How did you first get involved in dressage?
I was obsessed with horses in middle school,
and my parents drove past a farm near our
house and asked the owner if she gave lessons.
Luckily she did, and she was a dressage rider.
What is your favorite thing about
the horse you’re competing?
Dibadu is 18h, and the first time I rode him, he
made me feel like a queen. My favorite thing
about him is that he makes me a better rider.
If I ride him correctly and effectively, he’s
amazing. But he doesn’t give it to me for free!
What does it mean to you to compete at
the US Dressage Finals, or what are you
most looking forward to about it?
As an adult amateur, it’s extraordinarily
challenging to juggle a full time career, a family
with two active boys, and riding. Competing at
finals is something just for me and no one else.
I’m most looking forward to the experience
and just knowing that I belong there thanks
to all of the sacrifices and hard work it took to
make it.
What do you do when you’re not riding?
I’m a PhD equine nutritionist. I recently
started my own independent consulting
business, EquiVine PhD Nutrition, after
working in the feed industry for over 16 years.
I’ve contributed to the development of many
feeds and supplements over the years, and
even have a patent on a feed technology.
My passion is making nutrition science
accessible to horse owners so they can better
care for their horses.
ADULT AMATEURS
KELLY VINEYARD
Region 3 – Newberry, FL – Fourth Level AA CH and FS
US DRESSAGE FINALS • 2026