Growing the Future of Dressage

13 Nov Growing the Future of Dressage

By Gerlinde Beckers, Ph.D.

In her September 2025 Chronicle of the Horse article, “Where Have All the Dressage Kids Gone?” Nicole DelGiorno voiced a concern that echoes across showgrounds nationwide: dressage in the U.S. has become an adult sport. But that shift isn’t because children have lost interest in horses—it’s because our system was never designed with them in mind.

Today, a six-year-old who dreams of dancing with horses faces limited opportunities. Most dressage barns won’t accept beginners without their own mount, and those who persist often find themselves competing against adults or college-aged riders. The gap between early enthusiasm and advanced competition leaves many young riders discouraged before they’ve even begun.

DelGiorno illustrated the problem vividly:

“You are a non-horsey parent with a 6-year-old girl that loves horses… You type ‘horseback riding lessons near me.’ Ninety percent of the programs that show up offer instruction in hunt seat equitation… Now, let’s say your first call was to a dressage barn. Nine times out of ten, that conversation is going to go like this: … your kid goes on to place third-to-last with a 62%. The young pro wins with a 73%. It’s not because your kid isn’t great and skilled for her age, but because there is a chasm in terms of experience and physical ability between a 10-year-old and a 21-year-old.”

That “chasm” is exactly what prevents young riders from finding their footing in the sport. As DelGiorno put it, “Our numbers in dressage are declining rapidly at every level. The lack of depth in our U.S. program is scary. … In short, we are unwelcoming, unforgiving, and, at times, downright cruel to newcomers.”

Her proposed solution is both simple and powerful: create new age-based divisions—12 and under, 13–16, and 17–21—along with dedicated pony and walk-trot classes. These divisions would give children a fair starting place, allowing them to measure progress among peers rather than feeling perpetually behind. More importantly, they would create a structured pathway for young riders to grow in skill and confidence instead of aging out of opportunity.

As someone who has coached at five North American Youth Championships (formerly NAJYRC), I’ve witnessed this shift firsthand. From 2012 to 2015, Region 9 saw fierce competition for both Junior and Young Rider teams. Riders not only met the minimum qualifying averages—they often exceeded them—and alternates eagerly awaited their chance. By 2025, however, many Regions, not just Region 9, were struggling to field full teams. Some had to combine Regions or compete with only three riders. That decline speaks volumes: we’re losing young riders long before they reach the championship level. Although it is hopeful to see a Children’s division. 

The data from the 2025 USDF Region 9 Dressage Championships underscores this trend. Participation across all Junior and Young Rider divisions was alarmingly low. The Great American Insurance Group/USDF Regional Championships, held October 2–5, 2025, and combined with the Southwest Dressage Championships—two of the Region’s most significant annual competitions—reported the following entries:

• SWDC Introductory Level: 6 riders
• GAIG Training Level: 7; SWDC Training Level: 10; SWDC Pony: 4
• GAIG First Level: 7; SWDC First Level: 10; SWDC Pony: 1; GAIG Freestyle: 2
• GAIG Second Level: 2; SWDC Second Level: 1
• GAIG Third Level: 8; SWDC Third Level: 7; GAIG Freestyle: 1; SWDC Freestyle: 3
• GAIG Fourth Level: 4; SWDC Fourth Level: 3; GAIG Freestyle: 2
• Prix St. Georges: GAIG 4; SWDC 4
• Intermediaire I: GAIG 3; SWDC 2
• Dressage Seat Equitation Semi-Finals: ages 14–18: 8 riders; ages 13 & under: only 4

For a Region as large and vibrant as Region 9, those numbers should concern anyone who cares about the sport’s future. They reveal a shrinking pipeline—fewer juniors, fewer ponies, and a steady decline in youth representation at every level.

This isn’t just an administrative issue; it’s an existential one. Without clear developmental stages and accessible entry points, we can’t expect to build a strong pipeline of youth riders ready to represent their regions—or the country—on larger stages.

It’s also worth remembering that dressage isn’t only a discipline unto itself—it forms the foundation for nearly every other riding sport:

• The United States Eventing Association (USEA) notes that riders at all levels must “understand the link between flatwork and cross-country riding”—in other words, the fundamentals of dressage.
• A review of flatwork training for jumping horses states that “flatwork exercises form the foundation of show-jumping training, focusing on enhancing the horse’s responsiveness, agility, and suppleness for improved jumping performance.”
• The Retired Racehorse Project emphasizes that “a strong foundation on the flat can set any off-track Thoroughbred up for success, whatever direction their second career takes.”
• Even in reining, precision, balance, and responsiveness—hallmarks of good dressage—are key to developing a well-schooled, athletic horse capable of controlled spins, slides, and transitions.

Age-based divisions aren’t just about fairness—they’re about education. They allow riders to build a solid foundation in rhythm, balance, suppleness, straightness, and responsiveness—skills that serve them whether they go on to eventing, show jumping, reining, hunters, or training careers.

If we want tomorrow’s trainers, judges, and Olympians, we must start with today’s pony riders. Creating thoughtful youth divisions isn’t just about competition—it’s about belonging. When kids see themselves represented in the show ring, they believe there’s a place for them in the sport.

The future of American dressage depends on it.

After a 32-year career in education, Gerlinde Beckers now devotes her time to her lifelong passion for horses. She is the owner of Grandbeck Farm in Independence, Louisiana, and serves as Head Coach at Kalie Beckers Dressage in Folsom. A dedicated horsewoman and accomplished rider, Gerlinde is a USDF Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medalist, as well as an Elite Dressage Seat Equitation Medalist. She is also a USDF “L” Program Graduate and the winner of the 2021 American Eventing Championships (AECs).