Top Dressage Competitor Adrienne Lyle Enjoys Her Horse-Centered Life

U.S. Olympic dressage rider Adrienne Lyle always wanted to have a career centered around horses. Lyle was born and raised on the south end of Whidbey Island, Wash., about 30 miles north of Seattle. Her dad and brother are lawyers, while her mom is a pediatrician. Although not an equestrian family, they keep active. Her mom enjoys downhill skiing and the occasional trail ride. Her brother runs in Ironman triathlons.

Lyle took a fork in the road and opted to pursue her passion from an early age. Growing up on a cattle farm with horses has that affect.

“My parents were always very supportive, but this has always been my thing,” said the 33-year-old Lyle, who is in Wellington for the winter season. “I’m sure my parents were completely stressed. My path was always so clear to me. I was definitely one of those girls who was horse-crazy. I never had a Plan B. I’m really glad the horse thing is working out so far, because that’s all I ever wanted to do.”

Although her family didn’t live and breathe horses, her younger cousin Maya Black shared her passion.

“Adrienne is still the same smart, hardworking, determined, kind and talented person she was back when we were growing up and riding together on Whidbey Island,” said Black, a rising star in three-day eventing. “Those qualities, paired with her incredible horsemanship, is what has brought her such immense success in her young career. I have no doubt this is just the beginning for her. She has always been a role model to me, and I am so proud of her.”

So far, so good for Lyle.

Lyle’s highlights include representing the U.S. at the 2012 Olympics in London and the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy, France, along with numerous first-place finishes in major Grand Prix competitions.

Her short-term plan for the rest of the winter season is to qualify for the FEI World Cup (April 11-15 in Paris) with Salvino, an 11-year-old bay stallion. The combination finished first in two Grand Prix competitions early in the Wellington season.

After that, she wants to be part of the U.S. team that trains in Europe preparing for the prestigious World Equestrian Games in September at Mark Bellissimo’s Tryon International Equestrian Center in North Carolina. But she is already preparing her horses for an even bigger competition.

“The next big goal is the Olympics in 2020 in Tokyo,” said Lyle, who is based out of Sun Valley, Idaho. “I’m blessed to have three Grand Prix horses. Who goes depends on who peaks at the right time; who is happy and healthy at the moment.”

In addition to Salvino, Lyle is also working hard with Horizon, an 11-year-old Oldenburg mare, and Harmony’s Duval, a 10-year-old KWPN gelding.

Lyle’s rise to becoming a force in dressage got off to an inauspicious start. She started riding western style and going on trail rides with friends on her parent’s farm. She joined the local chapter of the U.S. Pony Club when she was seven and soon began competing in three-day eventing, which was how she was first introduced to dressage. Eventing competition consists of dressage, cross-country and show jumping.

“I fell in love with dressage,” Lyle said. “I was so fascinated by it. I learned a lot by watching videos, and then spent hours trying to duplicate what I saw on the videos.”

Lyle went from learning the sport on her own to training and working with U.S. Olympian Debbie McDonald, with whom she has been with for more than a decade. While with McDonald, Lyle began working with horses owned by Betsy Juliano, including Horizon. Her daily routine includes waking up at 5:45 a.m. and getting to the barn by 7 a.m.

“I just love Adrienne,” Juliano said. “We have gotten to know one another better and better over the past six years. At first, I knew her solely as an excellent rider and the protege of Debbie McDonald. But, as we have worked together, I have also come to know her as a deeply compassionate person whose commitment to her profession is her top priority. This means she takes care of herself as an athlete, she oversees superb care of the horses, and she is able to strategize for each horse’s training and their future.”

Juliano appreciates Lyle’s demeanor and thoughtfulness.

“Adrienne is always quick to demonstrate her gratitude and thanks. Many years ago, before I knew her very well, I received a handwritten note from out of the blue,” Juliano recalled. “She was in Europe, but wrote to say how much she appreciated donations made to the USET Foundation by people like me because they enabled her to compete as a member of a team. I was so surprised to receive the note, and so appreciative.”

Lyle wants to keep developing horses, unlocking the puzzle that can get them to top level, where at international levels, fractions of a percent can make a big difference.

