Julio Mendoza

Growing up, Julio Mendoza rode horses and taught students on his father’s farm in Ecuador. He trained several dressage horses to the Grand Prix level and competed in the International Cup held in South America for five years in a row. In 2007, Mendoza moved to the U.S. He resides with his wife Jessica and their three children in North Carolina, not far from the Tryon International Equestrian Center. In 2010, Mendoza earned his USDF Silver Medal and also qualified for Dressage at Devon. The next year, he earned his USDF Bronze Medal and qualified for the 2011 Pan American Games in Guadalajara with his nine-year-old Friesian stallion Ivan. In 2013, Mendoza earned his USDF Gold Medal aboard Ivan. In 2015, Mendoza and his mount Chardonnay qualified for the Pan American Games in Toronto, where they finished 17th individually. In 2017, Mendoza traveled to Bogota with Chardonnay to compete at the Bolivarian Games, grabbing three gold medals. Last season, Mendoza’s top goal was to qualify for the 2018 World Equestrian Games. They earned a qualifying score in Wellington and then came home to Tryon to earn a second qualifying score. In September, Mendoza became the first rider ever to represent Ecuador in dressage at WEG.

Ashley Holzer

One of the all-time great top coaches, trainers and riders, four-time Olympian Ashley Holzer changed her citizenship from Canadian to American in 2016 after being based out of New York since 1994. Holzer began riding as a teen, first entering the Grand Prix ring in the 1980s. She was a member of Canada’s bronze medal dressage team at the 1988 Olympics and represented Canada at the World Equestrian Games in 1990, 2002 and 2006, and the World Cup Finals in 1989 and 2009. She won team gold and silver at the Pan American Games in 1991 and 2003, respectively. Holzer has been competing in Wellington for decades and enjoys sharing her talents while teaching and competing. She has coached many riders, including P.J. Rizvi, Jill Irving and Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu. She won the Most Valuable Rider award at the 2016 Adequan Global Dressage Festival. She rides Havanna 145, owned by Diane Fellows, in the international ring, while bringing along several other horses as well. This season, Holzer rode Valentine to victory in the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle CDI3*, presented by Fair Sky Farm, during AGDF Week 5.

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz

Olivia LaGoy-Weltz grew up in San Francisco, where she began riding at age 5. In 2002, she moved to Europe and spent five years in Holland and Germany at several top barns. She then returned to the U.S. and started her own dressage training business. Currently, LaGoy-Weltz runs a selective training program dedicated to top-quality horse and rider development at Mountain Crest Farm and is based seasonally in northern Virginia and Wellington. LaGoy-Weltz began competing on the Florida circuit in 2009. In 2012 and 2013, she had strong performances with Rifallino. At the Palm Beach Dressage Derby, she and Rifallino won the National Grand Prix Special and then won the National Grand Prix Freestyle at the Wellington Classic Dressage Challenge II. In 2014 and 2015, LaGoy-Weltz achieved several top placings with Lonoir. A USDF gold, silver and bronze medalist, she was Traveling Small Tour Alternate for the 2015 Pan American Games. LaGoy-Weltz had a strong 2018 in Wellington, where she and Lonoir chalked up several victories at the 2018 AGDF, including taking the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4* during Week 10. She wrapped the circuit helping the American team dominate the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center FEI Nations Cup CDIO3*.

Arlene “Tuny” Page

Arlene “Tuny” Page, owner of Stillpoint Farm, has been a leader in Wellington’s dressage community for decades. She began her professional riding career as a three-day event rider in the 1970s, making the switch to dressage in the 1990s. She was the U.S. Freestyle Champion and U.S. representative to the FEI World Cup in 2006, as well as an alternate to the World Equestrian Games team in 2006, to note just a few highlights from her long career. Page has long been a champion of the Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center and also one of the founding members in building the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, of which her Stillpoint Farm remains a key sponsor. Page credits Vincente Guilloteau for allowing her to develop a great partnership with her world-class partner, Woodstock. After many years in the ring together, the pair is still posting strong showings, such as a second-place finish in the Grand Prix Freestyle CDI4*, presented by Havensafe Farm, during AGDF Week 10 last year. Page also serves the dressage community on the USET Foundation Board of Trustees and the USEF High Performance and Active Athlete Committee.

