Elder Riders Competing in Dressage

Life on the Barn Side

Horse Shows by the Bay Dressage Competition

Elder Riders in Dressage

One of the trends in the US today is an aging population.  As the boomers age, they want to stay active and many even take up a new sport.  There were many elder riders at Horse Shows by the Bay Dressage.

Ingrid's groom braids her horse

The elder rider:   She is fulfilling her dreams and trying to stay on and ace the test, but that is just what happens in the show ring. On the barn side, she spends time in lessons, watching her trainer ride her horse, grooming, dressing and redressing, learning those tests, more grooming, having her horse braided, unbraided and rebraided. Trying to understand her horse, trying to keep her own anxiety level down and listening to other riders for clues about how to make it all happen just right.

Ingrid and her horse

Ingrid is a good representative of many of today's elder Dressage riders. At 69 and ½ years, she was one of the oldest riders at the show, but many riders were in their 50s and the average age of Dressage competitors is now 42 years old. She adores her sensitive and reactive Arabian mare, and respects her anxious personality. They are somewhat alike.

Trainer, groom and Ingrid,ready for warm up
at Horse Shows by the Bay Dressage

Ingrid has had many injuries. Some were horse induced, and some were from other sports and thrills she has had in her life. She's decided that one more time off and she is finished with riding, so she has high hopes and a bit of trepidation with each ride. But she's determined to show and reach her goals, so there she goes for one more class.

in the  dressage ring

Thumbs up! She reached her goal.

In this show she met her goals. First of all

she had fun, second she didn't fall off, and third she got through her test successfully without any major screwups. You can seethe joy and pride in her eyes.

Women are tough. They have their share of injuries but they stick in there. I guess it is a trade off, as riding helps keep hips moving, improves core strength, and keeps us on track with staying in shape. Dressage is a sport you can do your entire life.

Well deserved break at the Dressage show

Job well done 

Good pony! Denise leaves the dressage ring after a good ride.

Another white haired elder, Denise, rides with a well know trainer, and was at theshow schooling a pony she hopes to sell later on. A more experienced horse woman, she exuded a calmer more confident vibe.  She and her husband were returning to the Traverse City area for the horse show after having had their honeymoon there 24 years ago. They love

 the show. He golfs while she spends the day working, 

riding and hanging out with other horse addicts at the 

show.  This year her daughter came along for one 

last show before going off to the Naval Academy.

Suzi and Sam

Suzi has been her daughter Susanna's greatest supporter.  They have been to every Horse Show's 

by the Bay with Sam, Susanna's 20 year old dressage horse.  This is Susanna and Sam's last year to show together and Suzi will take over showing Sam next year.  Suzi has passed the 60 year mark, but is ready to take on a new challenge.  Suzi said “ I see other older women riding and having fun, so why not me?”  Indeed, why not?

Life on the Barn Side

Life on the Barn Side

Horse Shows by the Bay

The Hunter Jumpers Home Away from Home

Horse Shows by the Bay
The Hunter/Jumpers


Welcome! That is the message all the traveling barns compete to give you with their Barn Front Lounge.  These can get amazingly complex and lush.  When you consider that many of the larger barns spend a large percentage of time on the road,  the function of a living room is an important one for relaxation between classes.  For those on the road a lot, this is also their on road "show room" to entice and impress prospective customers, and their office.  Check out these enticing horse show set ups. Then imagine tearing it down, hauling it to the next show, setting it up and doing it again.  Gives you more appreciation for the grooms and laborers who make it all happen.

 

LIFE ON THE BARN SIDE

2012 Horse Shows by the Bay                                                            copyright 6/22/2012 Penny Stone


                                            

The populace at the Perfect Pavilion

Imagine temperatures in the 70's with partly cloudy skies. A gorgeous backdrop of rolling grassy pastures, white fences, tall trees waving in the breeze. Large, well manicured dressage rings and a giant warmup ring. Few flies. Tents to protect you from the rain or sun, with bleachers for viewing and a grassy bank to plunk down your tired body and watch the show with your glass of wine. Well organized, good food at the concession stands.... well, imagine your perfect horse show. On the east coast? California? No; half way in between in Northern Michigan at Horse Show's by the Bay near Traverse City, Mi.

Judi greets you at the gate.

You can see who is in charge here.

Look at the size of that warm up ring!

Is this really necessary?

Almost ready.

I followed life at the Horse Show  Saturday and Sunday June 22 and 23. With 98% of our time spent in caring for and training horses, compared to our 2% spent actually competing, I decided to focus on life Barn Side. Like most bigger shows these days, it was a bustling horse and human city. Golf carts and bicycles running to and fro, barn aisles filled with riders and grooms in various stages of show attire and grubby attire, grooms and owners at the wash rack, braiders calmly doing what most of us dread. Horses looking absolutely fahbulous, dahling, and horses and people looking more tired as the show goes on, until that moment in the ring, when they are rejuvenated and go in to perform.

Many of us never see the big world behind the competition ring.   Everybody has a story, the youngsters coming up, the elders hoping to fulfill their bucket list, the top competitors and the mid level competitors who carry the horse show world on their backs, , the legions of volunteers and families who generously make it all possible and last but certainly not least. For the next few weeks I'll be giving you a glimpse of that world at Horse Shows by the Bay.