“Adrienne’s best attributes are her terrific feel, terrific timing, and, above all, the fact that she never, ever becomes angry or impatient with a horse,” Juliano said. “Adrienne celebrates a horse’s success and will make a wonderful big fuss over an accomplishment or new movement learned. This way, the horse always knows Adrienne is pleased, and the horse will get quite proud of himself or herself. But she never takes it personally when a horse struggles or is in the process of learning. Adrienne’s level of equanimity is extremely rare and truly sets her apart as one of the very best riders in the world.”

Dressage competition consists of two parts. The first is similar to ice skating’s compulsories, where each rider and horse must perform a designated series of moves. The second is the freestyle, where the moves are choreographed to music.

“Freestyle is my favorite part of dressage. It suits me and my personality,” Lyle said. “I’m a big music lover. I love everything from folk to rock to bluegrass. I may be one of the few dressage riders who love the Grateful Dead.”

Lyle said she is always learning, trying to get to the next level of this “perfectionist sport.” But it’s not always about the competition.

“At the end of the day, when you’ve swept the barn and it’s quiet, and the horses are munching their hay and it’s so peaceful, that to me is the most Zen place I can find in the world,” she said.

Learn more about Adrienne Lyle at www.adriennelyle.com.

What To Do At Friday Night Stars At Equestrian Village

Every Friday night during international competition weeks at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival welcomes an array of talent from the weekly show lineup to perform musical freestyles under the lights, in what has come to be known as “Friday Night Stars” featuring the FEI Grand Prix Freestyle, the highlight class of the week for dressage competition. The event is held at Equestrian Village, located at 13500 South Shore Blvd., home of the AGDF.

A musical freestyle is a personally choreographed dressage test accompanied by music specifically composed for each competing duo, which begins as they make their way down centerline. Not only are the rides compelling, but they are also exciting to watch and exemplify the deep communication before horse and rider in the discipline of dressage. Spectators and judges will see performances ridden to a variety of melodies, from classical orchestra music to today’s hits by Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars.

Riders compete to earn points with a system of scoring that reflects the degree of difficulty per routine and test. This season at AGDF has already seen some impressive talent under the lights in front of growing and engaged crowds.

The first CDI-W Grand Prix Freestyle took place on Jan. 12 and presented a victory to Swedish rider Tinne Vilhelmson-Silfvén aboard Lövsta Stuteri’s Paridon Magi. The duo rode to a Queen medley and achieved their highest score to date with an 81.15 percent. Highlights from the tests seen thus far in the season have included perfected one-handed pirouettes, which were executed in young Juan Matute Guimon’s performance, earning him the third-place spot for the evening aboard mount Quantico Ymas. Matute rode to a modern upbeat musical collaboration, while second-place finisher Shelly Francis wowed the crowd with a cappella tunes to accompany her ride on Patricia Stempel’s Danilo.

“We have been thrilled with the development of the Friday Night Stars competitions since the start of dressage at the venue many years ago,” said Michael Stone, president of Equestrian Sport Productions. “These are many of the top competitors in the world in the sport of dressage, and it’s quite unique that we have access to them right here in Wellington. It speaks to the growth of the AGDF each year and the continued support we receive each season.”

Alongside the top international competition is always a variety of both equine and non-equine entertainment throughout the evening, which in the past has featured mustang demonstrations, horsemanship seminars, live music and more. Multiple food vendors are available to the general public, while hospitality tables in the VIP tent are available for purchase prior to the classes on Friday evening and include a full catered buffet and prime viewing of the class. The evening offers free general admission to the public with $10 on-site parking, as well as $20 valet parking. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. with competition beginning at 7 p.m.

Visit www.globaldressagefestival.com for the full list of Friday Night Stars dates.

Land Rover Palm Beach International Gay Polo Tournament Raises The Bar For LGBTQ Awareness

Over the past eight years, the annual International Gay Polo Tournament has grown from a local polo event to a world-renowned four-day festival celebrating the “sport of kings” and its diverse group of players.