Katherine Bateson-Chandler

Katherine Bateson-Chandler, born in Great Britain, moved to New Jersey when she was 13. Starting at age 16, she worked for American dressage star Robert Dover for 16 years until his retirement, traveling with the horses to international competitions. Based in Wellington, Bateson-Chandler and her mount Alcazar, owned by Jane Forbes Clark, regularly compete at the Grand Prix level. Currently, Bateson-Chandler trains each summer in Europe with Olympian Carl Hester and gains international exposure competing abroad. In 2017, Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar won over the crowd and the judges with a sensational first-place performance in the CDI 4* Grand Prix Freestyle at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. They went on to compete for the U.S. in the 2017 Uggerhalne, Denmark CDIO Nations Cup, and then helped Team USA claim the bronze at the 2017 Hickstead FEI CDIO3* Nations Cup. In 2018, Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar won the Grand Prix Special during AGDF Week 5 and placed third in the Grand Prix CDI4* during Week 10. Strong showings so far this season for Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar include second place in the FEI Grand Prix CDI5*, presented by CaptiveOne Advisors, during AGDF Week 5.

Stars Align At The 2019 Adequan Global Dressage Festival Winter Circuit

The Adequan Global Dressage Festival, located at Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, has started the 2019 season off with a bang, welcoming top combinations from around the world to the iconic venue in the heart of Wellington’s equestrian community.

As one of the three Olympic equestrian disciplines, dressage has become a staple of the horse show circuit in South Florida from January to March. The AGDF has steadily grown into one of the most competitive proving grounds in North America, as established combinations and rising stars showcase their talents across the 10-week international circuit.

The Friday Night Stars series has become one of the most popular competition evenings in Wellington during the winter, hosting FEI Grand Prix Freestyle competition under the lights at Equestrian Village. Beginning at 7 p.m., Friday Night Stars offers spectators the opportunity to watch some of the world’s top combinations compete their choreographed routines to music variations of all genres. General admission is free to the public each Friday evening, and parking is $10 per car.

The 2019 AGDF season began Thursday, Jan. 10 with the first FEI World Cup Qualifier (CDI-W) of the season, which saw Team USA’s top combination of Laura Graves and Verdades take top honors. This iconic duo is currently ranked second in the world and was a major catalyst in the United States winning the team silver medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games Tryon 2018, which qualified them for the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020.

“The 2019 AGDF season is one that we anticipate will be very competitive for the riders and their horses, as we’re seeing many combinations return to the competition ring after some time off following their successes at major championships last year,” explained Thomas Baur, director of sport at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. “Each year, we’ve seen tremendous growth in the popularity of the circuit, and the projections are showing a continued increase in participation, which is very exciting for our management team. We are looking forward to welcoming more spectators and attendees to experience the talents of these incredible riders.”

The second week of the circuit hosted CPEDI 3* competition, which served as one of two international competition weeks for para-equestrian riders. These spectacular athletes compete across five different grade categories, based upon the degree of their physical disabilities. Para-equestrian athletes complete pre-designated tests, the same as able-bodied riders, which range in difficulty based on the grade of competition. Team USA had a very successful para-equestrian showing at the WEG, medaling for the first time in program history, as Rebecca Hart captured a bronze medal individually. The second CPEDI 3* week of the 2019 season will take place during AGDF 9 (March 7-10).

The third week of the circuit welcomed the popular US PRE-sponsored week of CDI-W classes at the venue for international competitors, pushing the main stretch of the internationally sanctioned competition. The week honored the presence and popularity of the Spanish-bred horse within the dressage community in the United States and around the world.

National-level competition took center stage during AGDF 4 (Feb. 1-3), before the start of the highly anticipated CDI 5*, the highest and most prestigious designation of competition offered during the 2019 season at the venue. The CDI 5* entertained audiences throughout the week, as the first-ever clinic with star Isabell Werth was hosted on Thursday, Feb. 7, in addition to the elite competition featuring both Large Tour and Small Tour competition. The clinic featured five different horse and rider combinations, who received personal and engaging feedback and instruction from Werth, the most decorated equestrian Olympian of our time. The clinic was one of the major highlights of the week, and also the season at Equestrian Village.

“It was the first time in the history of AGDF that we had the opportunity to host a clinic with Isabell Werth, one of the most iconic riders in the history of dressage,” Baur said. “We are incredibly honored to offer a clinic like this to the loyal dressage community here in Wellington and are hopeful that this will become a standing event at AGDF annually.”

The season continued forward with AGDF 7 (Feb. 20-24), featuring CDI-W competition presented by Helgstrand Dressage, which once again hosted a week of top Large Tour and Small Tour competition, and highlighted the Grand Prix Freestyle on Friday, Feb. 22.

