Emily's Journal

                                                Emily’s Journal

Headed to Dusseldorf! 

My journey of The Dressage Foundation International
Dream Program

I would like to start off by commenting that I cannot believe that I am headed on such a fantastic trip! When I sent my application in I was so nervous because I really wanted to be on this journey. And then when I found out I got accepted I was so ecstatic! The fact that this trip is even offered to young riders is seriously incredible and I am sincerely grateful for our chaperones, the organizers and the foundation in general for making it possible for me and my new friends to take this journey. So here we go…
July 11
On the plane, still needing to pinch myself because I can't believe that today is the day! The whole group Charlotte Bredahl, Jen Verharen, Rebekah Mingari, Lillian Simons, and Rachel Chowanec  ll flew into the Atlanta airport where we would all meet for the first time. Ounce we had everyone and we were talking I already felt that we had known each other already! I guess horse people always have something in common to talk about! Now its just a long flight to Dusseldorf Germany, see you Tuesday!
July 12
We have arrived in Germany! Took the train to Aahen and a Taxi to our hotel where we got to stay very close to the show grounds in an apartment type place. It was really fun because all four girls got to stay together in one room with a kitchen and everything. After we set our bags down we started our walk to the show it was only a ten minute walk and such a beautiful area! We entered the show grounds and headed straight for the warm up arena where all the countries had a separate warm up time in the main arena. I loved watching the warm up it was definitely one of my favorite parts. Watching the warm up is like being behind the scenes of an amazing partnership to a dance. All the amazing horses and riders immediately blew me away that are at the show, still need someone to pinch me again!

We made it!

The first professional that met with us was Juan Matute and he was so kind in speaking with us about developing the young horse into a grand prix horse. Which truly inspires me because that is my goal to bring my own young horses along and make them be the best they can be. He also mentioned about the horses personality playing a major role in what young horse you should buy, and getting one to match your own personal personality really makes a great partnership. I really appreciated the things he said and that he started the trip off more than amazing.
Charlotte was able to get Steffen Peters and Robert Dover next. We were talking with Steffen how he
gets his horses so relaxed and suggested the main key is to keeping your horse supple. He also gave us advice to not practice imperfect things, which was a great reminder for when I go home and ride. If you’re going to ride a movement ride it with 110%.
                                              Debbie McDonald was up next, giving us the scoop on how the USA

Robert Dover and Steffen Peters!

riders and horses lifestyle are filled with excitement and high level stress as well. The horses have their hack days and hand grazes and are taken great care of which shows by their performance being such happy and willing animals. As a spectator I could really see that the horses were truly happy and loved showing off as well!
Today was a great day and super jam packed that seriously someone needs to pinch me because this actually doesn’t feel real! But now time for some sleep we have been up for about 36 hours or more, see           everyone is the morning.
July 13
The weather is chilly here! I was not expecting cool weather here in Germany and I’m hoping that I brought enough warm clothes!

Debbie McDonald and Betsy Juiliano!

In the morning Betsy Juliano came to visit with us and talk about being viewed by sponsors and other people in the industry and how to represent yourself in a proper manner. She mentioned being professional under tough or stressful circumstances and be aware of how you handle pressure. Hearing all these tactics from her including work ethic and having a good reputation, makes me think about myself and keep checking in and making sure I am doing my best for whatever the circumstances may be.

Morning talks with Andy Thomas 

The USA team has some super exciting things going on with their equestrian athletes. After speaking with Betsy, Andy Thomas the team’s physical therapist came and shared what he has been doing with the riders. He has been amplifying the rider’s positions by targeting their weak areas and working on them with workouts and sessions to help them increase the strength and become more aware of being a balanced rider. Also it improves the horses capabilities when the rider becomes stronger in those areas, there is a whole team between the riders, Andy, vets, saddle fitter to get the best performance. I think that it is awesome that with Andy being able to work on the riders there is that much more attention to detail to really achieve maximum effort. I also want to improve myself as well by perhaps speaking with a physical therapist near me to help improve my performance with my horse.
Next, we got to speak to the men of the Olympic hour, Gary Rockwell and Steve Clark, who will be participating in judging the Olympics in Rio 2016! We got to pick their brain on some of the most crucial things to do in a test those things being; nail the first three movements. As well as the centerline is crucial in that first impressions mean a lot. Also when looking at the horse is the horse thinking forward and is it harmonious. The judges are not blind and it was super cool to be able to speak with such high level judges and getting their insight as to what they see in those boxes, and the answer is everything!