Under the direction of Chip McKenney and his Gay Polo League (GPL), the event offers the opportunity to experience fast-paced action, as well as encourages inclusion and charity, with proceeds from the kickoff Polotini Party benefiting high-risk LGBTQ youth, primarily in the areas of education, homelessness and health.

In 2018, the ninth annual Land Rover Palm Beach International Gay Polo Tournament and all its festivities will return to Wellington from April 5-8 at the world-class International Polo Club Palm Beach. This year, the tournament promises to be better than ever before, with both LGBTQ and straight players coming from around the world to compete and support the mission of the Gay Polo League.

“Every year, the International Gay Polo Tournament gains valuable momentum. This year, we welcome new players, new sponsors and new fans,” said McKenney, founder and president of the Gay Polo League. “We also welcome returning players, sponsors and friends. We are vastly appreciative of the collective force behind our growth and recognize all who contribute in significant ways to the evolution of the GPL.”

The Gay Polo League, the organizer and namesake of the tournament, is honored to formally support Compass, an LGBTQ community organization based in Lake Worth, during this year’s tournament. The Polotini Party, the kickoff event this year themed as “Wigstock,” will be held Friday, April 6 at the Wanderers Club in Wellington, with the net proceeds of the evening donated to Compass’ Youth Services programs for the benefit of at-risk LGBTQ youth. Specifically, GPL hopes to raise the money needed to purchase several new computers for the program, as well as purchase health kits and food/shelter vouchers.

“Currently, there are an estimated 1.6 million homeless youth in the United States. Of that number, 40 percent identify as LGBTQ, a staggering and disconcerting number of youth,” McKenney said. “Sadly, LGBTQ youth are at greater risk for suicide, murder, drug addiction, sexual violence and other horrible threats young people should not be susceptible to. GPL intends to do something to help where it can, and however we can. Compass does a wonderful job helping LGBTQ youth, and this year our goal is to support their efforts.”

Compass’ mission is to diminish stereotypes by challenging long-standing misconceptions about the LGBTQ community, a concept that falls in line with the foundation of the Gay Polo League. The International Gay Polo Tournament is a lively event that celebrates diversity in all its forms, making Compass a prime beneficiary of the weekend’s funds. By emboldening local youth, promoting pride in the community, and acting as an educator, advocate, health service provider and focal point for community organizing, Compass promotes awareness of the caring nature of its eclectic community.

“For nearly 30 years, Compass has provided lifesaving programs and services promoting the mental, physical and emotional health and well-being of LGBTQ youth in Palm Beach County. Despite recent progress, LGBTQ youth still face significant disparities compared to non-LGBTQ youth,” said Julia Murphy, chief development officer at Compass.  “Compass is partnering with the Gay Polo League to expand services through education, health services and addressing homelessness for LGBTQ youth in Palm Beach County. Our youth need us, and you can make a difference by getting involved in the Gay Polo League’s Polotini Party.”

Not simply a polo tournament or an LGBTQ fundraiser, the ninth annual Land Rover Palm Beach International Gay Polo Tournament is unique in that it bridges the gap between the two.

With the philanthropic nature of the event one of the main catalysts for support, special thanks are necessary for the numerous players who make the trek from all corners of the country, and some from across the globe, to participate in the tournament. Their unwavering commitment to both the sport of polo, as well as the solidarity of the LGBTQ community, speaks to their values and dedication to the important message of inclusion for all people.

True to the nature of both GPL and Compass, players of varying sexualities will be playing in the fast-paced polo matches. “When I think back to watching GPL’s first tournament in Wellington, I had no idea then that polo would become such an integral part of my life. At first, I was just eager to learn to ride and try this amazing sport. Now I feel fortunate to play most of the year with super people and wonderful horses, improving my game while having a blast,” said Phil Tremo, a longtime player and supporter of the GPL. “Helping to organize the GPL tournament came easily for me, as I really enjoy meeting such a diverse group of people in Wellington and beyond.”

Often regarded as one of the most highly anticipated social events of the year, the International Gay Polo Tournament added “award-winning event” to its repertoire in 2017 when it was honored as the LGBTQ Sporting Event of the Year by Connect Sports at the Connect Conference, held in New Orleans last August. The conference’s Sports Tourism Excellence Awards included the “LGBTQ Sporting Event of the Year” category for the first time, making GPL the inaugural winner, a testament to the event’s impact on not just the polo community, but the national LGBTQ and sporting communities at large.