AGDF 8 (Feb. 28 through March 3) follows directly after, welcoming the historic Palm Beach Dressage Derby, a staple of the South Florida dressage scene for nearly four decades. The week will feature CDI-W competition and includes the final round of the entertaining Palm Beach Dressage Derby competition during the midway point of the Friday Night Stars Grand Prix Freestyle CDI-W.

The Palm Beach Dressage Derby is a highlight for spectators, as four top-level riders compete against each other on horses they’ve never ridden before in a knock-out style format. Riders who receive the highest scores will advance to the final round, taking place under the lights in an electric atmosphere at Equestrian Village during the Grand Prix Freestyle, where the 2019 winner will be crowned.

CDI competition continues with AGDF 10 (March 14-17) as the FEI Nations Cup CDIO 3*, presented by Stillpoint Farm, which has been traditionally held during AGDF 12, begins.  Serving as the only non-championship CDIO 3* in the western hemisphere, this competition is one of the pinnacle weeks of competition at the AGDF. Riders represent their countries on teams of three or four and compete for top honors in one of North America’s premier competitions.

The AGDF is set to conclude with AGDF 12 (March 28-31) with the final international competition of the season, the CDI 4*, presented by Havensafe Farm. The CDI 4*, which will be hosted for the first time during AGDF 12, providing riders with their final opportunity to take to the international arena in 2019. AGDF 12 will mark the final Friday Night Stars FEI Grand Prix Freestyle of the season on Friday, March 29.

Equestrian Village at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center is located at 13500 South Shore Blvd. in Wellington. To learn more about the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, and to view a full weekly and daily schedule of competition, visit www.globaldressagefestival.com.

Sponsors Contribute To Success And Growth Of AGDF Season

Since the inception of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, the venue has seen riders, trainers and spectators flock from around the world to the winter heartbeat of the international dressage circuit.

As one of the only outdoor circuits available to riders in the world from January through March, the AGDF has become enticing not only for riders, but an array of sponsors who continue to ensure its success.

The sport of dressage has a loyal and dedicated following, paralleling the passion of sponsors who are motivated to see the sport continue on its upward trajectory of popularity in the United States and around the world. Sponsors have been a driving factor in the rapid expansion of the circuit. Their presence and support have created a safe haven for both amateurs and professionals to perfect their skills at PBIEC’s Equestrian Village during the dressage season.

“The growth of the AGDF circuit over the past several years has been tremendous, and that is very much in part to our sponsorship portfolio and their encouragement of our vision for dressage in Wellington,” said Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions, the company that manages the dressage circuit. “Without these sponsors, it would be impossible to create the atmosphere we have for our competitors, and we are incredibly thankful for their continued support.”

The AGDF was founded by a fervent group of dressage enthusiasts, who approached Mark Bellissimo, the CEO of Equestrian Sport Productions and the managing partner of Wellington Equestrian Partners, with the idea of creating a legacy for the sport in the heart of Wellington, alongside its sister discipline of show jumping.

Bellissimo, eager to continue expanding the equestrian footprint in Wellington and create an environment for all riders to compete and succeed, immediately began planning and consulting. The result is the now massive AGDF circuit, which is the largest dressage circuit to date, distributing more prize money than any other competition in the world and sporting the envious backdrop of palm trees and sunshine.

The AGDF thanks the following sponsors for their continued support of the circuit:

Major Sponsors — Adequan, Brooke USA, CaptiveOne Advisors, Diamante Farms, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, Fair Sky Farm, Harmony Sporthorses, Havensafe Farm, Helgstrand Dressage, Mission Control, MTICA Farm, Palm Beach Equine Clinic, Peacock Ridge, Rolex, Stillpoint Farm, the Dutta Corporation, the US PRE Association, Wellington Agricultural Services, Wellington Equestrian Realty, Wellington Regional Medical Center and Yellow Bird Farm.

Corporate Sponsors — Alessandro Albanese, Custom Saddlery, Dever Golf Cars, Discover Dressage, Dressage Today, the Footing Factory, Gold Coast Feed, Horse of Course, Horseware Ireland, Iron Spring Farm, Nutrena, Omega Alpha, Platinum Performance, Premier Equestrian, ProElite, Show Chic, The Chronicle of the Horse, Triple Crown Feed, Triple Crown Custom, Vita Flex and the Wanderers Club.

