simplyshayna

Ride Ride Ride! That is the best advice. Get out there and do it. Take lessons as much as you can. Ride with clinicians. Pay the extra $$$ to ride and show with well known, respected trainers on a regular basis. The best way to find these trainers is to see who is winning (respectably) at the big shows in your area, and see how you can begin working with them. Search the web, find their websites. Cali is SWARMING with fantastic horsemen and women, I envy you for being so close! Stay focused and DETERMINED!

I've been riding since before I can even remember, literally. I grew up on a Standardbred farm- a far cry from the Dressage scene I'm a part of now! But I knew what I wanted and I was lucky enough to find a fabulous trainer who took me under her wing. My mom has also always been VERY supportive, driving me for lessons, letting me work at the barn, helping me with money issues. I began showing when I was 8. My first Dressage horse was an Appaloosa with little Dressage talent, but he TAUGHT me invaluable lessons, and he got my name out there. I also worked my @$$ off every day after school to pay for lessons, board at the fancy barns, shows and clinics. In order to be part of the scene, you have to PUT yourself there. The trainer I worked with from a young age eventually began bringing me and my horses along when she went to work with HER trainer, who has made 11 Grand Prix horses (from start to finish) and is one of the best Dressage trainers (IMO) in the country. See? Stepping stones. If I hadn't first worked with my regular trainer, it would have been harder for me to find a way "in" with the best trainers. Find your good trainer, someone you can respect and trust. They will open the doors to even more opportunities for you. Other people will see you riding with the trainers with good reputations, you will do well, and you will continue to climb the ladder to success. My first "big break" Dressage horse was a 3 year old TB that I searched and searched for, paid almost nothing for (I sold my Appaloosa to afford him when I was 13), and then spent YEARS working with him and my trainers. I rode Sully 6 days a week, sometimes in a lesson, sometimes just "with" my trainer. She was always willing to help, even if we weren't in a paid lesson. Then once or twice a month we would trailer to our "bigger" trainer. And we'd do clinics with different trainers whenever we could. Getting someone to videotape your rides and lessons is always an excellent way to see what you can't feel also.

Once your name is out there, and people see you doing well, that's when you'll start getting a reputation, and that will lead to bigger and better things. But you have to be a do-er. Don't sit back and wait for things to happen. You need to go and find the trainers, prove to them that you have what it takes, but more importantly, that you're willing to put in the work. Nothing in the world is more fun though. =)

Do you have pics of your boy? I work mostly with Hanoverians nowadays, but I still LOVE hearing Thoroughbred success stories. They are a fantastic breed! Good luck and keep us posted! I'd love to hear more.