The locally owned Land Rover Palm Beach adds to the appeal of this year’s tournament, having signed on as the title sponsor for the spring season’s hottest social and sporting event. For more than 30 years, Land Rover has been a longstanding global supporter of equestrian events, specifically in the disciplines of show jumping and eventing, and Land Rover Palm Beach’s partnership with the GPL tournament marks a stronger presence of the brand in both the polo and LGBTQ spheres.

Land Rover Palm Beach, a dealership known for its unsurpassed customer service offering a product known for luxury, elegance, performance and durability, is a premier community asset and the perfect pairing for the ninth annual International Gay Polo Tournament.

“This event is a natural fit for us,” said Matt Atkins, general manager of Land Rover Palm Beach. “After attending last year and hearing how much fun our staff and customers had, we knew we wanted to return for more fun. Land Rover Palm Beach is ecstatic to be the title sponsor for this year’s event.”

Sure to be a festive four days, the ninth annual Land Rover Palm Beach International Gay Polo Tournament is open to the public, and all are invited to attend. Both polo veterans and those new to the sport can appreciate the incredible skill and talent of the players and their ponies, all while standing up for the worthwhile cause championed by the Gay Polo League.

For tickets to the ninth annual Land Rover Palm Beach International Gay Polo Tournament, visit www.gaypolo.com.

Leatherdale Farms Celebrates Second  Consecutive Dressage Breeder Award

Leatherdale Farms has long been recognized for its superior-quality Hanoverian breeding program, both in the United States and in Germany. The Leatherdale team includes high performance riders and horses that compete in many different countries, but three riders choose to train and show in Wellington during the winter season in order to gain experience competing in a top-notch environment.

For the second year in a row, Louise Leatherdale and Leatherdale Farms received the prestigious Adequan/USDF Dressage Breeder of the Year award after earning top scores at the 2017 Adequan Global Dressage Festival in Wellington and at other competitions in the United States. In addition to the breeder award, many of Leatherdale’s young horses also received recognition in the USDF Horse of the Year awards, as well as in the American Hanoverian Society year-end awards.

With an impressive score of 192, which was nearly 100 points higher than the next breeder, the Leatherdale Farms breeding program was rewarded with the extraordinary averages of several sport horses, many of which are by its own stallions.

“The Leatherdale Farms horses are very talented and the top breeding is evident in the creation of very intelligent and athletic horses,” Leatherdale Farms young horse rider/trainer Mike Suchanek said.

Suchanek also credits the teams’ success to the pride Leatherdale and her late husband, Doug, had for their operation, as well as their dedication and passion for the horses.

“Doug and Louise really took their time and did their research to hand-pick the lineages, as they wanted to create a line of horses that were talented but also had great minds,” Suchanek explained. “Louise is a very special woman — she carries on the passion that Doug had for this sport and for the horses. She wants the very best for her horses, and she cares just as much about the people she hires as she does her amazing animals.”

Leatherdale Farms’ 17-year-old gelding Devon L’s experience shone through as he claimed first place in the Grand Prix Open All-Breed award for the American Hanoverian Society after his stand-out season in Wellington. Devon L has won the award several times during his successful career, and in 2017, he earned points with the help of both Diane Creech and her 17-year-old daughter, Vanessa Creech-Terauds, who also began competing in the Under 25 Grand Prix division with him last spring.

“Devon L loves to perform, and he has taken me so many places. I will always be grateful to him and to Louise, who has supported us all these years,” Creech said. “It makes it even more wonderful as he now is carrying on his legacy with my daughter in the U25 division. They both are making compromises, bonding and becoming more and more of a team.”

Creech-Terauds has also achieved great success with Fleur de Lis L, an 8-year-old Hanoverian mare by First Dance, one of Leatherdale Farms’ top stallions standing at stud in Kentucky. Though 2017 was only their second year competing together as a pair, they have topped many CDI classes, as well as won the American Hanoverian Society’s Prix St. Georges Junior/Young Rider award.

