Nicole DelGiorno is a USDF gold medalist, four-time FEI North American Youth Championships medalist, and board member of The Dressage Foundation and Dressage at Devon. Her passion for horses began at an early age, and her commitment to their proper care and handling was fostered by the U.S. Pony Clubs. Today she specializes in developing youth riders to the elite levels of the sport.
Nicole wrote a very interesting article in The Chronicle of the Horse questioning why so few American horse-loving children choose dressage and offers ten ways to build a better pipeline.
She believes that in the U.S.A. dressage is not "kid friendly" because too many trainers in dressage barns don't accommodate beginner children. They normally end up at hunter equitation barns to learn to ride and are funnelled into that system.
First Impressions
"Your kid takes riding lessons there for two years. In her third year she might do some dressage schooling shows at introductory level. Your trainer may even take her to some unrated hunter/jumper shows because the format is easier, cheaper, and she can get more ring time. Next year, your kid begs to show recognized at training level. At only 10 years old, she really does quite well on the barn’s lesson pony. She qualifies for the USDF Regional Dressage Championships.
When you arrive in the warm-up for your first class, you see your child’s eyes widen to saucers. She rides over to her trainer and asks in hushed tones, “Is she in my class?” Yes, my dear, she is. Your eyes slide over to the 21-year-old rising professional riding her client’s young horse, who appears to be the second coming of Glamourdale.
The class commences. Your kid rides her heart out on her lesson pony (you had tried to find something nice for her to lease for this year but no luck finding a seasoned dressage pony for lease). Still, even with her best test of the year, she places third-to-last with a 62%. The young pro wins with a 73%. It’s not because your kid isn’t great and skilled for her age, but because there is a chasm in terms of experience and physical ability between a 10-year-old and a 21-year-old."
The Root of the Problem
DelGiorno believes that "we do not provide the Disney experience to families like other equestrian disciplines do. We do not structure our divisions to give kids appropriate milestones. For example, why not have an equitation class that is just walk/trot? Why can’t we get out of our own way and reward correct basics without making the kids do leg-yield zigzags and counter-canter and three changes of lead through trot on the diagonal?
Because the way our youth divisions are structured is so challenging, no trainer really wants to structure their business around it. It’s a bad gamble that will almost assuredly result in a ticked off parent and a disappointed kid."
Read the full Chronicle article to see which 10 solutions DelGiorno offers for a better future of dressage in the U.S.A.