I am not a dressage rider. I just play one in the arena.
I started dressage at the ripe old age of <cough> 40. I had been a hunter/jumper for 5 years already and finally admitted that I sucked! I just didn’t have the eye for it. I’ve always loved dressage and the beauty and grace of dancing with horses. I don’t currently own a horse though. Pretend ownership is way more fun!
I started my dressage journey with an instructor that’s Fourth Level, Center Riding Certified. I used to refer to her as the Goddess because her comments were so enlightening. She did a great job of refining and fine tuning me. My current instructor is on the NEDA board, past President of the local GMO and her instructor has trained with Mary Wanless. Boy, that was a mouthful. I’m now exploring biomechanics and how my body effects the horse’s body. She also mentions what judges at the lower levels are looking for. All very enlightening.
Other things of note: I’m a wife and mother to a teenage boy. We have a Golden Retriever, and a cat. I currently work in the promotional products industry in the marketing and design capacity. I have a BFA in Graphic Design and most of my career has been in publishing. In my spare time (what’s that?) I freelance as a print and website designer (view samples).
Feel free to contact me privately at leecullen@comcast.net or leave a comment.
I hope you enjoy my journey.
25 comments
Comments feed for this article
July 6, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Chris Stafford
Hi,
I host the Dressage Radio Show and would like to have a chat with you. Please let me know how I can reach you.
Thanks,
Chris Stafford
ww.dressageradio.com
July 6, 2009 at 2:51 pm
dressage rider
Hi Chris, I’d love to chat with you. I sent contact info to your email address.
July 29, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Rhonda
Hi
I just listened to your chat on the dressage Radio show and loved it. We all have the same problems and its nice to hear about others in the same boat. I would like you to contact me via my email address if you don’t mind.
July 29, 2009 at 8:00 pm
dressage rider
Hi Rhonda, Thank you for the kind words. Learning how to ride “correctly” can be very frustrating. I replied to your email and look forward to chatting with you.
October 22, 2009 at 4:47 am
coeurdeleon
Hello!
I just began my journey, and am having a marvelous time reading your blog! I have laughed and cried, recognizing myself in several of your stories…thanks so much for sharing! I am a big fan!!
October 22, 2009 at 12:48 pm
dressage rider
Hi Coeurdeleon, I hope you spend more time laughing then crying while reading my blog. If you’re working on the 20-meter torture circle don’t lose hope. I share my own frustration in earlier posts. Feel free to make topic suggestions. Enjoy your journey!
December 16, 2009 at 1:15 am
halfpass
You are not alone…I took up riding at age 46…..and nearly twelve years later I still love the journey despite a body that does not really care to cooporate with the new instructions it has to follow…..but we adults really do make the best riders! We’re committed, disciplined, patient ,and understand the value of long term goals!
Here’s to the process and to our horses! Here’s to the adult amateur!!!
December 16, 2009 at 1:31 am
dressage rider
I’ll join you in that toast! To the adult amateur!
January 1, 2010 at 6:01 am
enlightenedhorsemanship
I am SO enjoying your journey!
January 2, 2010 at 12:16 am
dressage rider
Thank you! BTW I’m working on an EFT/MTT website and I’m having flashbacks to college when I was exploring Buddhism and chakras. I really need to return to living in the moment.
May 20, 2010 at 12:04 am
M. Lawyer
You are not alone…I took up riding at age 46…..and nearly twelve years later I still love the journey despite a body that does not really care to cooporate with the new instructions it has to follow…..but we adults really do make the best riders! We’re committed, disciplined, patient ,and understand the value of long term goals!
+1
May 20, 2010 at 1:53 am
halfpass
here! here!….or is it hear! hear!!!
May 20, 2010 at 12:37 pm
dressage rider
I totally agree with you! I recently took up boxing for more rounded physical fitness and let me tell you the body does protest! Just like riding I sometimes have to think about every step. I still love it though, er, make that I’m addicted to it. The rewards are soooo rewarding.
September 4, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Erin Martin
Hi Lee:
I recently started following your blog and am really enjoying it. As you obviously know, one of the most important elements of good dressage riding is a sense of humor…especially as we get older :). I am looking forward to connecting with you here in the blogosphere! My blog is http://www.lighthorsefarm.com/LHFBlog/
Erin 🙂
September 4, 2010 at 5:10 pm
dressage rider
Hi Erin, I’m glad that you’re enjoying my blog. I have to approach it with some humor or I’d end up crying. Probably in front of the judge’s box if and when I get there. I’ll add a link back to your blog.
September 14, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Karen
What a great blog! So happy that I came across it : )
At the tender age of 40 I am getting back into riding after an almost 20 year absence and have decided to take up dressage.
My steed is a 3 year old Percheron-TB X that I fell in love with and bought without enough thought or experience. But done is done. He is currently in training so as to limit the amount of time I spend crumpled on the ground.
I am also in training. Learning dressage riding skills on a 2nd level trained horse is an interesting challenge. My instructor informed me during our first lesson that I ride him like he was a pick-up truck instead of the finely tuned sports car that he is. Sigh.
As my journey begins I look to you for inspiration!!
Karen 🙂
September 16, 2011 at 2:50 am
dressage rider
Welcome Karen! I’m glad that you may find inspiration here but my goal is a smile. We have to laugh at this crazy thing we call dressage or we may not get back on after the next crumbled on the ground. Enjoy your journey and keep us posted.
October 13, 2011 at 3:35 pm
Janice Mcdonald
Like your blog! I have two icelandics. Neisti and nasi,
Janice
October 17, 2011 at 12:25 pm
dressage rider
Thank you! I wish the Icelandic’s dance card wasn’t so full, he was a lot of fun to ride.
October 23, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Brianna
Great blog! Funny and informative! You do a great job of narrating the story like you are standing right with us. Dressage is a hard sport. I am always trying to explain to my non-horsie friends why I still needs lessons — “you haven’t learned to ride YET?” If you have a chance I’d love to get your comments on my blog and any suggestions you have.
Brianna
briannadressage.blogspot.com
October 24, 2012 at 6:42 pm
dressage rider
Thank you for your kind words. “Riding is easy, dressage is hard.” Words of wisdom from my instructor. It’s true too. I popped over to your blog. You’re doing a wonderful job! Keep up the good work.
October 24, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Brianna
Thank YOU for taking the time to review my blog — like dressage, I figure if I keep at it long enough, I may figure out a few things!
Brianna
briannadressage.blogspot.com
October 24, 2012 at 6:58 pm
dressage rider
LOL Just be yourself. You don’t have to write a blow by blow of every experience and you’ll find that we can all relate. I’ve fallen off the wagon and need to get back into it.
June 14, 2014 at 7:33 pm
Gary
Hey you’re a good writer. Looking at the blog dates I guess you already know that! you’ve been at this for quite a while, keeping up with not only the dressage but the writing. So is the challenge now to find different aspects to riding to get new angles to write about? It takes a lot of stamina to keep a writing project going as long as you have for sure.
June 22, 2014 at 2:01 pm
dressage rider
Hi Gary and thank you. In all honesty I haven’t been blogging much for the past year. Life has gotten in the way and writing, just like dressage, takes time. It is challenging to find different aspects to write about. I don’t want to write about the same thing again and again and I dislike the blow by blow approach. New things have happened with my riding that I want to write about so stay tuned!