meet the challenges with equanimity.
• There is so much value in stillness.
• Every single decision you make in your life (down to the tiniest one) you need to ask if that decision is driving you towards your goal.
• Be patient and ride the ups and downs and stick to your principles.

Whew! What a great day! Many thanks to everyone who made today so fabulous in every way. As I’m signing off, I can’t help but wonder what Day 3 will hold…

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Chloe's Day 3 Journal:

What a fun day! Julie McKean joined our group for the day. We followed Charlotte Bredahl around in the morning and watched her teach a warmup and two lessons. One of the riders was Kristina Harrison-Antell who we then had the privilege of talking with. Afterwards, we were at Global till mid-afternoon where we met up with and spoke to: Sven Steffens-Smienk, Bill Warren, Bill McMullin, and Katherine Bateson-Chandler. We then ran quickly home to get freshened up and come back to Global to experience Friday Night Lights at the Adequan table under the tent. Which was just, wow. Incredibly grateful to Adequan for giving us that experience.

Here are some of my favorite takeaways from today:

• Geometry is important because it tells you where your horse is in space.
• Get ahold of the hind legs.
• There is a difference between quickness and cadence.
• Teach the extravagant movers a “small trot.”
• When training your horse, never lose sight of the big picture.
• When you receive a new young horse, you should first find the answer to the question, “Who are you?”
• Horses thrive on routine.
• You have to be very dedicated and willing to work hard to make it in this sport (a big theme for this week!).
• The most important thing is to find a coach who can also be your mentor.
• Change is uncomfortable but it is so important to help you move forward.
• You cannot get to the top alone. Have a good team.
• If you have the opportunity, take it, do it.
• Don’t base your life decisions on one thing (that may change the next day).
• Your education has to be top priority. And don’t wait to do it, do it now!
• Align yourself with a good mentor.
• Pick mentors that teach and ride and align with your values.
• Be tenacious and determined.

Today was wonderful. So much learned. There seems to be a theme among all those we talk to about working hard, building relationships, and taking the opportunities that come your way (if they align with your goals). And then, too, the people you surround yourself with are so important to your success (and I would venture to say your daily level of happiness as well).

In regards to Friday Night Lights…speechless. We all had such a blast together watching and discussing the rides and itching to be back in the saddle ourselves. So, thank you Adequan. I will treasure these memories forever.

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Chloe's Day 4 Journal:

Today we spent the morning touring the beautiful Five Rings Farm and observing Genay Vaughn ride her mare, Fleur Noir. We then made our way to Global where we had the chance to watch Para-Dressage and observe an amazing Century Club ride. Later in the evening, we made our way to the World Equestrian Festival to watch the show jumping for a fun last evening out.

Takeaways from today:

Riding

• Always have your test in mind when riding.
• Genay tries to switch what movements she schools each day so that the horse doesn’t get too overworked in one area (like if you do piaffe/passage one day, do canter work the next).
• When warming up, do transitions. This helps to get your horse more on your aids and if the quality is present, the movement is relatively easy.
• Make sure when you ask for collection your horse is seeking the contact and reaching towards the bit.
• If the basics aren’t good that day, then don’t even try the more complicated movements. You would just be setting yourself (and your horse) up for a lacking, non-productive movement.

Fitness

• Try in your workouts to simulate the level of endurance you’re going to need in a test (like the Grand Prix Special).
• Expect from yourself what you are expecting from your horse(s). For example, if you expect your horse to be fit, then you better be that fit too.

Personal

• You can do fun things but only if you show up and give 100% the next day.
• Always remember your end goal and don’t be afraid to fail.
• You have to have tough skin- things are going to happen.

Genay’s thoughts were so appreciated by all of us. It was helpful to be able to speak a little bit about how she maintains her fitness and what fortitude she has learned is necessary. We had such a wonderful last day. The weather was beautiful, we chatted with some lovely people, and laughter flowed abundantly. What more could you ask for?

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Chloe's Wrap-Up

When something so deeply affects you, it can be hard to find the words to describe it. It wasn’t just the education or watching the amazing horses or experiencing spectacular dressage or any other incredible thing we saw (although all of those were extraordinary in their own right)— the truth is, it was the people. From the donors who made it possible for TDF to create this program to the beautiful souls who make TDF what it is, to the riders and trainers who took the time to share their knowledge, expertise, and wisdom; Kelly Burris, our remarkable chaperone, who spoke such life and encouragement into us; and finally, the four other girls a part of this program which I now count among my dear friends. It’s these people who made this week so impactful. I am going home with renewed energy and focus and with my heart so, so full.

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