Emile Faurie telling us about his
awesome charity!

Met the coolest person after meeting with the judges, Emile Faurie. He has a charity that really struck me as something truly amazing. His charity helps young people in the school systems have an opportunity to ride after school and he has seen a difference in attendance and overall attitude in many of these kids. He is an amazing rider as well as person. A real inspiration for me because he took something he loves and is giving it back to help others, and I think that is what its all about. Hopefully I can give back like he does.
Got to speak with some of the USA girls, Arlene Page and Catherine Bateson Chandler. Arlene gave us advice about writing down positive notes about your riding as well as your life, which is really helpful its like writing down rules for yourself so you cannot say you “cant” or to be grumpy. Ride with optimism and expose yourself to new things and focus on the progress not the outcome, is also advice from Arlene. She really pumped me up and was super positive. Also her and Catherine were both agreeing on the positive energy that the whole USA team has with each other and I could see how that was paying off for them. Just being around them I could tell they really had a great time together. And they all got there in this position representing the USA by working really hard.

Learning about hard work from
Arlene Page and
Katherine Bateson Chandler 

Katherine shared with us her journey and some of the things she has done, and she worked from the bottom up and truly loves her horses. I love to see that love for the horses like she has, lets me know they are treated like pets and not business objects because horses are the reason we are all together, they bring people together so we have them to thank! And Catherine made it clear she appreciates all of the work  horses do for us.
The first dressage class was today was the PSG test and I was already impressed with the horses as well as the riders. And the day before we were able to watch the warm up so you could see the different riding styles that came from all over the world and now were all in one spot. It was pretty cool to see the different countries and the different styles. I felt like I was looking into the future watching this class, because these pairs were so amazing you could just tell I a couple of years we will most likely be seeing them in the Grand Prix arena! Its like we were getting a sneak peak of what is to come!
Such a great day of talking to so many people and seeing our first class! Getting so excited and motivated to go home and ride and continue my training! I also did make my first purchase today, the shopping here in incredible I don’t even think I will even be able to see all the shops in the 6 days I will be here.
July 14
Met my favorite person today, Christophe Hess, I don’t think it gets any better than him. He is so funny and knowledgeable I could have listened to him all day! A main point that he made was paying attention to details, large or small need to train your eye to see them. Along with details is having a good feel of the horse and paying attention to rider’s facial expressions because that will affect the horse’s performance as well. He said a lot of great things but one of my favorites that he kept expressing often was about working the horse back to front and having the ability to open the throatlatch, the horse has to understand its work as well as be motivated to do it.

My favorite picture with
Christophe Hess!

Germans dominated in the 5 star Grand Prix today with the Americans close behind. Got to watch how Isabell Werth doesn’t throw away a single point and Dorothee Schneider is seriously so amazing to watch with her horse, they truly took my breath away so I will definitely have that picture of them in my head when I am riding. I will think “Am I riding like Dorothy”?

Second place finish for the
U.S.A.

That evening we all went out to a German restaurant downtown by our hotel, which was really fun to adventure out. And we discussed some questions that Charlotte had to answer for an article and the questions really got me thinking and process what I am doing or what I have done or want to do. It was a really nice time to get to know everyone a little bit more. Crazy to think that we all just met and I feel like I
have known everyone for years! Its such an un real opportunity to be here and to have such great chaperones, Charlotte is so well respected and that’s the reason we have been able to meet so many respectable people. As well as Jen its such an honor to be here with her and educating us as well as Charlotte, the way she helps people is something to be admired.
July 15
Went for an adventure this morning and explored downtown and saw the Charlemagne castle, didn’t go in because we were so early. But we got to walk around and see the culture, which I love to do. Seeing how other cultures live and the building structures is so cool to walk around and do some adventuring with the girls!

