Claire Vesely
Member Name: Claire Vesely
Age(optional): 43
Horse(s) Name, Breed, Age: I lease a lovely 12 year old Lusitano gelding, Sino – he has large, kind eyes, is so smooth and fun to ride and I am enjoying getting to know him as we have only been ‘together’ for 3 months.
Dressage Experience/Current Level/Goals: Training level, hoping to advance to First Level. I did my first year of showing (ever) in 2010.
Trainer/Barn Affiliation if any: Topline Training with Crystal Forsell, at Three Horse Farms.
Recent Achievements/Of Special Note: Improved my scores at Training Level over the year.
At what point in your life did you realize you were “A Horse-Crazy-Person”? Mid-life horse lover, or did you become involved in horses at a young age? I bugged my Mum incessantly as a child to go riding. I finally was able to go pony trekking in North Wales (I grew up in England) on a tiny black pony called Troy- the rest is history! I could not be without horses in my life, they are way too therapeutic for me and a lot more fun than seeing a counselor!
What is the most important lesson your horse has taught you? Patience and consistency- plus learning to relax.
Why or how did you pick Dressage as your riding sport? A friend got me into it unexpectedly when the horse I leased, Chelky, was moved to a dressage barn, I had never even considered it before and now LOVE it, so detailed oriented like me. I write this in very fond memory of Chelky as she recently passed away. I am truly grateful to have had her be a prominent part of my life for a few years and to have learned from her- without Chelky and her care of me, I never would have had the confidence to do my first dressage show. Thank you Chelky and I miss your Arabian spirit!
What is the most important attribute you value in your equine Dressage partner? Kind/Forward/Safe(ish)? Safe, experienced and trustworthy in unusual situations. Chelky gave me confidence back after I had a difficult time trying to raise and manage her son Pal- I learned a lot though from him as I owned him for 2 years… can you say stubborn?!! Now I have the blessing of working with a new partner, Sino, and I am looking forward to hopefully progressing with this beautiful horse.
What was your most memorable “ah-ha” riding moment or breakthrough? Learning to ride more with my seat and legs, not my hands… a lifelong ah-ha moment.
What do you wish you would have understood earlier in your riding life that you appreciate now? The intricacies of the seat and leg that I have learned in dressage, the beauty of that subtle connection between horse and rider.
What is the most common correction you hear from your trainer/clinician when you ride? Breathe and relax!
What is your favorite Dressage memory? Completing my first test last year without forgetting a movement; watching the Grand Prix Freestyle competition at WEG in Kentucky- wow! That was such an incentive to keep on keeping on.
What advice/guidance would you give to a newcomer to the Dressage sport? Keep at it and enjoy that realtionship between horse and rider, it is irrreplaceable.
What is your favorite Dressage book or publication? The magazine Dressage Today, even amateurs can learn so much from it.
What other interest, achievement or activity do you have that might surprise your fellow EB CDS Members? I volunteer with SonRise Equestrian Foundation, a non-profit that gives riding lessons to children affected with medical and psychological challenges, that allows these kids to also rehab rescue horses and which takes our special miniature horses, Blackie and Windy, to visit the sickest of children at George Mark Children’s House, an inpatient hospice and respite home in San Leandro (where I work as a nurse)- I have seen first hand these horses allow miracles.
Open Comments: It takes a lot of effort to make it to the barn most days as there is always something else to do instead as a working Mum. But, I am always glad once I am done riding and my whole day is much better for it.
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