Strides Member of the Month for June!
Each month, we will be profiling one of our Strides Student Members, so everyone can get to know each other a little! This month, we’ve chosen Diane!
Where are you from?:
Nashville TN
How long have you been a member of Strides?:
I am a Brand New member!
What’s your favorite part of Strides?:
Amelia 🙂 and the riding community.
How has Strides helped you?:
I am learning to take it slow… first work on my position as well as confidence. I don’t feel alone, there is so much support when I start to feel discouraged! It’s a slow process, and you have to learn to give yourself grace.
What kind of horses are your favorite?:
That’s a difficult question! Honestly, I truly love to trail ride, I have just decided to learn dressage at 66. I love the challenge. Every day is a total commitment!
ITS HARD! But I am up for it.
What’s your goal for 2023?:
To become a better rider and to challenge myself to hopefully be able to show in a local schooling show in 2024.
What is something unique about you, your journey or your horse?:
I am approaching retirement, I just started last year with horse lessons and a trainer. Dressage is really hard for me because of the discipline. I was a trail rider forever and never had a trainer until now! I have had horses off and on since I was 14, I learned everything on my own.
What achievement (with horses or not) you most proud of?:
I bought my first dressage horse this year! She is a six-year-old Westphalian mare out of Lord Ferragamo! I love her so much; she and my trainer make an amazing team!
What challenges have you overcome?:
Endurance and committing to lessons twice a week!
I was never competitive, I considered myself a free spirit…. Riding dressage and accepting the challenge, as well as the daily commitment, has surprised my husband, my family but mostly me! I love it and I am so lucky with my horse community here at Aden Branch in Nashville!
Open field for you to use to tell us anything you want Team Amelia to know!:
Amelia’s videos and the simplicity of them have been so encouraging to me.
As I struggle through the discipline of dressage, her videos have helped so much! I am starting from square one with my position, confidence, and tenacity! The encouragement I receive from Amelia has helped tremendously…. THANK YOU!