“Riding and growing with Fleur has been an amazing experience and learning opportunity,” Creech-Terauds said. “At shows, she has such a super mindset and really focuses on working with you throughout all of the movements in the test. She has an amazing, natural ability to collect, which is super in the pirouettes. Fleur is so willing, and you know that she will always try her heart out for you.”

A few of Leatherdale’s talented young horses, including Duchess L, Hannigan L and Hero L, also earned national awards and are continuing to move up the levels.

“They are happy horses, and I try to instill in them a sense of confidence every time I ride, so they can trust me, and I can trust them. I think that keeps them happy and successful,” Suchanek said, expressing optimism for the coming years. “When the horses are mentally and physically ready to develop, they are eager to learn, and it’s a lot of fun to be able to keep training them up the levels and have them keep progressing.”

Recently in Wellington, Olympian Sue Blinks and Creech have earned high marks from judges on Leatherdale’s upper-level horses. Blinks rode Habanero L in his Grand Prix debut, while Creech won the opening Prix St. Georges CDI with Robbie W and headed down centerline aboard Diana C in the CDI3* Grand Prix.

Though European breeders have a strong reputation for developing the world’s best sport horses, Creech-Terauds believes that the horses bred by Leatherdale Farms have great potential to achieve successful international careers.

“A successful breeding program is not only about matching the best mare and the best stallion. Louise truly understands the necessity of giving young horses the time and confidence to develop,” Creech-Terauds explained. “Their American-bred young horses are not only correctly developed physically, but also mentally, so they can be world-class athletes.”

When you have such a carefully selected breeding program combined with careful training, people take notice, Creech-Terauds said.

“North American breeders and riders are beginning to recognize that these great horses were bred and raised in the United States, and their success speaks for itself,” she said.

Visit www.leatherdalefarms.com to learn more.

Wellington A Place To Thrive And Call Home For Stable Manager Miranda Van Kol

When Miranda Van Kol arrived in Wellington in 1999, little did she know that she would call the village home. Almost 20 years later, she is the current stable manager at Marcus Fyffe Dressage and is based year-round in the winter equestrian capital.

After garnering an impressive grooming and stable management resume that took her all around the world, Van Kol is thrilled to have found her permanent home in Wellington.

Van Kol’s career in equine management began when she was just 17 years old at an eventing barn in the Netherlands. She began working for Eric van der Vleuten, a Dutch Olympic show jumper, for six years before moving to Germany. The life-long equestrian also worked for Lynn Little, the Leading Lady Rider in Donaueschingen, Germany, before starting with renowned show jumper Tani Zeidler and Olympic show jumper Joe Fargis.

“My love of riding and the equestrian industry blossomed because of the people at that first eventing barn,” Van Kol explained. “After I worked with them for a while, I thought, ‘Why would I go to school when I have this?’ So I stayed. I love it, otherwise I wouldn’t do this job. It’s not just a job — it becomes your life. Your whole life revolves around horses.”

Throughout her career, Van Kol has been a top groom at nearly every large international competition, including the Paralympic Games, the World Cup Finals, the Dutch Championships, the European Championships, the Pan American Games, CHIO Aachen and multiple Olympic Games.

Van Kol continued to work at the eventing barn and rose in status among the other workers there until she was considered the highest-level groom. Within that promotion, she was able to travel to all of the large shows with the competitors. As she traveled more, and later moved on to a jumper barn, she realized her passion for horse shows and the travel they involved.

“I got a little bit addicted to showing,” Van Kol laughed. “I wanted to see more of the world, meet new people and see more cultures.”

In 1999, Van Kol left home in the Netherlands and made the big move “across the pond” to the United States. With her close friend, she drove directly south to Wellington after landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

When they arrived in Wellington a few days later, Van Kol was immediately impressed by the community. She knew right away that she had made the right decision in moving halfway across the world. “It’s beautiful here!” Van Kol exclaimed. “When I first saw the barns down here, I thought they were mansions. I was shocked when a horse walked out the first time. We loved it here right away. Our hours were better, the shops are always open and I love the sun. There are a lot of equestrian jobs here, and you can only find this kind of community in Wellington. There’s always something to do.”

