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Judy Downer

Judy Downer.jpg
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  • USDF Diamond Achievement (3 rider medals and 3 freestyle medals)

  • USEF S Dressage and R Western Dressage Judge

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      I have ridden and shown horses since I was a child, initially competing in 4-H, and later advancing to Quarter Horse shows.  I was All Around Youth in New Jersey in 1973 and placed at the Quarter Horse Congress. But my non-horsey mother heard about dressage and signed me up for lessons while I was still in high school.  Through college (9 years) I did not do much with horses, but after I landed a good job, I found a nearby barn and moved my QH gelding in.  They did eventing!  He did not!  Soon I acquired thoroughbreds and ventured into eventing.  I loved the dressage phase and was terrified of the rest.  So I bought a nice warmblood mare and the rest is history. 

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I began to take lessons from Leif Sorenson from Denmark.  Every other month for about 8 years, I had 3 days with Leif and developed good basics.  I acquired a schoolmaster through him, earned all 3 of my USDF rider medals, won 3 regional championships, and placed in my first CDI at Devon.

 

  I moved to Florida in 2001 from southern New Jersey, I have enjoyed the bigger equine community in Ocala and worked with several prominent trainers. I try to not jump around, but instead to learn each expert’s system and then blend the information into an adaptable program for each horse I ride. 

The Equestrian

My Riding and Teaching Philosophy

My riding and teaching philosophy is focused on thoroughness, biomechanics, and activity of the hind leg.  Two of my favorite USDF Trainer’s Conferences were with Jan Brink and Stephen Clarke.  Jan taught me that horses have 3 zones: comfort, stretch, and panic.  The horse only learns in stretch but builds confidence in comfort.  A good trainer takes the horse between comfort and stretch zones but quickly recognizes panic is approaching, to back the pressure off.  Stephen’s session taught me about forward contact points, something I frequently comment about in my further remarks.


Because I had a full-time job before I moved to Florida, I rode as an amateur, even though I was competing at FEI levels.  After finishing the L program in 2005, I turned professional and started to teach. 

 

In fact, while I was testing for the L, I realized I knew how to ride, and knew how it should look, but did not have the terminology to teach.  As I advanced up the FEI levels and brought along young horses, coaching became a vocation.  I did take a few horses in for training, but because of my full-time job, that was minor. 

 

Early on, my students and their horses were at lower levels, but as I advanced, so did my clients.  Clinics followed and eventually, professionals lined up for hints about how to ride tests.  While I adhere to the training scale and focus students on basics, my talent has grown into advising about test riding.  Ironically, I combine horse and human psychology in how to execute a winning performance. 

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To date...

I have coached students to 10 USDF Rider Medals, and numerous regional and national awards.

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After coming to Florida, I purchased five young horses and developed them to Fourth/PSG levels, then sold them into good amateur homes.  I currently have two horses in training at Fourth and First levels. I have attended several USDF Trainer’s Conferences and observed international dressage (World Cup, Olympics, World Championships) at least 7 times in person.

Two of my horses advanced to the Grand Prix level.  Dux was my first FEI horse but had not shown above Intermediare I.  I had not shown above Second level when I purchased him.  He quickly brought me up to his level, winning Regional Championships at Fourth and PSG 15 months after purchase, then advancing to Grand Prix several years later. 

 

Wunderbar was purchased at 3 years of age having failed his stallion selection in Germany.  I always thought a reject from stallion inspection would make a nice gelding.  We had a long career together, culminating with 3 years competing at Grand Prix.  He was not a spectacular horse but was dependable.  I earned my 3 medals for Freestyle on him, so I am a Diamond Achievement recipient. 

Overall, my dressage career spans from 1994 to current, riding 9 horses in 299 tests at Fourth level and below, and 144 FEI tests, 33 of which were Grand Prix.  My horses have won 4 regional championships, a few HOY placings, and numerous All-Breed awards from the North American Danish Warmblood Association, American Hanoverian Society, North American Swedish Warmblood Association, American Warmblood Registry, and US Lipizzan Federation.

The Scientist

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  • B.S. Animal Science, Cook College, Rutgers University

  • M.S. Animal Nutrition, University of Kentucky

  • Ph.D. Animal Nutrition, University of Delaware

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I have been teaching people since my 4-H demonstration days, through graduate school, and during my animal health industry days (Church & Dwight, Fort Dodge Animal Health, and Nutramax Laboratories). 

 

Prior to moving to Florida, I worked in veterinary pharmaceutical R&D, developing dewormers, NSAIDs, growth promoters, and dietary supplements for osteoarthritis. 

 

Between 2001 and 2004 I was an animal health consultant specializing in regulatory requirements to develop and register new animal drugs.  I conducted training programs in the U.S., Australia, and Europe on Veterinary International Clinical Development requirements for pharmaceuticals to be registered with the FDA or the European Union.  

 

From 2004 to 2020, I was a Professor, of Equine Studies, at the College of Central Florida (Ocala, FL).  I was hired to develop and teach a business and science-based, two-year Associate of Science degree program. 

 

The courses developed and taught were Equine Nutrition, Equine Exercise Physiology, Equine Behavior and Psychology, Equine Conformation Analysis, and Equine Business Management.  The typical student was a horse-crazy, recreational rider whose academic credentials prevented them from acceptance into a land-grant university. 

 

Community colleges in Florida are open enrollment, so everyone was accepted.  My lectures had to cross a broad range of scientific understanding, thus I had to address basic science while ensuring the more advanced Pony Club or 4-H student remained engaged.  After earning my USEF S Dressage Judge license, I retired from the College of Central Florida and now devote my time to judging, riding, training, and coaching.

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