US born Grand Prix dressage rider and international business woman Marne Martin-Tucker tells Horse Hero how she balances her work and horses, and shares tips for success as an amateur riding competing at top level.
"I started doing dressage in the winter of 2003- 2004 when my husband took a job in the Netherlands (he was the General Counsel of Intervet) and I bought my first dressage horse then. I have now ridden successfully at Grand Prix and was honored to participate in the World Dressage Championships in Verden last year."
If you were to share your top 3 tips with fellow amateur riders on Horse Hero, what would they be?
1 - Maximise the training potential of each ride: Horses need work five or six days a week for fitness, but even if only two or three good training days a week, those will be enough if you make them count. Don't spend time just cruising around, plan your rides and focus on what you are working to accomplish. Adjustability (the horse being on the aids and listening to you) and being able to do the movements correctly the first and every time, should be a goal in each training session.
2 - Believe in yourself and remember to have fun: You spend a lot of money and your free time at this hobby. Be realistic in your goals and only be around positive people that are supporting you achieving them. There is no reason to pay for, or be around people with negative energy!
3 - Treat yourself as an athlete: You don't need to run marathons, but if you don't have a certain level of fitness and muscle tone, it will be very difficult for you to progress up the levels and to meet your goals. I get asked sometimes if I am a pilates instructor because of the strength of my core muscles. You need to be fit to really ride especially at the upper levels, so remember to treat your fitness seriously, just like your horse.
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