Show Notes
She's BAAACK! JJ returns to Germany with a few horses in tow, and takes her up-and-coming superstar, Denali, to his first show in Germany.
With Olympians in the warmup and well-known riders in her class, JJ fills us in on how it went (spoiler alert, she got a ribbon!) and reflects on just how far Denali has come, reminding us that even when it feels like you'll never get there, just keep chopping the wood. The day will come when you look back and realize that you made it through to the other side!
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This episode was originally featured on June 20, 2023, in JJ’s online community, Team Tate TV, her private Facebook group of inspired & supportive dressage lovers just like you. If you’re on Facebook we welcome you to join the conversation there. For more information on Team Tate Academy, you can check it out at https://www.teamtateacademy.com/info
More from Dressage Life with JJ Tate
Our horses are always paying attention, but what are we really communicating to them? In this episode, JJ explores how confidence, clarity, and expectations shape our relationships with our horses. Through personal stories and a few thought-provoking examples, she challenges us to consider how we show up for our horses and what that means for our partnership.Want to learn more with JJ? Explore Team Tate Academy, our online dressage training community featuring hundreds of instructional videos, a new video every week, and opportunities to get your questions answered directly by JJ during live sessions. Start your 7-day free trial and discover what the Academy has to offer! https://www.teamtateacademy.com/info
Meet Laura DeCesari - a dressage trainer and International Grand Prix rider whose self-made journey through the sport is taking her to the Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Verden with the fabulous 5-year-old VP Ice Man. Meet Laura DeCesari - a dressage trainer and International Grand Prix rider whose self-made journey through the sport is taking her to the Dressage World Breeding Championship for Young Horses in Verden with the fabulous 5-year-old VP Ice Man. Laura is also currently competing at the International Grand Prix level with a horse that she began developing as a 3-year-old. She shares with JJ how she started with a $500 Quarter Horse and created a program that includes ground work and long lining, and always with the development of the horse's trust and confidence the main objective, no matter the age or level. Help Laura and Ice Man make the journey to Verden, and follow along as this exciting homegrown partnership represents the United States on the world stage!
JJ is joined by Gallop for Life founder Lily Bisson, an event rider and breast cancer survivor who discovered firsthand that horse girls tend to meet life’s hardest challenges a little differently. Her diagnosis and treatment inspired her to create Gallop for Life, a community specifically for equestrian cancer patients and survivors. The organization offers support, financial assistance, and a place to connect with other riders who truly understand. You may also have seen Novella’s new Summersby shirt. Created in collaboration with JJ and Novella, the shirt honors Summersby, while its pink details reflect JJ’s commitment to supporting equestrian cancer patients. A percentage of every shirt sold goes directly to Gallop for Life. You can find both versions of the shirt here: https://shopnovella.com/collections/summersby
Show season can be a wild ride; big highs, deep lows, and everything in between. The story you tell yourself after a bad ride or a great one is everything. Because what happens in the ring is only part of it - the meaning you attach to it is what shapes what comes next.
This episode marks JJ’s return to sharing what’s been on her mind. A recent injury forced her to slow down and confront how easily self-care slips when life gets busy. She reflects on the idea of doing less, sooner - in life as in riding - and why small daily adjustments are far better than waiting for a big correction. From there, she shifts the focus to what’s happening beneath the saddle pad. What should the horse’s back actually feel like? Should it be “working” or something more subtle? JJ breaks down what loose, swinging, rising movement truly means, and why paying attention to what’s happening there needs to be be part of our regular check-in every time we ride. Want more JJ? Check out Team Tate Academy with our 7-day free trial: https://www.teamtateacademy.com/info