Got to visit the Aachen
Cathedral 

First thing Dr. Mitchell the USA Dressage veterinarian met with us and is a very successful and smart man to talk to. He gave us the insight on some tips that any one can to in order to keep your horses health on the inside and out. And treating a horse like a horse is very important, they are used to eating 18-20 hours of the day so feeding throughout the day will only help their GI tract. Also spending money on the quality instead of the quantity. Spending on good hay and a good farrier will put you further ahead in the long run. Dr. Mitchell is the dream vet he knows his information and he is very honest in what he knows and he doesn’t over do it with the horses its just about what they really need and taking great care of the horses.
Before the class started Charlotte brought over Uwe Mechlum who is the greatest judge of all time and he will be a supervisor judge for the Olympics. While meeting with him he made the most endearing

U.S.A. received a great
comment from Uwe Mechlum 

compliment about the way American riders sit and how they have such a good feel and how he enjoys watching the USA. Really makes you proud to be an American when a person like Uwe says something like that!
Tonight we got the dressage radios so Christophe Hess could be in our ear when the class was going on. It was such a good learning experience being able to see the horse and have his comments at the same time. I think having it rider after rider helped sharpen my eye to what to look for and what is great! Things he said that caught my ear was about not just controlling the horse but producing the horse and celebrating what the horse can do instead of managing it. Inspires me to appreciate all the things horses do for us. And even after the class we met up with Christophe and talked about the class, he really cares about our education and just loves to educate. I think meeting him was one of my most favorite things!
Got back to our room late tonight and the girls and I got to hang out and we had some fun! So cool being able to get to know these girls, really lucky to have them with me on this trip.
July 16
USA team started off our morning with some great scores all about 70% and still coming in behind Germany. Watching them is such an honor and I agree with Uwe about the harmony between horse and rider, they are all so fluid and its just beautiful. I am so excited for this team and their journey to Rio I wish them all the best and I know they will do amazing! Go kick some butt USA!
In between the classes we met with Bo Jena who is a long line genius! He gave us some insight on

Getting great insight from
Bo Jena 

proper long lining and some things we can do with our horses, as well as it takes lots of practice to be pretty good at. Also doing this should relax the horse and the horse should be able to use hind legs and back properly for it to have full effect. He also talked about in general training a horse should be an honor and to not be in a rush to get a horse to a certain level, do it correct the first time because it will reflect better on you if the horse is more enjoyable to work with and didn’t skip any steps.

Wonderful Evening watching the
Grand Prix freestyles 

After watching all the classes today I realized that even the best of riders make mistakes and that it will happen and keep happening to all of us because we are human. And I also learned that its fine to make mistakes its just how you handle them that makes a difference. Making new mistakes and not the same one and really just taking the mistake into a learning experience whether it is your mistake or someone else’s.
July 17
Last day at the show grounds, and its so bitter sweet. Bitter because I am having so much fun here and learning so much that I don’t want to leave. Sweet because I am so excited to go home and apply what I have learned in the tack.

Good Luck team U.S.A.

This morning was the Grand Prix freestyle with some amazing rides, adding the music truly makes this sport an art.
Headed back to Dusseldorf on a train and had our last supper together at the hotel restaurant. Very nice to chat and reminisce with everyone about our spectacular week. Going to keep in touch with these wonderful ladies and forever grateful to have been able to go on this trip, still in shock of what all just happened!
July 18

So grateful for this opportunity
and to have key met my new
forever friends! 

Spent most of the day on the planes and traveling across the country and wont get back home until midnight! But the best part is I get to go to the barn the next morning! The only hard part about this trip was not being able to be in contact with the horses! Really miss it and im so motivated to get back to work!

Thank you to everyone involved of making this trip possible;
Charlotte Bredahl, Jen Verharen, Jenny Johnson, Eliza Sydnor, Beth Baumert, Michael Poulin, and The Dressage Foundation!