Chapter Member: Carol Travis Alonso
Age: 68
Occupation: United States DOE Nuclear Physicist, PhD (Retired)
Volunteer Work for Dressage: In 2003, for the East Bay CDS Board, I launched our chapter newsletter, which for 5 years I produced monthly. I’m now the Associate Editor.
Dressage Experience: I started riding at age 41; before that I raced sailboats. At first I competed my Thoroughbred “Arthur” (1978-2009) in jumping, then later in dressage. The rest of my story follows:
Horses: El Gavilan (“Julio”), an 18-year-old Andalusian, and Isotoop, a 19-year-old Swedish Warmblood. They are family members who mean everything to me:
Julio: Visiting my husband’s family in Spain, I dreamed of owning a classic Spanish horse. I bought Julio as a 2-year-old 17-hand stallion. He is a beautiful and majestic free spirit. Julio loves to show off, including flamboyant spooking. He has won many national PRE dressage championships, and open CA championships. We love doing musical freestyles, which I choreograph myself and edit the music myself, it is a great pleasure. Julio won the CDS HOY for 2nd Level Freestyle, and he was 10th in California at 4th Level Open.
Isotoop: Born in Holland as a KWPN with a famous sire, Nimmerdor, Isotoop stood at stud in Denmark. In dressage he was trained to Intermediare by Jan Brink in Sweden. He was imported to the USA, but he was so very hot (Jan calls him “electric”), that his new owner became afraid of him and would not ride him. When I met Isotoop he was sad and frightened and recently gelded. I dug into my pockets and brought him home. (His name is Dutch for isotope, and I am a nuclear physicist, so it must have been fate…) Alas, when he finally got some liberty he played too hot and hard, and for several years he suffered from ligament injuries. I spent years handwalking him every day, up and down hills, and as we bonded and he became happy again, he also became sound. I am glad to report that last year together we earned my USDF bronze medal.
Facility: My horses enjoy the outdoor life at a competitive 3-day event barn, Kismet Farms in Martinez, with 100 acres of cross-country trails, a galloping track, a jump arena, a small indoor arena, large grassy turnout pastures, and lots of fearless young riders to exercise my happy boys when I am away.
Trainers: Jolie Sexson and Tracy Bowman. Jolie is young but very accomplished and brave, she rode in the Kentucky Rolex CCI*** last year and placed in the money. They teach me to ride courageously but safely, and to ride my hot horses relaxed and round.
Favorite Clinician: I learned the most from the late Portuguese master Joao Oliveira, who rode Julio in advanced dressage and then had me get on to repeat the exercises. I felt and learned movements I’d never experienced before, it was a gift. I also learned a lot from Karl Mikolka, formerly of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna.
Favorite Dressage Books: I own over 100 books on horses and riding, and have read them all – some several times. My favorite book on riding technique is Walter Zettl’s “Dressage in Harmony,” and my favorite book on what dressage really is all about is Alois Podhajsky’s “My Horses, My Teachers.”
Recent Accomplishments: Julio and I have earned many national All-Breeds dressage awards; but my recent personal triumph is to have brought Isotoop back from serious injuries to a point where we could earn my USDF Bronze Medal. Last December in Austin, Texas, I also received my Master’s Challenge award at 3rd Level, one of only 2 riders in California and 10 overall in the United States.
Goals: My main goal is to keep my horses sound and happy into old age (theirs and mine!). I hope to perform musical freestyles up through the levels. My immediate goal is to earn my USDF Bronze Bar for freestyles riding both horses. We will proceed as far as we can before our separate clocks run out. (My special goal is that I want to be the Susan Boyle of Dressage! – but I sure need that makeover…)
Favorite Dressage Memories: With Julio I fondly remember: him winning High Point at Pebble Beach when he was in Training Level… Julio resplendent in scarlet and gold baroque barding cloths as a lead horse in the historic Carrousel du Roi, a re-creation of a 15th century horse ballet … Julio and I getting a 75% for the first freestyle I ever choreographed myself… and him being the 1996 HOY of the International Andalusian and Lusitano Horse Association. With Isotoop it is the day I was first able to canter on him and he did flying changes, which he loves, whenever he had a chance… Plus that day last summer when we earned my bronze medal.
A different magical memory: Years ago I attended SICAB in Seville, Spain, an annual celebration of the Spanish horse. One night I watched a very handsome man warming up alone for his dressage demonstration to the King and Queen. I was captivated by the beauty of his horse, his erect posture and his perfect riding. My Spanish hosts whispered, “This is Don Ignacio Rambla riding Evento, the first pair from Spain to compete internationally in dressage.” Not long afterward, they competed in the Atlanta Olympics, and 4 years later Spain took the silver in the Athens Olympics.
Another little memory: getting in my hotel elevator at the World Cup in Los Angeles and finding myself with Anky von Grunsven and Reiner Klimke, both of whom asked me how I was enjoying the dressage competition. Anky was wearing short-shorts.
Outlook on Dressage:
For a person my age who started riding late in life, dressage has two parts: the joy of loving and riding a sensitive horse, and the ups and downs of competition.
I keep myself supple with daily yoga and weights. In a normal week I ride 6 days a week, often 2 horses a day. Each horse is an individual, and the technical challenge of bringing him and me along with deep communication becomes a sublime pleasure, especially in those quiet moments when things go right and we are totally together. No matter what curve balls life is throwing at me, my riding provides wonderful therapy.
For someone my age, with arthritic hands and a “not quite 20′s” body, dressage competitions can be a heartache. Why do I show my horses? Not to win, but for a reality check. The comments from an observant judge, especially one who gives positive encouragement and advice, provide the basis for my next few months of effort to improve my riding.
In my opinion dressage as a sport in the USA has become too focussed on international winning, and has lost some of the joy of “showing” your horse, especially non-warmblood or older horses. On the other hand, it is great that the more relaxed and happy horses trained in the American style are beginning to win international competitions.
Achievement isn’t all about winning… My advice to a newcomer into dressage would be to take the time to enjoy the beauty and the miracle of dancing in close communication with these amazing creatures, and always to appreciate what a privilege it is be their partner every day.
