What is your favorite thing about
the horse you’re competing?
Max is the most emotionally connected horse
I have ever met. I got him 30 days under saddle
while I was still in Iraq after losing my horse
while serving oversees. Max helped me heal in
so many ways. He also demands to travel with
his own sidekick, a one-eyed rescue mini horse
named Bullseye. They are quite the pair!
Is there anything you and your horse
have been working on that you’re
especially excited to showcase?
I ride our freestyle in uniform to military
composition. This is my third horse to carry on
this unique musical freestyle tradition. I’ve found
that it brings so much joy and pride to so many
people. I’m excited to showcase it at Finals!
What does it mean to you to compete
at the US Dressage Finals?
I really enjoy meeting fellow Adult Amateur
riders from across the country and sharing
stories. Coming from an area with little
dressage, it feels incredible to my immersed
with my people!
What is one goal you have for yourself
going into the championships?
My goal is to show up for Max. He is 8 and this
is his first Finals. He will be very nervous and
need me to ride my best and not also succumb
to my own nerves. I hope this to be the first of
many many Finals together so I want this to be
the best experience for him.
What do you do when you’re not riding?
I am a lawyer, a wife, a mother and a soldier. I
balance all of this with my training by keeping
my horses at home so I can multi-task to the
utmost (think: riding while dinner cooks and
on a conference call simultaneously). It’s a bit
of spinning plates sometimes, but I wouldn’t
have it any other way!
ADULT AMATEURS
DANIELLE AYMOND
Region 9 – Baton Rouge, LA – Second Level AA Ch, Third Level FS AA
US DRESSAGE FINALS • 2026