Strides Member of the Month for March!
Each month, we profile a Student from Strides with Amelia, so everyone can get to know each other a little better! This month, we’ve chosen Hannah Finder!
Where are you from?
I grew up in the Santa Cruz mountains in California. I currently reside in Old Orcutt, CA.
How long have you been a member?
I joined Strides in August 2022.
What’s your favorite part of Strides? How has it helped you?
My favorite part of Strides is getting new content to work through each month as well as getting feedback in Office Hours. Strides helps me tremendously since I do not have a trainer to work with near where I live. I love getting focused exercises to work on throughout the month, as well as the lecture content to continue my education. The Pilates classes are also terrific and are tailored to the monthly Strides topic. Strides is such a supportive community where I can go for feedback and support.
Hannah championed a USDF Rule Change that made it to the Ballot, this is the backstory for her advocacy:
I was inspired to submit a rule change to allow bitless bridles for dressage after my last horse developed melanomas in his mouth, which made wearing a bit uncomfortable. I had competed him through Intermediate 1 in a rubble snaffle, but he worked with more relaxation and swing when I rode him bitless. There were other dressage community members who were pushing for the rule change, but they were not USDF members, so could not submit the rule change themselves. Despite the rule change getting positive support from the community, the board ruled that to compete, the horses still must wear a bit.
What do you want members to know about your journey?
My horse Valiente and I have only been together for 2.5 years. I purchased him with chronic tendon injuries to multiple limbs after I had to euthanize my former horse due to internal melanomas affecting his lymphatic system. Rehabbing Valiente was a labor of love. It took 1.5 years to get a clean bill of health from our vet. He was not an easy horse to rehab, as he desires being in full work six days per week. Surviving six months of only walking was brutal, and we had many setbacks as he re-injured himself out of exuberance. Our rehab consisted of walking three times per day, shockwave for the tendons, micro current for the tendons, a specialized physical therapy program utilizing Tensegrity Balancing Therapy, proper foot balance from EponaMind and their awesome Epona Shoes, a custom nutrition plan and a lot of patience. We went to our first competition in May of 2022, and I was blown away at what a professional Valiente was in the show environment. We had an exceptional year showing last year, culminating with my first trip to Regional Championships, earning High Point, and year end awards from USDF and USPRE.
What’s your goal for 2023?
We have had much more rain this winter than we typically do – so most of the winter we have been working on general fitness by hacking up and down hills while the arena has been closed. I had planned to install flying changes over the fall and winter, so we could compete 3rd level in 2023, but have not had the opportunity to work on them due to weather. I enthusiastically joined the Flying Changes course to get more training ideas for installing the changes. This year, I would like to compete 2nd and 3rd levels and participate in the Regional Adult Amateur Competition as well as hauling six hours to get to Regionals.
What achievement are you most proud of?
A lifetime achievement I am most proud of was producing my barrel-racing-bred AQHA gelding through the levels, earning my Bronze, Silver, and half of my Gold medal along the way. He began his dressage career at 15, and at 18, he was competing Intermediate 1.
With Valiente, I am most proud of beating Hilda Gurney (who placed second) for USDF USPRE Open All Breeds) last year! It was amazing that Valiente and I were ranked #3 in the nation for USDF Adult Amateurs competing at 1st level.
Valiente considers anything edible to be a good treat, he is not picky! However, he absolutely loves bananas, including the peel. He’s stolen them out of my hand before when I was eating one!
What’s One Thing People May Not Know About You?
One thing people may not realize about me is that I must compete with a dispensation certificate allowing me to use an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor while competing. I have been a type 1 diabetic on an insulin pump for almost 25 years. This makes everything in life, but especially exercising, more challenging. While training or competing, I also need to be very mindful of my diabetes, making sure my blood sugars don’t drop too low or get too high while I am riding.
