Simone Pearce is an accomplished dressage rider and Olympian, but she did not always have her sights set on dressage specifically. She grew up on her family’s cattle farm which meant cattle mustering and summers spent camping in the bush with her ponies. It wasn’t until she moved to the Netherlands and – in her own words – “fell into” a job as a groom that she was inspired to focus on dressage. 

We talked to her about the discipline and patience needed when getting started in dressage. 

Time

Simone emphasizes the importance of dedicating your time to developing and learning as a dressage rider. Making sure that you are consistent is also essential.

– When it comes to working with dressage horses, or horses in general, I think repetition and consistency are core fundamentals for a happy and successful education.

“Time, patience, and dedication are key.”

– Simone Pearce

Patience

Simone also highlights that it’s important to be patient. Results will come if you stay focused and trust that you will see results. 

– As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day! Dressage is no exception – it takes patience to reach your goals but there is true art when all of your work comes together and your horse dances with you as one.

Dedication

Staying dedicated and continuing to aim to be better is also essential. Developing as a dressage rider is a journey that can have its ups and downs, but with dedication comes results – and they’re worth it, says Simone. 

– There is nothing more magical than the feeling of true understanding and synchronicity together!

Read about mental training for riders in our interview with Team Rider Johanna Lassnack!