Where are the dressage ponies?
Let's talk about ponies in dressage.
It's winter season in Florida, and I'm lost and confused. I'm pacing across the bridge at Wellington International, one hand clamped over an ear to drown out the announcer and the other hand pressing my cell phone to my face.
"I'm so sorry. It's a bit hard to hear you. Where am I going? Pony — what?"
An endlessly patient voice repeats again: "Pony Island. Just keep walking past the main arena, and you can't miss it!"
But I have missed it. Several times. I need a GPS to get around this place. I laugh nervously and say for the 3rd time that morning, "Ok great! Be right there!"
Hanging up the call, I send a panicked text to Quinn: "We are meeting at a place called Pony Island... Have they made an actual Island here?!"
I wouldn't be surprised. Looking around, it is clear that no expense was spared on the facility stretching out around me. I catch sight of Quinn walking briskly down the path in my direction, and I wait for her to catch up. Maybe together we can find this mysterious Island of Ponies.
At least it seems we are going in the right direction now. As we walk, we see more and more grooms emerging from intersecting bridle paths with gorgeously turned out ponies in tow. We follow them to what can only be described as some promised land for horse-loving kids.
Ponies. Ponies as far as the eye can see. Bay ones, grey ones, black ones with matching socks, gleaming chestnuts and even the world’s cutest dappled palomino... And it's not adults riding them. It's kids — LITTLE kids. And they are GOOD! One after the other they tackle the course with the focus and tenacity of a competitor twice their age. When they are done, they come out of the arena, high five their coaches, and then wander off to the barn talking excitedly with their friends.
Sigh. They have friends. Plural.
If you don't come from the dressage world, my shock and awe is probably confusing. Let me explain... A) We don't see many little kids competing in dressage – it's like some magical fairy picks them up at 14 years old, deposits them in a dressage arena and the rest is history. And B) We almost never see kids competing on ponies.
Looking out at the sea of braids and bows bouncing around the showgrounds, it is clear to me that our country does not suffer from a shortage of horse-loving kids. Likewise, we have an abundance of beautiful, correctly-moving, kid-safe ponies.
They just aren't doing dressage. I'm here to find out why.
We find the mom of one of these riders who has graciously agreed to meet with us and explain how the hunter pony divisions work. She talks about how her daughter's stable is set up and how her trainer, though demanding, is always sure to incorporate an element of fun and adventure. She expresses how wonderful it is for her daughter to have friends that share her passion, and how supportive the other parents are. She laments the rising costs of keeping and competing horses.
I soak up every word, searching for an answer to my question. In the end, I walk away with more data points.
Undoubtedly, the youth dressage divisions are growing across the board every year in the U.S., especially with the popularity of FEI Children's. But they have no where near the same level of involvement as the hunter/jumper and western disciplines. Engaging young people is obviously an important issue for any sport to consider if it wants to grow. And for me in particular, it's a lifelong mission to introduce kids to the uniquely beautiful connection a rider can make with a horse by practicing dressage (regardless of what direction their riding takes).
At The Dressage Academy, we think that access to safe, suitable dressage ponies is an important piece of the puzzle. That's why Quinn (a.k.a. The Pony Whisperer) devotes a good portion of her time to hand-selecting and thoughtfully training ponies for kids. After all, horses are the best teachers of riding. So if there are more well-schooled dressage ponies in the world for young beginner riders, perhaps they can be the flagships for our sport.
But I want to know what you think. Where are the youth pony riders, and why aren't more of them exploring dressage?
I can't wait to hear your thoughts!
- Nicole
Pictured: Atomic Bomberman, 2017 Westfalen dressage pony. Bred by Alicia Mengelkamp. Trained by Quinn Ridgway.