Visit www.globaldressagefestival.com for more information about the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, and to learn more about AGDF sponsorships.

Celebrated Equestrian Susie Humes Launches ‘The Winning Edge’

Since its inception as the winter equestrian capital of the world, Wellington has boasted national and international competitors in all disciplines. Like many equestrians who make Wellington their seasonal home during the winter, renowned trainer and judge Susie Humes has made the trip to Wellington from her hometown of Old Westbury, N.Y., for more than 30 years.

“There are so many positive things about having many equestrian disciplines based in one place,” Humes said of Wellington. “It’s an opportunity for the professionals and the clients to watch the best riders in the world train and compete. I think that’s a rare thing to find unless you go to Europe.”

Humes began riding at just three years old, and today she is a celebrated trainer and USEF “R” rated judge with a professional career spanning four decades. Her judging résumé includes many of the country’s top-rated horse shows, such as the National Horse Show, the Devon Horse Show, the Los Angeles National Horse Show, the Hampton Classic and the Winter Equestrian Festival, to name just a few. She has trained top hunter, equitation and jumpers, and has coached students to win all of the major national equitation finals and many championships at the Devon Horse Show, the Winter Equestrian Festival and in the prestigious indoor circuit.

No stranger to the winner’s circle herself, Humes’ success and passion for the sport inspired her to seek out new opportunities to give back to the community. In January, Humes launched her newest business venture, “The Winning Edge.”

The Winning Edge is an online educational tool that grants exclusive access to judging critique and advice from Humes, as well as a collection of top trainers in North America as guest professionals. Customers have the opportunity to purchase judging evaluations for hunter or equitation rounds, conformation critiques or pose questions to “Ask the Experts.” Humes’ panel of experts offers thoughtful and constructive feedback to competitors who want to significantly improve their chances of winning in the show arena and correcting training difficulties.

“The important thing for me is reaching a broader audience of equestrians, not only in Wellington, but throughout North America, and give them the opportunity to have access to high-quality experts at a lower cost,” Humes explained. “People will be able to get an idea of what a judge is thinking when they watch them ride, which is helpful if you show regularly. People will also receive training tips and suggestions to go along with the round’s critique. Even if you’re not showing and you’re just training, you can always work toward keeping your horse more balanced and focused.”

The Winning Edge guest professionals have judged some of the nation’s most prestigious horse shows and will customize their feedback to improve riders’ performance in the ring. Humes, along with the featured guest professionals, will send a detailed evaluation of a submitted round or horse’s conformation with helpful tips and suggestions to give riders the added edge that will help them stand out in the show ring.

“The guest professionals we’re featuring on our site are longtime colleagues of mine, and I have judged with all of them throughout my career,” Humes explained. “Right now, we have two, Ken Smith and Kathy Newman, who are in Wellington, and one based in California, Karen Healey, with many exciting professionals hopping on board in the future. I have great respect for all of them, and each one is an expert in the field. For each video we receive, I read what my guest professionals write, and we talk it over. I think it’s crucial to have different points of view for our customers.”

Humes’ primary goal of training is to improve horse-and-rider performance, followed by quality horse care and safety. Her insightful observations, along with her advice and guidance, have given her students the winning edge in the show ring for decades. Fueled with a passion for horsemanship and education, Humes is dedicated to giving back to the sport that has given her so much.

“I’m really excited about The Winning Edge because I want everyone in the sport, wherever they ride, to have access to quality information that they need to improve their riding,” Humes said. “Whether you’re schooling or showing, there is always something that you can learn and something that you can improve upon. I think this will be a great tool for juniors, collegiate riders and adult amateurs to take advantage of to give them an added edge to be the best rider they can be.”

To learn more, or to submit your video for critique, visit www.thewinningedgeeq.com.

Busy Year Ahead For Dressage Star Kasey Perry-Glass And Dublet

The future is bright for Kasey Perry-Glass and her 16-year-old bay gelding Dublet. Three years ago, the pair won their first major dressage competition at a Nations Cup in Compiegne, France, and consequently earned a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, which captured the bronze medal. They continued their ascent and were a member of the World Equestrian Games silver medal squad last fall in Tryon, N.C.

