I could not be more ecstatic to introduce our guest bloggers/ambassadors for Velvet Rider! They will be reporting from their competitions and writing about their experiences in the horse industry. I can’t wait to read everything that they will share with us! Welcome aboard! — Jennifer
Bebe Davis
Barbara (Bebe) Davis is 16 years old and has been riding since the age of four. For the past three years she has been trained full time by Dr. Cesar Parra and Katie Riley of Performance Farms. Bebe is currently entering her sophomore year at the Palm Beach International Academy in Wellington, Florida and lives in Bedminster, New Jersey. In the past, Bebe has successfully competed in the FEI Pony division. In 2011, she was the FEI Pony Reserve Champion at USEF National Championships aboard her pony Bohdjan. In 2012, she returned to the USEF National Championships with two mounts Poldy 10, and Bohdjan; she was the FEI Pony Champion aboard Poldy 10, and the FEI Pony Reserve Champion aboard Bohdjan. In the beginning of 2013 Bebe began to make the transition off of the ponies to her current mount, a Hanoverian gelding named Rotano. Bebe successfully competed Rotano at the Global Dressage Festival this winter in Wellington, Florida. She won the Florida Youth Dressage Championships at the FEI Junior division, as well as at the FEI Pony division. She was also victorious at the Nations Cup CDI in April 2013. This year at NAJYRC Bebe and Rotano made their debut, they brought home a bronze medal in the FEI Junior Freestyle. This year at the 2013 USEF Festival of champions Bebe and Rotano brought home first place, securing their title as U.S Champions. In her free time Bebe enjoys volunteering at Mane Stream, which is a farm that specializes in therapeutic riding for children and adults. She is also an active member of JustWorld International, an organization that works with the international equestrian community to raise awareness and fund programs that help children around the world.
Results Summer/ Fall 2013:
North American Championships CH-N.Am-J-D – Highest scoring member of the fourth place Region 1 Team – Rotano
North American Championships CH-N.Am-J-D – Ninth place in the Individual competition – Rotano
North American Championships CH-N.Am-J-D – Third place and bronze medal in the the Freestyle compet
ition – Rotano
Dressage at Devon CDI-W/J/Y – Winner of FEI Junior Team competition – Rotano
Dressage at Devon CDI-W/J/Y – Winner of FEI Junior Individual competition – Rotano
Dressage at Devon CDI-W/J/Y – Winner of FEI Junior Freestyle competition – Rotano
Dressage at Devon CDN – Winner of FEI Pony Team competition – Poldy 10
Dressage at Devon CDN – Winner of FEI Pony Individual competition – Poldy 10
USEF Festival of Champions – U.S.A Champion FEI Junior Team competition – Rotano
USEF Festival of Champions – U.S.A Champion FEI Junior Individual competition – Rotano
USEF Festival of Champions – Overall U.S.A FEI Junior Champion – Rotano
Bebe is currently sponsored by KEP Italia Helmets, Cavalleria Toscana Selleria, Ogilvy Equestrian, PanaCavallo Bridles, and Debby Witty and Performance Saddlery.
You can learn more about Bebe by visiting Bebe Davis Dressage and follow her on her social media accounts!
Justine Tainsh
Hi! My name is Justine and I’m a 21 year old full time student at the University of Calgary. I’ve been riding since I was just a small child and have been competing in hunters/jumpers/equitation since I was 8. I look forward to competing mainly at the 1.20m level this upcoming season at Calgary-area venues such as Spruce Meadows and Rocky Mountain Show Jumping. Currently, I ride a wonderful German-bred mare, Christina, whom I just purchased from my trainers after being without a horse of my own for 5 years. In order to afford to ride, I juggle multiple part time jobs on top of my studies and riding, so my life tends to get a little hectic – but I love riding enough to tolerate the craziness! In addition to competing, I have spent time coaching (as a junior, as to not effect my amateur status), breaking and developing young horses. I’m incredibly interested in fashion and love discovering new trends – obviously this is difficult to afford as a university student, so over the years I have gotten extremely good at scoping out the best deals and I can’t wait to share my tips with you!
5 Things I Can’t Live Without: Kobee (my adorable Australian Shepherd), friends and family, my iPhone, caffeine, and horses (obviously!).
