What is your favorite thing about the
horse you’re competing? What’s something
unique or unusual about them?
Fiddlemakers Line Drive, aka Fri, is a 13.1-
hand, 7-year-old Dartmoore Pony stallion. This
will be his second year competing at Nationals.
It is pretty extraordinary that he has qualified
for two years now against horses twice his
size. While his gaits are not as fancy as some
of the warmbloods’ he competes against, the
judges consistently appreciate his steady and
workman-like tests. And he’s always a crowd
pleaser because he’s so dang cute!
What’s one thing your horse has taught
you throughout your partnership?
That dressage is for any breed, size or shape.
Riding a small pony like this has helped me be
much more adaptable as a rider: Often at the
shows that I have to jump off my own 17-plus-
hand warmblood and ride the same exact test
on the 13-hand pony. It’s very different!
What does it mean to you to
compete at the US Dressage Finals?
I’m thrilled and honored to be returning to
Finals this year with four horses. It’s a really
big deal to be competing in the National
Championships and I’m very proud of all my
horses for making it this far. I’m also so excited
to keep promoting the Dartmoor breed with
Fri on such a big stage.
What do you like to do
when you’re not riding?
I am a distance runner in my spare time
(3 to 5 a.m., haha!) and I’m training for my
fifth Marathon in Philadelphia at the end of
November.
OPEN/PROFESSIONALS
EMILY O’NEILL
Region 1 – Coatesville, PA – GP Open CH; Second Level Open; Third Level Open
US DRESSAGE FINALS • 2026