Now, after breaking into the world’s Top 10 for the first time in January, Perry-Glass and Dublet have their sights set on qualifying for the World Cup in April and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“My plans for March and April will vary depending on how my last two World Cup qualifying shows go,” said Perry-Glass, who grew up in northern California. “If I qualify for the World Cup, I will be spending March as a training/preparation month. In addition, I have two other horses that I would like to focus on in the competition ring in Wellington while Dublet prepares for, hopefully, the World Cup. In addition to the World Cup, my goal is to compete at Aachen [Germany] for one summer show in Europe before giving Dublet a nice rest for the big push for 2020.”

Perry-Glass has been training with Olympian Debbie McDonald for almost four years.

“There are many things that make a rider good, but it is something special for a rider to be great,” said McDonald, who splits time between her farms in Wellington and Idaho. “She is great. She is beautiful on a horse to start with. Her effortless look as they go through the test is just a pleasure to watch. But she also has that something special that you can’t describe — it just is in a champion. The partnership her and Dublet have is so inspiring.”

The 31-year-old Perry-Glass, who has a degree in business entrepreneurship from Cal State-Sacramento, said the key to her success is being patient.

“I have had some major setbacks that have taught me to take this sport and passion one day at a time,” said Perry-Glass, the youngest of six sisters. “You can’t rush your training and relationship with your horse. The one thing you can do is believe. Believe in yourself, believe in your horse and believe in your team.”

That’s a mantra that Perry-Glass and her family have carried from childhood.

“We are a family of believing in yourself and fighting for and reaching for your goals,” Perry-Glass stressed. “The name ‘Team Believe’ came from when my mom was running triathlons and got us girls to start running with her. We eventually started entering into races, 5Ks, half-marathons and marathons, and formed our group name as ‘Team Believe.’ The name stuck with us through my Olympic journey and reminded me to keep believing in myself even when things got hard.”

Perry-Glass believes in many things, but she doesn’t have any special routines before shows. She does believe in trying to make things as organized and put together as possible in her life to reduce her stress level.

“The more cluttered or messy my schedule, or home, or barn is, the more overwhelmed I get and can’t focus correctly on my training and show,” said Perry-Glass, who has a special unicorn rubber duckie that comes to all the shows. “It was a gift from my sisters and mom prior to a major event in Rotterdam and has turned into my lucky charm.”

Perry-Glass spends a lot of time at the barn, where it is serious business, but she also believes in having some fun, too.

“Kasey is the most thoughtful and real person you would ever want to meet, genuine through and through,” McDonald said. “She wants everyone to be happy. She always manages to make us all laugh. She has a true friendship with all her teammates.”

One of those teammates is U.S. Olympian Adrienne Lyle, who also earned a spot on the 2018 WEG team. They became friends before becoming teammates, getting to know each other when Perry-Glass joined her in Idaho to train with McDonald.

“Kasey is probably the most compassionate person I know, second only to maybe my own mother,” Lyle said. “She cares deeply about everyone around her and always wants everyone to feel appreciated, included and happy. She also has a great sense of humor about life, and we have shared many a laugh to get us through some of the more stressful team situations we have been in.”

Perry-Glass and Lyle share the same zest for life and adventure and the outdoors.

“We spent our days at the barn, but we took many excursions up into the Idaho wilderness as well,” Lyle recalled. “I think having friends as teammates is incredibly helpful when you get down to the wire in important competitions and are under a lot of stress. You can always count on your friends and teammates to get you through the most stressful times. They understand the pressure you are under and know when you need to be surrounded by support and when you just need some alone time. Unless you’ve been under that kind of pressure, it is hard for people to understand. I think that creates a bond between high-performance riders.”

Perry-Glass created another bond when she married Dana Glass in 2015 at her parents’ ranch in Orangevale, Calif. Together, they have 16 nieces and nephews. “I would consider me and my husband as the fun aunt and uncle,” Perry-Glass said. “Unfortunately, with our travel schedules, we don’t get to see our families [enough], especially Dana’s family. So, when we do, we try to have as much fun with them as possible. I hope I am that adult my nieces and nephews can talk to.”

In Wellington, Perry-Glass lives on the same property as her horses and always seems to make her way to the barn to check in on things.

“I try to give myself one day off a week,” she said. “The key word is try. I am very involved and keep a close eye on them. When I am not in the barn, I try to do something that helps me relax. Lately, that consists of either a mani/pedi or just lying on the couch with my husband and puppies. During the week, I am busy and active, so when I get the chance to do nothing, I have to take it.”

Those chances have become rare as she and Dublet continue their rise as one of the top dressage pairs in the world.