Curren
t TV Obsession: Reign! Seriously, I’m actually obsessed
Favourite Horse Show: Spruce Meadows! Okay, I might be biased as I grew up with it in my back yard, but this venue really deserves its reputation as the very best in the world. Every single show they hold is incredibly organized and always top notch, from their indoor events to the CSI 5* tournaments.
My must-have show ring accessories: Pearl earrings and my lucky Tiffany horse shoe necklace.
One product I swear by: Back on Track. Ok I’ll admit, I was a skeptic when I initially started using the no bow wraps on my mare, but I used it on my own leg while recovering from foot surgery this past winter and it made SUCH a difference in my joints and muscles.
Last movie I watched: That Awkward Moment – it’s so funny! If you haven’t seen it yet… GO RIGHT NOW!
If I could ride any horse, dead or alive, it would be… Hickstead! He was truly an amazing animal, and I consider myself so lucky to have been able to see that little stallion jump his heart out in front of my eyes at Spruce Meadows for many years before his death.
I have been an avid Velvet Rider reader since fall of 2012 and I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Jennifer as a guest blogger! Expect lots of articles in the future about show ring fashion (on a budget), some of my favourite products and lots of horse show coverage – particularly Spruce Meadows!
Be sure to follow Justine on her social media accounts!
*Photo copyright Photos By Field
Emily Przyborowski
levels as they can together. Currently, Ashley is a barn manager for Nate Chambers Eventing. Long term, she plans to get her BS in advertising and spend her time outside of the work place retraining OTTBs to reach their potential as a sport horse in the eventing world.
I was born in a little town called Apeldoorn, Wenum-Wiesel, The Netherlands. From a very young age, I have been riding horses, and I got my first pony when I was three years old. In October of 2007, my whole family and I moved from The Netherlands to Florida. There my mother and trainer, Marjo van de Bunte, started a training and sales barn. Four years ago I started training dressage and working together with my mother in our barn. My mother trains me every day, and I ride and show our training and sales horses. Last year in The Netherlands, we found Dynasty, a 2000 16.3 KWPN chestnut gelding by Nourejev x Caritas. We are now a combination for one year and are competing in the Small Tour, in training we are almost Grand Prix ready. In competition, I represent the United States. Beginning of this year, we competed in the Florida International Youth Championship at the Adequan Global Dressage 
Festival in Wellington, FL. We placed third and were the highest placing American rider in the Young rider division. My father, Mike Biemond, is my mental coach. He trains me mentally and helps me prepare for competition mentally. Our stable in Wellington, FL is a new exclusive training, boarding, and sales barn with AC throughout the whole barn. We offer training, showing, boarding, sales, and lessons on a schoolmaster. My ultimate goal is the Olympic Games. I would like to thank my parents for their support. Without them I would not be where I am today.
To learn more, visit her website and follow her on social media!
Madelyn Bricken
Madelyn Bricken is a 21 year-old Dressage rider, currently residing in San Antonio, Texas. Growing up riding in the Hunter/Jumper Divisions on the East Coast circuit, Madelyn made the switch to Dressage in 2005. Ever since then, the discipline has become her passion. With many rated competitions, USDF/GAIG Region 9 Championship competitions, multiple High Point Champion/Reserve Champion awards, and a United States Dressage Federation Bronze Medal added to her resume, Madelyn is currently schooling the upper levels of Dressage with her 13 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Ulfilia DG, fondly known as “Leah.” In addition, Madelyn was the 2012 Region 9 Southwest Dressage Championships Third Level JR/YR Champion and featured as the “Rider of the Month” for February 2013 on the Dressage For Junior’s website. Madelyn’s partnership with Leah is incredibly special. While they have not been paired together long, the two already have quite the goal list. These goals include earning the USDF Silver Medal, competing in the Small Tour Division at a CDI, and possibly working towards the Brentina Cup U25 Grand Prix level. Madelyn currently trains with successful FEI Rider/Trainer, Anna Whit Watkins, who is based out of Moody, Texas.
Madelyn is truly looking forward to sharing exciting blog posts about her riding experiences, her equestrian fashion ideas, product reviews, and everything in between!
How do you suggest getting into guest blogging if you are just getting into blogging and do not have too much credential quite yet?
I would suggest just asking other blogs who cater to the same content you wish to write about if they’d be interested in a guest piece. Don’t shop around the same piece though because each blog wants their own unique content. Practice writing and keep writing different posts and just work at it. Good luck!