Van Kol worked for several different barns when she first arrived in Wellington, traveling to many large shows all over the United States and Canada. In 2004, she was also able to visit her home in the Netherlands and attend the Paralympic Games in Athens as a groom.

“That was one of my favorite experiences,” Van Kol recalled. “The joy all of the riders had was incredible and inspiring. They have a whole team behind them cheering them on, and you don’t see that everywhere. It was just wonderful.”

In 2015, Van Kol was recruited as the barn manager for Marcus Fyffe Dressage in Wellington. Run by Olympian David Marcus and international Grand Prix rider Nicholas Fyffe, the world-class training operation boasts a team of highly experienced and skilled staff members. Van Kol has used her extensive knowledge and experience in grooming and barn management to help keep the full barn of elite equines in top shape and provide the best care possible.

“David and Nicholas are hard workers; that’s what I like about them,” Van Kol said. “They are very straightforward, and so am I. That’s why we get along so well. We have the same sense of humor, which makes it fun. All three of us are on the same level. I give advice based on my knowledge, and they take it into consideration. I think we work well together.”

Van Kol recently purchased a house in Wellington and loves what the community has to offer.

“I love, love, love it here,” Van Kol said. “I love the heat, and I definitely don’t miss the winters, which is why I moved from the Netherlands. I settled down here because of the environment. There’s no place else like this in the world. The horse shows brought in a lot of jobs, and everyone is here in one place. All of my friends are here, too. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Wellington’s PS Dressage Brings Quality News Coverage To Fans Worldwide

Though many equestrians from around the world flock to Wellington for the winter season, many riders, trainers and horse enthusiasts who cannot make the migration to South Florida rely on digital news to keep up with all of the action from the winter equestrian capital of the world.

While there are a handful of media outlets that travel to Wellington for the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, PS Dressage is one of the few outlets that focus solely on the sport of dressage.

Founded in 2013 by Phelps Media Group International, a Wellington-based equestrian public relations and news agency, PS Dressage has seen rapid growth as one of the top news organizations for both national and international dressage news. The organization’s team of experienced and dedicated reporters pride themselves on providing up-to-date competition results, behind-the-scenes interviews and featured profiles of dressage riders of all levels.

In only five years, PS Dressage has built an impressive resume, covering not only the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, but the FEI World Cup Dressage Final, the World Equestrian Games, the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games. In addition to covering international and national dressage events, PS Dressage also provides coverage of dressage clinics with the best trainers in the world, including Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Robert Dover, Debbie McDonald, Isabell Werth and Johann Hinnemann.

Since its inception, PS Dressage has developed a large following and fan base, in addition to actively engaging with younger audiences through social media reach on Facebook and Instagram. On social media, consumers can enjoy content, including behind-the-scenes photos, candids, competition results and entertaining videos such as the “27 Questions” video series with popular riders like Kasey Perry-Glass and Juan Matute-Guimon.

Being based in Wellington, the hub of activity for the winter dressage season, PS Dressage is able to readily access and provide all of the latest news from world-class competitions year-round. The team travels across the country to provide onsite coverage of national dressage events, such as the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions in both Gladstone, N.J., and Wayne, Ill., as well as the CDI at Dressage at Devon and the U.S. Dressage Finals in Lexington, Ky.

“No day is the same for our reporting team,” PS Dressage Senior Editor Annan Hepner said. “One day we might be interviewing members of an Olympic team or conducting photoshoots for the nation’s top FEI pony riders, and then a few days later we could be writing training articles at a Carl Hester or Charlotte Dujardin clinic. Our diverse schedule keeps not only the content but our creativity fresh and up-to-date.”

PS Dressage sets itself apart by being a successful, discipline-specific news source, priding itself on attention to detail and a deep understanding of the sport. Additionally, the team of journalists contributes greatly to the overall quality of the content produced, which includes stunning photography.

Hepner joined the PS Dressage team upon graduating from the University of Virginia in 2015 with a double major in foreign affairs and media. An avid dressage competitor who participated in the USEF/USDF Young Rider Graduate Program and proud member of the USDF Youth Programs Advisory Subcommittee, Hepner was excited for the opportunity to branch out of the defense contracting sector and enter into the professional equestrian media industry.

