Smart Women Ride Horses
Riding is a passion shared by many people.
October 17, 2008
By Linda McDowell
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My passion now spans more than four decades. Wow, I am getting old. You name it and I have ridden most disciplines. I got into Dressage by a mistake, but have been addicted since 1970. After many years and experiences on horseback, hopefully it has made me a “smarter woman!”
Years ago the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times wrote articles suggesting high-powered female execs ride horses to relieve stress. How many “SmartWomen” ride horses? What discipline did you choose?
DRESSAGE is ballet on horseback. It is the art of systematic and progressive training of riding horses to execute precisely any of a wide range of maneuvers, from the simplest riding gaits to the most intricate and difficult airs and figures of haute école (“high school”). Dressage achieves balance, suppleness and obedience with the purpose of improving and facilitating the horse’s performance of normal tasks. If the advanced training stage is reached, dressage may become an objective in itself. Competitions in dressage are regularly included in the Olympic Games.
A few weeks ago I went to Dressage at Devon. Devon is one of the oldest show grounds on the east coast. Dressage at Devon — CDI-W/Y/J — has been the premier North American equestrian event since 1975. It combines world-class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show with the international Fall Festival shops and special activities for the entire family.
Dressage at Devon is a blast. Saturday night we had a box seat to watch the FEI Grand Prix Musical Freestyle. Lars Petersen won on his beautiful grey gelding Success with a 75.255 and Ashley Holzer came in second on Pop Art with 75.100. I spotted a chestnut in the warm-up ring and fell in love with the horse and his movement — it turned out to be Pop Art!
The next day we went back to the show grounds to scribe. My friend Holly and I volunteered to scribe for an apprentice judge. Each ride is scored by individual movements, so each part of the test gets a different score and the scores get added up at the end of the ride for an overall score. As a scribe we write down the judges comments about each movement. It is very interesting to listen to the thoughts and comments of the judge while watching the ride. As a rider it gives you better direction for riding the test and shows you what the judge wants to see for a better score.
Are you a SmartWoman that rides?
I’d love to hear from you!
- Linda McDowell
BIO: When Linda McDowell is not working as a senior account manger for SmartWomanOnline.com she can usually be found on horseback at her training facility in Harwood, MD. Linda is an accredited FEI Dressage trainer and owner of LKMDressage, and works with students of all levels.
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