How did you first get involved in dressage?
When I was 12 years old, my dad bought me
my first horse, which was a Quarter Horse. I
wanted to do eventing; however, my horse was
not cut out for that type of work. My trainer
at the time had a beautiful dressage horse. It
became my dream to own a dressage horse
that was bred for the sport and to learn how
to ride him. My stepmother took my horse
away from me when I was 16 years old, and
it wasn’t until I was 47 that I had enough
money and time to fulfill my dream of buying
a German Warmblood. After a successful
business transaction, I literally drove to the
nearest dressage barn and told the trainer that
I wanted a German Warmblood and to learn
how to ride dressage.
What’s one thing your horse has taught
you throughout your partnership?
The one thing my horse has taught me
throughout our partnership is that it is the
most rare and valuable relationship that I
have ever experienced with a being other than
a human being. Our partnership is squarely
based on trust, honesty and fairness. To me it
is love and to him it is trust.
What does it mean to you to compete
at the US Dressage Finals?
It means my relationship with Fritz is validated
by having the opportunity to go to the US
Dressage Finals.
What do you do when you’re not riding?
If I’m not thinking about my horse, I’m helping
my three children or working on our two
businesses. I am pretty much obsessed with
my horse!
ADULT AMATEURS
DEBORAH DYSART
Region 4 – St. Louis, MO – PSG AA CH; Int 1 AA CH; Int 1 AA FS
US DRESSAGE FINALS • 2026