“Being able to blend my passion for dressage with my journalism studies has been more than I could have ever hoped for,” Hepner said. “I feel that it is a real privilege to share photos, videos and interviews for spectators who could not attend the competitions themselves. Media is so vital for growing our sport’s support and following.”

Staff writer Emma Miller has been with PS Dressage since the beginning of the 2017 season. After graduating from Wilson College with a degree in equine journalism, she had her sights set on entering the equestrian media field. She was hopeful about continuing on in the horse industry after riding and showing throughout her adolescence and competing with her school’s Intercollegiate Dressage Association team. The world of Wellington and its warm winters being a big draw for her, she was thrilled by the opportunity to join the PS Dressage team.

“Going into college, I knew what I wanted my profession to be, so I committed to Wilson College for the equine journalism program,” Miller explained. “What Phelps Media Group and PS Dressage has offered me is exactly what I envisioned myself doing once I graduated, and more. I feel like I belong here with this team. With gorgeous weather, palm trees and horses, Wellington is paradise for any lifelong horse lover.”

For additional information, visit www.psdressage.com.

Tota Comfort System Offers Continuing Advancements In Equine Performance Gear

For Charles Tota, owner and operator of the Wellington-based tack shop the Dressage Connection, the comfort of horses is his top concern.

“There is no shortage of advancements in places where tack can be continuously made more comfortable for horses,” said Tota, who has made it his commitment to the horse industry to continue to make advances in tack design to make horses more comfortable while performing.

The United States Equestrian Federation recently changed the wording of its national rule book to read, “The object of dressage is the development of the horse into a happy athlete through harmonious education.”

In recent years, the incorporation of the idea of horses being “happy athletes” has infiltrated into the judging and training methods used by horsemen in all of the international disciplines due to the increasing scrutiny of the public toward animal mistreatment.

As a direct result, the products Tota has been designing are contributing to this wave by allowing trainers and riders to still condition horses to maximize their athletic development by eliminating any unnecessary conflict caused by uncomfortable equipment.

“Twenty years ago,” Tota recalled, “people used one saddle for every horse that they rode. Can you imagine making a group of 10 people all wear the same pair of pants?”

Since then, custom saddle fitting has become popular, and more recently, custom designed tack, both services that Tota offers out of his shop.

The latest in the line of Tota’s designs include his sternum relief girth. The horse’s sternum runs between the front legs where people have been tightening the girth for centuries. With riders needing to have their saddles essentially immobile on the horse’s backs in order to promote even the slightest of the rider’s aids and weight shifting to be interpreted by the horse, there have been plenty of girths designed to be tight and sticky to the horse’s body. This means that there is a lot of pressure on the horse’s sternum. “Imagine wearing essentially a tight belt around your chest,” Tota said. “Especially for anyone who is mildly claustrophobic, that can easily raise your anxiety level. The same is true for the horse.”

The basic concept of this new girth is that there is a channel cut from the center of the girth right over the sternum so that you can feel confident in tightening it to the point where the rider would need the security, yet the horse can still breathe comfortably. All involved can work feeling confident and comfortable.

A similarity in design from this sternum relief girth is another advancement in the bridle design, where a similar channel is cut from the top of the headstall of the bridle for relief from the sensitive poll area of the horse.

“There is essentially no end to the tweaks we will continue to make on the tack to keep trying to make it secure and, therefore, effective, but at the same time not putting pressure on any sensitive areas of the horse,” Tota said.

Every other Olympic sport continuously designs equipment for the athletes that enhances performance. The difference with equestrian sports is that there are two athletes to consider, and Tota is working to make sure that no matter which discipline — dressage, jumping and eventing — that the equine element of the partnership shares equally in the comfort of performance gear.

For more information, visit www.totacomfortsystem.com.

Riding With The Rizvis

You will never see P.J. Rizvi making her way down centerline without a smile on her face. A zest for life and an electrifying energy have made Rizvi a well-known name in the dressage arena — and they are the same characteristics that have made her a well-known name in the equestrian community years before her first international dressage show.

