Donna Richardson : USEF ‘S’ & WD ‘R’ Dressage Judge
After a successful career in amateur hunters, I moved to dressage in 1987. My first dressage horse was an Appendix Quarter horse that with Hilda Gurney’s help I took to Grand Prix. My second dressage horse was Astaire, a three year old warmblood purchased from Jo Hinneman. Astaire and I eventually rose to the California Dressage Society and USDF national Prix St. Georges and Intermediate I championships. When an injury ended Astaire’s career just short of Grand Prix, I purchased Jazzman, another three year old warmblood. I also decided to compete in the open division and to start teaching professionally.

Jazzman was my horse of a lifetime, earning USDF National Championships at first, second, fourth, and Intermediate levels. We represented the US at the 1999 Pan American Games, earning team gold and individual sixth. After a year overcoming colic surgery, Jazzman went on to the Grand Prix, competing in the final US selection trials for both the World Cup and the Olympics. He won at least 15 Grand Prix  classes before he retired sound. He lived at my farm until his death at age 29.

Since then, I have trained at least four other horses to Grand Prix.  I am proud to say that I have trained all of my successful horses from the very start. I had to work as an emergency physician to support my horses. Nevertheless, I wonover 18 California Dressage Society year end championships and over 21 USDF National Championships. I hold the USDF Diamond Medal with distinction having earned bronze, silver, and gold medals in regular and freestyle dressage with all scores over 67%. My students have also been successful, with Katy Barglow winning the CDS Amateur Futurity, the CDS Intermediate II Championship, and the USDF national Amateur Grand Prix Championship. Skyler Evans earned a silver medal at the Young Riders Championships. Amalia Boyles won the National Fourth Level Freestyle Championship at Lexington, KY on my horse Welt Erbe. I have coached three professionals, Sandra Hansen, Jaime Amian, and Ryan Bell to their gold medals on my horse Mondeo. I won the World Western Dressage Freestyle championship on my Lusitano stallion Veloz de Quintana in 2017. 

I am a USEF S dressage judge as well as a USDF R western dressage judge. I have written articles for Dressage Today, lectured on “The Mid Life Equestrian” at the CDS Convention, and taught the CDS Adult Amateur Clinic series. I continue to ride, show, teach, and train horses in San Marcos, CA.

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