Gold Coast Dressage Association Turns 35 With
Noreen O’ Sullivan At The Helm

The Gold Coast Dressage Association turned 35 this year and kicked off its Coral Anniversary by cooking up an asado hosted at the Palm Beach Equine facility in Wellington.

The event also marked a milestone for longtime GCDA President and Show Manager Noreen O’Sullivan, who has not only seen the amazing transformation of the sport of dressage in the community, but has personally been a catalyst for the advancement of dressage in South Florida.

O’Sullivan has served as the GCDA president for more than a decade after pitching in at almost every position. Early on, she served as a volunteer, a runner (who literally runs the score sheets from the judges’ box to the scorer), a scribe (the person who puts the judges’ comments and scores on the test sheet), the scorer (who tallies the scores on the tests) and a competitor.

When O’Sullivan was sidelined from competing for a year after a car accident, she wanted to stay involved in dressage even though she couldn’t ride. “The club probably benefited from me being sidelined because I still wanted to be involved with the sport, and that spearheaded my movement into management,” she explained.

O’Sullivan served in many additional roles, including the newsletter editor, overseeing sponsorships and publications, show manager, then vice president and eventually president.

Her commitment to the sport has had a profound ripple effect in making Wellington known around the globe for world-class dressage. In fact, while spearheading the GCDA, and holding down her full-time job as a financial planner, O’Sullivan and her husband, John Flanagan, started Wellington Classic Dressage, a show management company that would work side-by-side with the GCDA to further the sport of dressage and attract more riders from around the world.

In her capacity as show manager for both GCDA and WCD, O’Sullivan hosted dressage shows at a number of Palm Beach facilities, including the Winter Equestrian Festival show grounds, Sunshine Meadows in Delray Beach, the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center, the White Fences Equestrian Center and the Horse Park at Equestrian Estates in Loxahatchee.

“Hosting shows in so many different venues was a big learning curve,” she explained. “When Stadium Jumping was sold to Equestrian Sport Productions, we moved to Jim Brandon. Back then, we hosted three to four shows a year.”

But the community craved dressage, and the demand for education and dressage competitions was increasing rapidly. Today, GCDA and WCD host as many as 16 shows and educational events a year, and Equestrian Sport Productions hosts an additional 11 dressage shows in the high season at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, which O’Sullivan also had an influence on.

Back in 2013, Equestrian Sport Productions approached Wellington Classic Dressage with their vision for the Global Dressage Festival and negotiated to purchase several of WCD’s high season show dates to facilitate the startup of the Global Dressage Festival. “Equestrian Sport Productions saw the high level of interest in dressage, and I saw it as an opportunity to again further our sport,” O’Sullivan explained.

The result is that Wellington became a world-renowned mecca for dressage at the highest level, something that thrills O’Sullivan. “Wellington is known all over the world for dressage, and I take great pride in that. I have friends in the dressage community worldwide, and we all share a common thread — the love of our sport,” she explained.

But O’Sullivan is quick to note that the GCDA is much more than just dressage competitions. “We are about a sense of community and advancing the sport through education as well,” she said.

The GCDA’s track record in the education arena is equally as stellar. O’Sullivan beams when she talks about the many social and educational events that make the GCDA such a great organization for the sport.

“We host adult camps, unmounted events, symposiums and ride-a-test events throughout the year as well,” she explained, noting the recent Stephen Clarke symposium held Feb. 11-12. “FEI 5* Judge General Stephen Clarke is one of the most sought-after horsemen in the world.”

O’Sullivan is proud of her role in the GCDA and the organization’s contribution to dressage, but also thanks many other people who played key roles. “It takes a village. We have an outstanding GCDA board, and everyone brings new ideas and energy to the club,” she said.

This year, that board has worked together to launch the Gold Coast Dressage Education Scholarship Program for amateurs and professionals. Her goal is that the GCDA, despite the increasing level of talent, “never lose the sense of community and friendly welcoming atmosphere that has been the cornerstone of the GCDA for 35 years.”

So, what would O’Sullivan like to see for the future? “Quite honestly, I hope to live to see the perfect 10 score,” she said. “A test performed to score a 100 percent.”

And with the caliber of horses and judging in Wellington today, thanks to organizations like the Gold Coast Dressage Association, it might happen here.

The GCDA is committed to education and promoting good sportsmanship, along with high ethical and moral standards in horsemanship and equestrian sport. Its mission is to organize and operate educational activities while fostering local and national amateur dressage competition.

To learn more about the Gold Coast Dressage Association, or to become a member or sponsor, visit www.gcdafl.org.