The mother of four serves as a beacon of light for her family, inspiring them and always looking to guide them on the path of self-success.

Rizvi and her family own Peacock Ridge Farm and are proud sponsors of the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. In honor of her late sister Penny, Rizvi is also co-chair of Polo With A Purpose, a charitable event held every winter to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society at the International Polo Club Palm Beach in Wellington.

Now an avid horsewoman, Rizvi’s introduction to the horse world was anything but conventional. “I was really sick when I was growing up,” she recalled. “I was always sick with asthma and pneumonia, but for as long as I can remember, my sister and I had planned on buying a horse together when we were older. We actually had one picked out, and not long after that, my sister ended up getting sick, and they diagnosed her with leukemia. She died about 11 months later. So, there I was, with no horse knowledge, but with this horse that we had picked out together.”

Despite her limitations, Rizvi continued on with the horse as a way to honor her sister’s memory.

“When I got him,” she said, “I had no idea what I was doing. I had no experience. I didn’t even know what a diagonal was. I just used to visit him, and the significant thing for me was when I started riding him for emotional therapy. It was sort of a calming mechanism and a way for me to think about my sister.”

After Penny’s death, Rizvi’s health declined once again. She underwent throat surgery, several cases of pneumonia and a scary episode of cardiac arrest. With that, the horses were put on hold. Despite the setbacks, Rizvi became friends with dressage star Ashley Holzer, whom she remains close with to this day.

“Fast forward to my late 20s, as a wedding present, my husband got me 12 dressage lessons with Ashley,” Rizvi said. “But soon after, in my 30s, I had four children over the span of six years, so I didn’t really commit steadily to riding. I always say, ‘In my teens I was too sick, in my 20s I was too broke, in my 30s I was too pregnant, so now in my 40s, I’m doing it!”

Holzer went on to compete in the 2012 London Olympics on Rizvi’s original amateur Prix St. Georges horse turned Grand Prix mount, Breaking Dawn. “He was the first nice horse I ever bought,” Rizvi said. “He was never meant to do the Grand Prix, and I got really lucky. ‘Edward’ is now 17 going on 5, and he’s really a horse of a lifetime. He’s a spirit to contend with.”

Making her way down centerline for her first CDI a little over a year and a half ago, Rizvi’s talent in the show ring has excelled just recently. However, the success isn’t why she chooses to invest her time in the sport.

“This is a long-term sport,” she said. “Anyone who thinks that this is short term is short-sighted. It’s something that you enjoy for your entire life. People comment about the fact that I smile all of the time, and I’m like, ‘Well, of course! I worked hard to be here, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.’ Even if it doesn’t go as well as I want it to, you aren’t judged by your mistakes, you’re judged by how you handle them. Life is a long road full of many tests, and for me, riding is therapy, and it brings me great joy. I don’t really have an agenda. I just do this because I love it, and it makes me happy.”

Rizvi credits her husband for his patience and support of her passion, as well as their children’s. “We have four children — three daughters who ride and a son who was playing polo, and then switched to tennis,” she said. “My three girls are all very different in personality, and their riding reflects that as well.”

Talented in the hunter/jumper rings, the three Rizvi daughters keep their horses at North Run Farm and train with Missy Clark. They each shine with passion for horses, a trait that they share with their mother.

Although the Rizvis support their children’s equestrian endeavors, their main goal is to always show them what is right, even if it isn’t easy. This often involves late nights, early mornings and a large dose of self-awareness mixed with life lessons.

“We try to keep a grasp on what is important,” she said. “We’ve been very clear with our children that this is a journey,” Rizvi said. “Riding improves your social skills, your discipline, your manners, it makes you open-minded, you can travel, you can meet other people, but at the end of the day, it’s one aspect of their life. It’s something that you develop, but it’s not the only thing. As the girls have gotten older, they’ve had to go to school on Friday, they can’t skip it for the show. They go to regular school, they try other activities and they have friends outside of the horse world.”

Above all, Rizvi’s main message to her children is a simple one. “Ride well, ride responsibly, love your horses and dedicate as much time as you need to, but try other things and live life to the fullest every day,” she said.