September 2020 Issue

EAST COAST EQUESTRIAN September 2020 Page 21 By Ginny Simon Dressage at Devon is hon- ored to have a highly talented and knowledgeable Board of Directors. Many have trained and worked with thousands of riders and horses, helping them all to reach their potential. Some have worked in the business end of the equestrian industry. All bring years of experience and a keen perspective on our industry. But none of us have experienced any- thing like the last six months. We wanted to understand their take on how the industry has been impacted and what will be the lasting lessons going for- ward. And while some of their answers are directed towards dressage riders, their lessons are applicable to the entire equestri- an world. Here are some of their responses: What do you think the equestrian world has learned from our time in quarantine? (spoiler alert – all are grateful to have their horses!) JJ Tate – That we are very fortunate to be around horses and still be able to have jobs during this scary time. I do think that equestrians are a tough group of Getting Through the Pandemic: Advice from Six Top Equestrians people, but we also really banded together to protect one another by wearing masks and being smart, to stop the spread. It’s been impressive to see everyone at the shows doing their part. Christina-Morin Graham – Our horses are our sanity. Mo Swanson – I think we have learned that the time spent with our families, our pets and our wonderful horses is a haven from this crazy Covid world. Our lives still revolve around taking care of our families, our pets and our horses, just like before, but now we are doing that without the clutter of everyday stress from the “outside” world. Anne Snipes Moss – Our community safety is more import- ant than any ambition we hold individually, and what a luxury it is to have extra training time to spend with our horses. There are a lot of precautions that we have taken for granted that will make our society safer going forward. George Williams – That we have to adapt our goals and what motivates us. In Dressage, we are fortunate that the training process is a large part of why we do dressage. With the absence (Continued on page 31) Christina-Morin Graham Christina oversees Graham Partners investor relations while also serving on Graham Partners’ Investment and Valuation Committees. A native of the Philadelphia area, Christina enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and horseback riding when not working. While at the University of Virginia, Christina was on the varsity polo team. Meet the Dressage at Devon Board of Directors Anne Snipes Moss Anne is a USEF “R” Dressage, “r” Dressage Sport Horse, and “R” Western Dressage Judge. She has a true multi-disciplinary approach, enjoying many horse sports including west- ern equitation and gymkhana, pleasure driving, eventing through Intermediate 3-Day, dressage to Intermediate level, side saddle (earning her USDF Bronze and Silver Medals), and foxhunt- ing. She serves/has served on many equestrian-related non-profit boards and committees. George Williams George is one of the longest serving Presidents of the USDF, and a prominent figure in international Dressage. As a well-respected US team competitor, trainer, coach, clinician and au- thor, he has successfully represented the U.S. in international competitions and has won numer- ous National Championships. He has trained many horses and riders from Junior/Young Riders to Adult Amateurs; however, he is most known for piloting the black Westfalen mare, Rocher, to international fame. He is currently the US Dressage National Youth Coach and his leadership skills have earned him a recent appointment to the FEI Dressage Committee. JJ Tate Jessica Jo “JJ” Tate began to take her place among the country’s riding elite early, making her FEI debut at just 16 years old. Earning numerous national and regional titles, JJ has trained and competed over 29 horses at the FEI levels. J has been long-listed for the World Equestrian Games and represented the United States in competitions abroad. Now a resident in Landrum, SC, and wintering at Yellow Bird Farm in Wellington, she is a sought-after clinician and trainer. Mo Swanson AWarmblood breeder for 40 years, Mo owns a large Oldenburg (GOV) and Ha- noverian breeding farm in eastern PA, standing Shakespeare RSF, Fhitzgerald, Sir James, Dheputy and Shavane. Young, well started dressage horses and occasional hunter pros- pects are always available. Rollingstonefarm.com. Anne Gribbons Anne Gribbons was the USEF technical advisor for dressage from 2010-2012. She has trained and shown 15 horses of her own to Grand Prix and competed in 10 national champi- onships. Anne is a FEI five-star judge, and she was a member of the FEI Dressage Committee from 2010-2013. She was inducted into the Roemer Foundation/USDF Hall of Fame in 2013. Anne is a columnist for the Chronicle of the Horse and a collection of those columns is now available in her book “Collective Remarks.” © EURODRESSAGE.COM © Hoof Print Images STACYLYNNEPHOTO.COM Credit: Queca Franco